This never happens if zaslav weren’t hired

Would have never happen if wb didnt cut 30 minutes out of BVS in 2016

This could've been prevented if AT&T never gotten WB back in 2018

Add another one to the list of conservative moves made by CBS News after appointing Bari Weiss

While the a good part of my opinion on this has to do with my leftist views, the other aspect is really just about fair and balanced journalism. Now say CBS does a town hall with Hasan Piker next then I'll feel like they're trying to be more down the middle and just trying to get various perspectives on politics. But that is very likely not going to happen.

Paramount might go for a hostile takeover

Dawg just go build your own franchises back up

The full letter:

Dear Mr. Zaslav: We write on behalf of Paramount Skydance Corporation ("Paramount", "we" or "us") to express our serious concerns about the fairness and adequacy of the bidding process for a potential combination with Warner Bros. Discovery ("WBD" or "you"). It has become increasingly clear, through media reporting and otherwise, that WBD appears to have abandoned the semblance and reality of a fair transaction process, thereby abdicating its duties to stockholders, and embarked on a myopic process with a predetermined outcome that favors a single bidder. We specifically request and expect this letter will be shared and discussed with the full board of directors of WBD.

We have recently seen reporting in the U.S. and foreign media that gives serious cause for concern. The German newspaper Handelsblatt recently reported on a meeting that reportedly took place in Brussels between Gerhard Zieler, President of WBD's International Business and a direct report to WBD's Chief Executive Officer, who "arrived with a three-person team," with the E.U. Commission Vice President Hena Virkkunen, to discuss the potential merger prospects for WBD. In that conversation, the article reports that "concerns were raised that the Ellison family's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could lead to excessive media concentration," and that the E.U. Commission would consider intervening in a potential merger with Paramount for this reason. The article quotes "sources close" to Zeiler as saying "that the talks with the Commission were important because both Warner and the EU wanted to preserve media diversity." The implications of such a meeting, if it occurred, are clear and evince a tacit resistance to, if not active sabotage of, a Paramount offer.

While this report is concerning in itself, this is not an isolated report regarding purported WBD resistance to a combination with Paramount. Several U.S. media outlets have reported on the enthusiasm by WBD management for a transaction with Netflix, and on statements by management that a transaction between WBD and Netflix would be a "slam dunk," while also referring to Paramount's bid in a negative light. Additional reporting since the submission of revised bids on December 1 has indicated that WBD's "board has really warmed to" a transaction with Netflix due to the "chemistry between" WBD management and Netflix management. We have come to you first to inquire whether this reporting is accurate, and to engage in a productive discussion with you around any actual or perceived issues that it may reflect.

Moreover, these media reports echo similar indications that we have been hearing throughout this process, despite what we viewed as otherwise productive conversations that we have had with WBD leadership. Paramount has a credible basis to believe that the sales process has been tainted by management conflicts, including certain members of management's potential personal interests in post-transaction roles and compensation as a result of the economic incentives embedded in recent amendments to employment arrangements. These concerns are amplified by indications of director bias and beholdenness to others whose interests may not align with the stockholders', and the fact that alternatives involving only certain WBD assets are being prioritized notwithstanding their heightened regulatory risk and potential to deprive stockholders of consideration for the entirety of WBD's enterprise value.

Further, as you know, Paramount agreed to certain standstill arrangements in exchange for the opportunity to participate in a truly competitive and unbiased bidding process. Paramount did not bargain for WBD to foster, whether intentionally or unintentionally, a tilted and unfair process. We believe that all parties to this process should have a shared desire for, and will mutually benefit from, an unimpeachable transaction process. As we assume you agree, even discounting the accuracy of any media reports, just the appearance of a flawed process imperils any potential transaction that might result and may undermine the potential value maximization to WBD stockholders from any prospective transaction.

In light of our grave concerns regarding the integrity of WBD's process, we seek confirmation as to whether WBD has appointed an independent special committee of disinterested members of its board to consider the potential transaction opportunities and to make a final determination regarding a sale or break-up of all or part of the company. If not, we strongly urge you to empower such a special committee comprised of directors with no potential appearance of bias or beholdenness to others whose interests may differ from those of the stockholders. This would seem to be an important step at this stage, to ensure the fairness and unimpeachability of the transaction process and to maximize the value of whatever outcome WBD determines to pursue. Engaging with WBD throughout this process, we have been encouraged by the enormous potential from a combination of our entities. We remain confident that the Paramount offer would provide the maximum value to WBD stockholders and look forward to the opportunity to continue to engage with you productively in this process. But at this point we must insist on assurances and steps taken to ensure that a truly fair and independent process is being conducted, both for Paramount's benefit and in the interest of WBD's stockholders.

Paramount wants them so f***ing bad lmao it's kind of embarrassing

damn

WBD's response:

“Please be assured that the WBD Board attends to its fiduciary obligations with the utmost care, and that they have fully and robustly complied with them and will continue to do so,” the company said in its response to Paramount.

Need Netflix

Look Comcast by all intents and purposes seems to be losing this one

Netflix seems like they're going to keep WB going theatrical (please let this be forever)

Of the two left standing, I gotta choose Netflix unless Comcast comes up with something that could put them over the edge

WAIT LMAO

But whats the point if Trump won't approve anyone else's bid except for Paramount

He technically doesn't have final say

It's down to the DOJ and regulatory groups to approve the transaction as well as the EU.

There could be a scenario where if Paramount wins they still might have to get rid of some stuff (think how when Disney bought Fox they couldn't keep Fox Sports because they owned ESPN)

I wouldn't be surprised if the EU looks at the deal and forces Paramount to spin off CNN as it's own thing because that would be a monopoly in news organizations

Sure he's going to have massive influence, but also this whole thing could be tied up in the courts for years

We likely won't see a final merger til 2028 and the potential effects in the films and shows themselves won't be felt til like 2029-2030

Also I don't see Trump making it to the end of his term

Netflix releasing WB movies in theaters after the contracts run out is less likely than Paramount not turning the studio into conservative propaganda

Dave Portnoy...now Erika Kirk...

Bari Weiss is turning that network into a specific propaganda machine.

That's totally possible

But again, I do think Netflix is slowly trying to pivot (not totally) to theatrical for certain things. Owning a company that has the infrastructure to release movies theatrically would help them achieve that.

The Stranger Things finale going to ALL chains is kind of telling. And it's been selling out everywhere. You can't tell me Netflix isn't looking at that.

Yes, it's for two days but I think Netflix would put event films in theaters. So that would be DC, Monsterverse, and films by big directors.

I could be 100% wrong here but that's just how I'm looking at it right now

The money Netflix stands to make if the theater model goes away dwarfs any potential box office revenue

Should’ve just responded “Ok.”

This is a bit embarrassing from Paramount. If you got the money just show it. How are you gonna start whining about the competitor mid-bidding?

damn near throwing a tantrum lol