The Trump administration is already scrutinizing the streaming company's $72 billion deal for Warner Bros. ...

ToplineMajor movie theater stocks including AMC and IMAX dipped Friday, falling at least 2% after Netflix announced it will acquire Warner Bros. and that theatrical windows for movies will “evolve” after the $82.7 billion deal is completed, sparking concern around the agreement’s potential impact on movie theaters.Movie theater stocks tumbled Friday after Netflix announced its planned purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesKey FactsAMC shares fell around 3% befor ...

Netflix (NFLX) shares are slipping at the time of writing after the streaming giant agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) assets for a whopping $83 billion in cash and stock. The agreement that’s broadly expected to make NFLX the most formidable force in the Hollywood industry values WBD’s studios and streaming assets at $27.75 per share. More News from Barchart At the time of writing, Netflix stock is down roughly 25% versus its year-to-date high set in late June. www.barchart.com Why Is N ...

Core Viewpoint - Netflix plans to acquire part of Warner Bros. Discovery in a $72 billion deal, which could significantly impact the entertainment industry, particularly streaming services [1][4]. Company Overview - The acquisition will include Warner Bros. Discovery's film and TV studios, HBO, and HBO Max, potentially combining over 400 million streaming subscribers and a vast content library [1][5]. - Netflix and HBO platforms will operate separately, but the merger could allow for a diverse range of content, including Netflix's hits and Warner Bros. classics [2][9]. Market Impact - The deal is expected to close after Warner Bros. spins off its Discovery Global business in Q3 2026, raising antitrust concerns [4][16]. - Netflix and HBO Max are currently the No. 1 and No. 4 streaming services globally, with approximately 300 million and 130 million subscribers, respectively [5][12]. Consumer Value - Netflix executives claim the deal will enhance consumer choice and value, providing subscribers with a broader selection of titles, although subscription price changes remain unclear [6][8]. - There is speculation that Netflix may adopt a bundling strategy similar to Disney, offering combined subscriptions for Netflix and HBO Max [8]. Competitive Landscape - The acquisition will allow Netflix to leverage Warner Bros.'s brands and properties, such as DC Comics and major franchises, to better compete with other industry giants like Disney [9][12]. - Paramount has expressed concerns about the merger, arguing it could reduce competition and has engaged with lawmakers to challenge the deal [12][15]. Regulatory Scrutiny - The deal is anticipated to face intense regulatory scrutiny from U.S. and international officials, with discussions already taking place at the White House regarding antitrust implications [12][16]. - Filmmakers have raised alarms about the potential impact on the theatrical marketplace, suggesting that the merger could stifle competition in Hollywood [17].

Core Insights - Netflix has announced a deal to acquire Warner Bros. for nearly $83 billion, raising questions about the future of HBO Max content [2][3] Group 1: Impact on HBO Content - The acquisition may lead to HBO content, including popular titles like "Game of Thrones," moving to Netflix, which could significantly enhance Netflix's content library [2][3] - HBO Max achieved profitability in 2023, driven by international demand for shows like "House of the Dragon" and domestic hits such as "The White Lotus" and "The Last of Us" [4] - The deal is seen as a strategic move for Netflix to maintain its profit momentum and leverage HBO's intellectual property [5] Group 2: Streaming Industry Trends - The consolidation of content across platforms is a growing trend, with other companies like Disney also planning to merge services for consumer convenience [7] - Consumers are increasingly frustrated with the need to subscribe to multiple services, preferring a single platform for easier access to content [8] - Netflix is expected to package HBO and other Warner Bros. content on its platform, which already has over 300 million subscribers [9] Group 3: Sports Streaming and Audience Measurement - Netflix aims to enhance its presence in live sports streaming, an area where it has lagged behind competitors, with plans to program WWE Raw starting in 2026 [10] - The acquisition could provide Netflix with back-end resources to improve its sports streaming capabilities and address past criticisms regarding quality [10] - Audience measurement is becoming increasingly important as advertisers seek assurance on the effectiveness of their ad spend on streaming platforms [11]

Market Overview - U.S. equities are showing mixed to positive sentiment as investors assess economic data and anticipate a Federal Reserve meeting next week [1] - Major U.S. stock indexes exhibit varied movements, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq showing upward trends, while the Dow Jones hovers around flat [2] - S&P 500 futures are up 0.3%, Dow futures increase 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures rise 0.4%, indicating cautious optimism in global markets [3] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The Federal Reserve's final FOMC meeting of 2025 is scheduled for December 9th and 10th, with an 87% probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut anticipated [4] - The release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for September 2025 is expected to provide insights into inflation and its impact on the Fed's decision [5] - Upcoming economic releases include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on December 9th and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) around December 12th [6] Corporate News and Stock Movements - Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion, impacting its stock performance [7] - Ulta Beauty's stock surged by 7% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings and raising its sales outlook [7] - HP Enterprise's stock dropped following disappointing quarterly results and a subdued outlook [7] - Dollar General shares rose over 14% after boosting its full-year comparable sales forecast [12] - Meta Platforms' stock increased by over 3% after announcing plans to cut the metaverse group's budget by up to 30% [12] - Hormel Foods reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, leading to a stock rise of over 3% [12] - Science Applications International's stock closed up over 16% after reporting strong Q3 adjusted EPS and raising its full-year adjusted EPS estimate [12] Labor Market Insights - Initial jobless claims fell to 191,000 for the week ending November 29th, a decrease of 27,000, indicating a resilient employment situation [8]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is securing a substantial $59 billion credit facility, reflecting its strong credit profile and low leverage ratio, making it an attractive borrower for banks [1][2][3]. Company Strength - Netflix holds a single-A credit rating and has a very low leverage ratio, which positions it favorably in the market for borrowing [1][6]. - The company is experiencing significant growth in EBITDA and generates substantial free cash flow, reinforcing its financial stability [1][7]. Market Dynamics - The investment-grade bond market is robust, providing Netflix with various financing options, including potential access to the loan market [3][5]. - There is a scarcity of Netflix bonds compared to other major communications companies, indicating a strong demand for its debt instruments [4]. Financial Flexibility - Netflix's debt-to-total capital ratio is very low, allowing for considerable flexibility in increasing leverage without jeopardizing its credit rating [9][10]. - The company can comfortably increase its leverage ratio from its current level, which is significantly lower than its peers like Comcast and Disney [9][10]. Future Outlook - Netflix is committed to maintaining its investment-grade ratings and plans to reduce its leverage to levels consistent with its single-A ratings within a few years after closing the deal [7].

Key Takeaways PCE Data, Delayed Already from September, Is Still Not ReleasedNetflix Wins Bid for Warner Brothers DiscoveryPre-markets Had Been Positive but Sank Prior to the OpenFriday, December 5, 2025Pre-market futures had been up across the board, but have fallen off the table in recent minutes. We’re now 25 minutes before the opening bell, and we still have yet to see the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data this morning, which was already delayed due to the government shutdown, and was due at ...

Well, I would just start and say that um I'm very surprised uh that Netflix won this. We'd been operating under the assumption that there are three subscale apps uh in the market uh Paramount, Max, and Peacock. Uh and so we always put a higher probability that those would be the ultimate winner of this Warner Brothers asset because it would allow them to take on Netflix.Here we're confronted with a situation uh where where the biggest app, the most successful app is actually, you know, trying to get bigger. ...

Joining us now is Jonathan Caner, former assistant attorney general for the antitrust division at the DOJ, also a CNBC contributor. We're lucky to have you close with us on this story. So, is Ted right that to feel confident that this is going to get all the approvals from the regulators.>> Well, Sarah, I think we've seen this movie before and it's called Spirit JetBlue. uh Spirit had the opportunity uh to do a deal with a less risky buyer and instead it took the premium and sold to a more risky buyer in Je ...