Breaking News: Netflix beats Paramount & is buying Warner Brothers | Trump DOJ pledging Antitrust Enforcement

[Optimus Prime]

 

[FaTaL]

why would trump care, cnn isnt included in this deal

 

[re'up]

The theater experience is not something that people today care about, I think Netflix and Meta and all the rest have nudged them in that direction, but in a sense, it's all just content now. Reels is no different than binge watching some TV show on Netflix to them. They post about the show on Tik Tok or whatever, some tweets about Sidney Sweeney and move on.

When I think about the experience of seeing Vanilla Sky in theaters as a 16 year old, it's just such a powerful feeling, and memory. I walked out of that theater with two of my homies from high school and we were just stunned. Our minds were blown. The concepts the movie explored about life, about multiple life paths and alternate realities and real life vs and augmented reality, not to mention the adult themes about love, passion, romance. That scene with Cameron Diaz stunned us. "When you come inside someone your body is making a PROMISE David" We walked out of that theater and talked about that movie for an hour.

At that age, we understood so little of our own lives or the world. But we would, I would, grow up to have those moments with beautiful strangers or have those moments where you do or don't get in the car. And that's just a random example from childhood. I could just name off theater experiences. Training Day. My boy and I walked home and we didn't shut up about that movie for at least 30 minutes. Jeepers Creepers, opening night, like 7 of us. Driving home all fast and yelling about The Creeper. Traffic. I walked out of that just in awe. 25th Hour. Seeing Scream 3 in theaters when I was around 14. It was unreal. It was so scary. So much fun. Seeing Titanic in theaters, at age 12. Tomorrow Never Dies. Seeing that Rolex and the BMW. Seeing those women. Shaft. Baby Boy.

I read in some article that movies are now longer a part of socialization for young men, it's now social media. Movies taught values. Movies had a story, and arch, and lessons. I understand that was my era, and everyone will be different, but there is something lost with movies being reduced to content for social media posts and fan wars.

 

[Kidd Dibiase]

The 83 billion dollar Netflix Warner Bros deal is official, and the mood in Hollywood has shifted from anxiety to pure anger.

Jane Fonda is raging about it in a letter, calling it an alarming escalation that threatens the entire industry. The Writers Guild of America released a statement saying, "This merger must be blocked. The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent." The Teamsters are demanding every level of government "reject this deal."

Netflix is trying to calm people down. Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co CEO, went on a call with investors and promised that Warner Bros movies will still go to theaters, saying, "Right now, you should count on everything that is planned on going to the theater through Warner Bros to continue to go to theaters."

But nobody in town believes him. One agent pointed out the key words, "right now," and everyone remembers Sarandos calling theaters "an outmoded idea" just a few months ago.

The fear is all about jobs. Entertainment workers in LA from camera operators to writers have already been through hell with pandemic shutdowns, two union strikes, and productions leaving town. Everyone knows "consolidation" is just a nice word for "job loss." It happened when Disney bought Fox, and it's happening right now with layoffs at Paramount.

So politicians are weighing in. Rep. Laura Friedman, who represents Burbank, said any merger should be evaluated on its impact on jobs and competition, adding, "I’ll be watching this deal closely." LA Mayor Karen Bass gave a careful statement about boosting local production. City Council member Katy Yaroslavsky said, "LA’s entertainment sector is in crisis, and the question is whether this deal strengthens production here or sends more work elsewhere."

But here’s the thing that makes you wonder. Where were all these fiery statements and demands two weeks ago? The bidding war between Netflix, Comcast, and Skydance was public knowledge. Why didn't the WGA, SAG, and every LA politician hold immediate press conferences then? Why didn't they meet with each bidding company to set hard rules about jobs and competition before a winner was chosen? It's the same old pattern, wait until the deal is done, then swing into protest mode. It's like these institutions are wired only for opposition and strikes, never for actually steering the ship before it crashes.

And now we get to the most awkward part of all, the part people in LA are whispering about privately. The deal needs federal approval.

A high level aide to a City Council member, speaking anonymously, spelled out the new fear, "Netflix has a lot of jobs here. But the Federal Communications Commission would have to approve the deal, and the worry would become what Netflix needs to do to appease Trump."

Let that sink in. After all the talk, Hollywood's fate might now hinge on the approval of the Trump administration. The same people who have spent years in opposition are now potentially relying on the very government they've criticized to save them from this deal. The irony is so thick you could cut it.

Others are worried about creativity. Entertainment lawyer Chris Perez said his phone hasn't stopped ringing, and his big concern is about indie films, "Where you only have a few buyers, they’d rather have something that’s less risky, and you get safer, less controversial content. Consolidation has the potential to kill creativity."

Michele Mulroney, president of the Writers Guild West, didn't hold back, calling the merger "a disaster" and saying, "These mergers always promise benefits, but they always deliver diminished competition, lower pay and fewer jobs for workers. It’s a very dismal day."

So the anger is everywhere, from Jane Fonda to the head of the WGA. But the real question is, why is the plan always to get angry after the fact? And are they really prepared for the political reality that the deal's fate may now be in the hands of an administration they've spent years campaigning against?

 

[drifter]

So the anger is everywhere, from Jane Fonda to the head of the WGA. But the real question is, why is the plan always to get angry after the fact? And are they really prepared for the political reality that the deal's fate may now be in the hands of an administration they've spent years campaigning against?

A lot of anger but I haven't seen one alternative from them that would make them happy

Not that it matters at this point. And it's funny leaning on Dictator Jaundice Skin's gov, same ones breaking every single law, abducting people, and threatened bidders with years of court if their last name wasn't Ellison to help them. What world do these people live in

If it's not going to Netflix Warner Bros is getting mixed and fused into a MAGA sausage link, with layoffs still happening like they are at Paramount. If it goes to NBC, folks are still getting laid off. Anger's easier to prove than results

 

[NinoBrown]

Oh no!!!

 

[King Static X]

A lot of anger but I haven't seen one alternative from them that would make them happy

Not that it matters at this point. And it's funny leaning on Dictator Jaundice Skin's gov, same ones breaking every single law, abducting people, and threatened bidders with years of court if their last name wasn't Ellison to help them. What world do these people live in

If it's not going to Netflix Warner Bros is getting mixed and fused into a MAGA sausage link, with layoffs still happening like they are at Paramount. If it goes to NBC, folks are still getting laid off. Anger's easier to prove than results

Bingo! You got it exactly right.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

shyt just got real. Paramount said IT AINT OVER

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/business/paramount-hostile-takeover-bid-wbd

Paramount has gone straight to Warner Bros. Discovery’s shareholders with an all-cash offer for the company that it says is more valuable than Netflix’s deal announced Friday.

Paramount was widely expected to be the frontrunner for Warner Bros. But WBD — which is the parent company of CNN — opted for Netflix, which it said offered a more lucrative deal.

Paramount offered $30 per share for the entire company, while Netflix offered $27.75 for Warner Bros. and HBO. Netflix believes the eventual spinoff of WBD’s cable assets will be worth several dollars per share that will ultimately be worth more than Paramount’s offer. On Monday, Paramount said WBD shareholders should decide.

“WBD shareholders deserve an opportunity to consider our superior all-cash offer for their shares in the entire company,” Paramount CEO David Ellison said in a statement. “Our public offer, which is on the same terms we provided to the Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors in private, provides superior value, and a more certain and quicker path to completion. We believe the WBD Board of Directors is pursuing an inferior proposal.”

 

[jdubnyce]

Paramount coming in over the top

I dont get these M&As

If Netflix put out a statement stating its done, how can Paramount still offer?

Wouldn't WB have signed on the dotted line already allowing Netflix to publicly confirm? All subject to govt approval of course.

Someone educate me

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Paramount coming in over the top

I dont get these M&As

If Netflix put out a statement stating its done, how can Paramount still offer?

Wouldn't WB have signed on the dotted line already allowing Netflix to publicly confirm? All subject to govt approval of course.

Someone educate me

If wbd shareholders accept the purchase offer, their board accepting the Netflix offer doesn't matter. The company is owned by Paramount at that point. And in that case Netflix gets $5 BILLION as part of the agreement if I understand correctly.

 

[In The Zone '98]

Literally Succession

Crazy

 

[NinoBrown]

The Nazis want their TV stations dammit!!!

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

The Nazis want their TV stations dammit!!!

I feel like there is something about paramount people elude to i am completely missing…

 

[Kidd Dibiase]

why is the industry up in arms about Netflix wanting it and being totally silent about paramount wanting it?

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

why is the industry up in arms about Netflix wanting it and being totally silent about paramount wanting it?

Because Paramount is a content producer and Netflix is a lowest common denominator streamer who.makes low tier content, and wants to kill theaters. The outcome for consumers is significantly worse (in most people's eyes), if Netflix buys WB.