The co-CEOs of Netflix telling investors yesterday they're quote super confident the deal with Warner Brothers Discovery will close citing market share against streamers as a key reason. Our Drew Debos is digging into that for today's tech check. This is a little complex but important to understand.D >> it is. So you're right Carl regulators they're going to fixate on the giant that Netflix and Warner Brothers would create but the real outlier is YouTube and it may actually be Netflix's best shot at getting ...

Core Perspective - The discussion revolves around the potential mergers in the streaming industry, particularly focusing on Netflix's interest in acquiring Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) versus Paramount's interest in the same company, highlighting the implications for competition and content production in the entertainment landscape [1][4][9]. Group 1: Company Structures and Strategies - Netflix operates as a streaming-first company, while WBD and Paramount are traditional TV and film companies with streaming services added, leading to more redundancies and overlaps in the latter [2][3]. - A merger between Netflix and WBD would introduce new business integrations, while a merger between Paramount and WBD would likely be more predictable due to existing overlaps [6][7]. - Paramount Plus has about 80 million global subscribers, indicating a solid growth trajectory, but it remains significantly smaller than Netflix, Amazon, or Disney Plus [5][6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competition - The potential merger outcomes could reshape the entertainment landscape, with analysts suggesting that maintaining WBD as an independent entity might foster more competition and reduce layoffs [8][9]. - Regardless of the merger, competition remains fierce, with YouTube being a significant player, currently about a third larger than Netflix in the US [10]. - The discussion also touches on the possibility of consumers consolidating subscriptions into one service if a merger occurs, which could change the current subscription model [13][14]. Group 3: Financial Implications and Valuations - WBD's cable network assets are viewed as declining and less valuable, which could influence the valuation of any potential deal [12]. - Paramount is seen as having more familiarity with the businesses it would acquire, positioning it better for long-term value creation in the streaming wars [18][19]. - The market reaction to the news has seen Paramount's share price increase, while Netflix's has declined, indicating investor sentiment regarding the potential mergers [16].

Australia is set to enact policy that required social media companies, including TikTok and Instagram, to block under sixteens from holding accounts or face fines of up to $33 million. Joining us now is Terry Floo, professor of Digital Communication and culture at the University of Sydney. Professor, good to see you.So we are going to unpack, I guess, for and against arguments for such a social media ban. But talk to us first how we got here after, what, three decades of mostly an unregulated Internet. I th ...

Core Viewpoint - The entertainment industry is undergoing significant changes, with ongoing consolidation and competition among major players like Netflix and Paramount, as they navigate differing offers and market dynamics [1][6][7]. Group 1: Company Offers and Valuations - Paramount and the Olsens have made a hostile tender offer, which shareholders must carefully evaluate due to the differing nature of the offers [1][4]. - The Netflix offer is valued at $27.75 per share but is limited to streaming and studios, while Paramount's offer is for the entire entity at $30 per share [5][3]. - The valuation of the cable network piece could range from $1.50 to $5 per share, depending on market trading [2]. Group 2: Industry Trends and Challenges - Movie theater attendance has decreased by nearly 50% compared to pre-COVID levels, indicating a significant shift in consumer behavior [6]. - Major streaming companies, including Warner Brothers and Disney, are scaling back their content production, reflecting the challenges of the streaming market [6][7]. - Consolidation in the industry is deemed necessary, with expectations of further transactions following the current offers [7][10]. Group 3: Strategic Moves and Investments - Paramount is seeking to increase its scale, potentially pursuing acquisitions of other companies like NBC Universal or Sony if the current deal does not proceed [10]. - The financial backing for Paramount includes significant investments from Middle Eastern entities, which may influence the transaction dynamics [12][13]. - The regulatory review process for these transactions is expected to be lengthy, potentially lasting over 12 to 18 months [16]. Group 4: Market Competition and Regulatory Landscape - The competition between streaming services and traditional linear TV is complex, with platforms like YouTube emerging as significant competitors to Netflix [18][19]. - The government may face challenges in defining the market and assessing competitive threats, complicating the approval process for the transactions [19].

VIEW SHARE Netflix and Warner Bros. combined will have 9.2% TV viewshare in the U.S. Nielsen Share of U.S. TV Time By Distributor 1 October 2025 October 2025 Pro Forma YouTube The Walt Disney Company Netflix & Warner Bros. NBCUniversal FOX Paramount Discovery Global 12.9% 11.4% 9.2% 8.6% 4.4% 8.4% 8.2% 1.2% HBO / HBO Max YouTube 12.9% The Walt Disney Company NBCUniversal FOX Paramount Netflix 11.4% 8.6% 8.4% 8.0% 5.6% 8.2% Warner Bros. Discovery 1.2% HBO / HBO Max ...

Paramount Skydance's hostile bid coming after Netflix announced last week that it would acquire Warner Brothers Discovery for $72 billion, a move that attracted scrutiny from President Trump as well over the weekend. Joining us now is SPG Global Principal and former Hulu and Netflix executive Simon Gallagher. Do you agree with Ellison.>> No, I don't. I think uh he is looking at it on a streaming service versus streaming service basis. You need to look at it on an all media basis.So if you're going to evalua ...

Netflix's winning bid for Warner Brothers Discovery's film and streaming assets still has obviously a long way to go before it's finalized. Joining us now with his take on the deal, former MTV president and COO Michael Wolf. He's co-founder uh and CEO of Activate. Just what what do you think what had happened and and your overall impression? >> I it's a must do for Netflix >> for Netflix. >> And there are a couple reasons. One, for anybody to succeed in streaming, they need two things. They would need one g ...

John, with respect, a veteran of the media industry in this country, former president of CNN, a serial founder of media companies, modern day media companies. Lucas talked about what happens next. And the expectation I believe you share this view is that this will go on for many months.There will be challenges along the way in the antitrust context. This is going to be a saga that plays out longer than Game of Thrones did, because, you know, not only do you have shareholder issues, your questions potentiall ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing developments in the media industry, particularly regarding mergers and acquisitions, are expected to unfold over an extended period, with significant implications for competition and creative content distribution [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Challenges - Antitrust issues are anticipated to complicate the merger process, with the creative community in Hollywood expressing concerns about reduced competition for producers and writers [2][3]. - The political landscape is also a factor, with influential figures like Larry Ellison and Gavin Newsom potentially impacting the merger dynamics due to their connections and the economic significance of the entertainment sector in California [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Warner Brothers Discovery has proposed a $5 billion unwind value if the merger does not pass regulatory scrutiny, indicating the high stakes involved [5]. - The current share price of Warner Brothers Discovery is around $25, while Netflix's offer values the shares at approximately $27.75, raising questions about the perceived value of the business [9][10]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Netflix faces significant competition not just from traditional streaming services like Amazon and Disney Plus, but also from YouTube, which commands nearly double the viewing time compared to Netflix [7][8]. - The deal does not adequately address the growing trend of creator content, which may have a more substantial impact on the industry than acquiring established titles [8][12]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The entertainment industry is expected to undergo a reckoning as new tools empower more creators, suggesting that the current valuation models may not hold in the future [11]. - The merger could be viewed as one of the last significant deals in the old media landscape, highlighting the shifting value perceptions in the industry [12].

And you were kind of taken aback by the amount of I created, kind of addictive short form videos that are getting out there onto YouTube. Kids. Well, before I was even taken aback by the content, I was taken aback by the fact that there are so many babies on YouTube and YouTube kids in the first place that stop.So we know that kids are loving YouTube. They have been for a very long time, so much so that YouTube created YouTube kids a decade ago to help create a safe space for this audience. However, YouTube ...