Warner Bros. Discovery In Talks To Merge With Paramount Global (axios.com) 25
According to Axios, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish to discuss a possible merger. "The combination would create a news and entertainment behemoth that would likely trigger further industry consolidation," reports Axios. From the report: Zaslav also has spoken to Shari Redstone, who owns Paramount's parent company, about a deal. WBD's market value was around $29 billion as of Wednesday, while Paramount's was just over $10 billion, so any merger would not be of equals. The meeting between Zaslav and Bakish, which sources say lasted several hours, took place at Paramount's headquarters in Times Square.
The duo discussed ways their companies could complement one another. For example, each company's main streaming service -- Paramount+ and Max -- could merge to better rival Netflix and Disney+. It's unclear whether WBD would buy Paramount Global or its parent company, National Amusements Inc. (NAI), but a source familiar with the situation says that both options are on the table. WBD is said to have hired bankers to explore the deal.
The deal could drive substantial synergies. WBD could use its international distribution footprint to boost Paramount's franchises, while Paramount's children's programing assets could be essential to WBD's long-term streaming ambitions. CBS News could be combined with CNN to create a global news powerhouse. CBS' crime dramas, such as "NCIS" and "Criminal Minds," could be combined with Investigation Discovery and TruTV. CBS Sports' footprint could be combined with WBD's. For example, CBS and WBD's Turner Sports currently share TV rights for March Madness.
The duo discussed ways their companies could complement one another. For example, each company's main streaming service -- Paramount+ and Max -- could merge to better rival Netflix and Disney+. It's unclear whether WBD would buy Paramount Global or its parent company, National Amusements Inc. (NAI), but a source familiar with the situation says that both options are on the table. WBD is said to have hired bankers to explore the deal.
The deal could drive substantial synergies. WBD could use its international distribution footprint to boost Paramount's franchises, while Paramount's children's programing assets could be essential to WBD's long-term streaming ambitions. CBS News could be combined with CNN to create a global news powerhouse. CBS' crime dramas, such as "NCIS" and "Criminal Minds," could be combined with Investigation Discovery and TruTV. CBS Sports' footprint could be combined with WBD's. For example, CBS and WBD's Turner Sports currently share TV rights for March Madness.
Isn't this what South Park predicted? (Score:2)
Re:Isn't this what South Park predicted? (Score:4, Interesting)
RedLetterMedia also poked fun [youtube.com] of all the + streaming services.
Cable consumers complained they wanted TV a la carte so we ended up with 50+ streaming services. :-/
Re:Isn't this what South Park predicted? (Score:5, Insightful)
And now they're all consolidating and merging and raising prices, so now streaming will be like cable again.
Re:Isn't this what South Park predicted? (Score:4, Insightful)
Arrrr?
Re: (Score:2)
Unfortunately, it's the only revenue model that's actually been shown to work over the long-term.
Re: (Score:3)
With the ability to cancel or renew on a whim, I’ve never paid so little for so much legitimate content.
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Not clear why parent post was modded "Flamebait"....
A writer got a call from his agent who informed him "I have good news and bad news". "Great!" exclaimed the writer, "what's the good news?"
"Paramount loved your script, absolutely ate it up", responded the agent.
"So what's the bad news?" countered the writer
"Paramount is my dog..."
Good bye Paramount+ and Star Trek (Score:1)
Based on this scenario, I'll be cancelling my Paramount Plus subscription - and I will definitely NOT be subscribing to any merger with WBD. Apple TV+ will be my next stop. My 3 month free subscription is up the end of January, so timing is good.
Re:Good bye Paramount+ and Star Trek (Score:5, Funny)
This is not a fucking airport. (Score:1)
You don't have to announce your departures, retard. No one cares. Bye Felicia, may the doorknob hit you where the Lord split ya.
Re: This is not a fucking airport. (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You don't have to announce your departures, retard. No one cares. Bye Felicia, may the doorknob hit you where the Lord split ya.
I dread to think what kind of airports you've been going through where people announce their departures.
Re: This is not a fucking airport. (Score:1)
Background reading (Score:4, Interesting)
Zaslav strikes again (Score:5, Insightful)
Goddamn this guy just enjoys acquiring productive companies and trashing them.
His companies have a ton of financial losses but they make up for it in *volume*!
Howsabout we start talking DIVESTITURES first! (Score:1)
Seriously.
Otherwise, in a couple years, all entertainment media is going to be MouseHausOmniGlobalInc.
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Would this actually be approved? (Score:5, Interesting)
Given how big both Paramount and Warner (post discovery merger) are, would regulators (especially in places where they actually seem to care about reigning in big corporations) allow a merger like this to happen?
Re: (Score:2)
Given how big both Paramount and Warner (post discovery merger) are, would regulators (especially in places where they actually seem to care about reigning in big corporations) allow a merger like this to happen?
Won't matter what happens elsewhere. Here in America? It'll be allowed after a serious review that's mostly about making sure the correct bribes are routed into the right pockets. Maybe Disney can step in and suck up the remains after WB/Paramount get done self-immolating. That'd be a great way to end people's addiction to TV and movies. If all of it is sanitized regurgitated crap, surely people would stop watch....
LOL! Almost managed to type that with a straight face.
It doesn't work (Score:4, Funny)
Putting Paramount and Warner together, expecting something good, is akin to believing two people with IQs of 70 apiece equals a joint IQ of 140.
A new streaming app (Score:2)
The combined company will rerlease a new streaming app, and call it Cable+.
HBO will be $15 a month extra and all will be right with David Zaslav's world again.
ParaMax (Score:1)
More media consolidation, yay! (Score:2)
Hmmm (Score:2)