Can the movie industry be saved?

Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) Strategic Outlook - WBD is still planning to split into two companies by mid-2026, but is open to strategic alternatives including a potential sale of the entire company or parts of the business [2] - Potential bidders include Netflix, Paramount, and Comcast, with Netflix likely only interested in the studio side and Paramount reportedly interested in acquiring the entire company [3][4] - A decision on whether to sell the business or commit to the split is expected by Christmas [7] Financial Performance & Business Segment Analysis - WBD swung to a $148 million loss on $9 billion in revenue, compared to a profit one year ago [6] - Movie revenue increased by 74% due to films like Superman and The Conjuring, but this was not enough to offset losses on the TV side [5] - Network revenue dropped 23%, with advertising down double digits [5] - The studio and streaming businesses are progressing well and are considered the value drivers for WBD [8] - The TV networks business is generating approximately $6-7 billion in EBIDA, but with a lower valuation multiple, while the studio and streaming assets are expected to generate nearly $4 billion in EBIDA with a higher valuation multiple [9] - WBD plans to build a new standalone US sports streaming app and retool CNN into a global digital subscription platform [7] Potential Synergies & M&A Considerations - A Comcast combination with WBD's studio unit could result in $3-5 billion in synergies or cost savings [10] - Paramount is seen as potentially benefiting the most from acquiring the entire company, while Netflix is seen as having the least upside from acquiring the studio [11][13] - The non-film business of WBD, while challenged, still generates a significant amount of cash, with 70% of WBD's total EBIDA expected to come from the TV networks this year [17] Industry Trends & Economic Factors - The entertainment industry in LA County has lost 41,000 jobs in recent years, and further consolidation could exacerbate this [21] - Lack of a national policy on film rebates and subsidies in the US makes it difficult to compete with other countries [25] - Georgia has lost 50% of its production since 2022, representing $2 billion in direct economic activity [27] - The Chinese market, once a golden goose for Hollywood, now accounts for only 5% of revenues [32]