Streaming giants launch surprise attack: "Have you destroyed Hollywood?" "No, we are saving Hollywood." Oracle and its parent company respond hostilely after eight rejections from the century-old studio. This isn't a new blockbuster trailer, but rather the twists and turns of Hollywood's biggest acquisition in reality. On December 5th of last year, Netflix dropped a bombshell , planning to acquire the century-old Hollywood giant Warner Bros.for $82.7% billion. Discovery , but the game had only just begun. J ...

智通财经APP获悉，中信建投发布研报称，字节Seedance2.0视频模型发布，多模态模型能力跃升，有望革新影视赛道，持续看好AI漫剧：1) 漫剧是少有的被大模型替代风险小、行业高增的赛道。对比影视和游戏，大模型现已基本满足漫剧创作需求。漫剧制作公司是大模型公司的 下游应用方，被大模型替代的风险小。2)Token需求大，模型公司扶持行业发展。根据不同漫剧类型，AI漫剧每分钟消耗的token在50万到数 百万不等，单部漫剧创作需要消耗过亿token。大模型公司对漫剧行业给予的各项倾斜和扶持，为行业带来战略机遇期。3)平台竞争激烈，制 作公司有利润空间。各家漫剧平台在漫剧分账、流量等扶持政策持续升级，看好AI漫剧制作公司利润空间增厚。 中信建投主要观点如下： 进入2026年，AI短剧继续高增，且爆款数量大幅增加。据短剧自习室，2026年1月AI短剧单月播放增量超49.73亿，是2025年11月27.77亿播 放增量的近2倍。1月的日上新数量最高接近300部，且1月有13部播放量过亿的AI短剧，大幅超过2025年10月的5部和11月的1部。从市场规模 看，预计2025年漫剧的市场规模接近200亿元，预计2026年将 ...

Group 1 - Larry Ellison's Paramount has increased its bid to $108 billion for Warner Bros, competing against Netflix's planned $83 billion takeover [1][2] - Paramount has introduced a "ticking fee" of $0.25 per share for investors if the deal does not close by year-end, and will cover a $2.8 billion termination fee for Warner Bros if Netflix's deal fails [2][6] - The US Department of Justice has initiated a competition review of the Netflix-Warner Bros merger due to potential monopoly concerns in the streaming market [3][6] Group 2 - Paramount argues that its all-cash offer of $30 per share provides greater certainty and value for Warner Bros shareholders compared to Netflix's proposal [4][6] - The company is actively engaging with shareholders to undermine Netflix's bid, emphasizing the potential negative impact of the merger on theatrical film distribution [8] - Regulatory scrutiny is anticipated for Paramount's proposal as well, but the company believes its offer presents a clearer regulatory path [4][6]

Market Overview - Pre-market indexes are slightly pulling back after a record close from the Dow, with the Dow down 30 points (-0.06%) and the S&P 500 down 1 point, while the Nasdaq is up 8 points (+0.035%) [1] Economic Reports - Retail Sales for December showed no growth at 0.0%, a significant drop from November's +0.6%, indicating a cooling in consumer spending [2] - Import Prices for December increased by +0.1%, slightly above expectations, with food prices rising +0.5% while fuel prices dropped -1.5% [3] - Exports for December rose +0.3%, marking the highest increase since July, with a year-over-year growth of +3.1% [4] Q4 Earnings Reports - Coca-Cola (KO) reported Q4 earnings of $0.58 per share, beating estimates by a penny, but revenues of $11.82 billion fell short of expectations by -1.95% [5] - Spotify (SPOT) exceeded earnings expectations with $5.16 per share, a +63.3% surprise, and revenues of $5.27 billion, surpassing estimates by +2.57% [6] - Hasbro (HAS) reported earnings of $1.51 per share, significantly beating expectations of $0.99, with revenues of $1.45 billion driven by a +4671% growth in Hasbro Entertainment [7] - Harley Davidson (HOG) faced disappointing results with a loss of -$2.44 per share, missing estimates by -165%, and revenues of $390.55 million falling short by -25.9% [8]

Economic Reports - Retail Sales for December registered 0.0%, a significant drop from +0.6% in November, indicating a cooling in consumer spending [3] - Import Prices increased by +0.1%, slightly above expectations, while food, feed, and beverage prices rose by +0.5%, and fuel prices decreased by -1.5% [4] - Exports rose by +0.3%, marking the highest increase since July, with a year-over-year growth of +3.1% [5] Q4 Earnings Reports - Coca-Cola (KO) reported Q4 earnings of 58 cents per share, slightly beating estimates but revenues of $11.82 billion fell -1.95% short of expectations [6] - Spotify (SPOT) exceeded earnings expectations with $5.16 per share, a +63.3% surprise, and revenues of $5.27 billion, surpassing estimates by +2.57% [7] - Hasbro (HAS) reported earnings of $1.51 per share, significantly above the expected $0.99, with revenues of $1.45 billion, driven by a +4671% growth in Hasbro Entertainment [8] - Harley Davidson (HOG) reported disappointing earnings of -$2.44 per share, missing estimates by -165%, with revenues of $390.55 million falling short by -25.9% [10]

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount is again sweetening its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, while again extending the deadline for its tender offer as it scrambles for more shareholder support. On Tuesday, the Skydance-owned company said it would pay Warner shareholders an added “ticking fee” if its deal doesn't go through by the end of the year — amounting to 25 cents per share, or a total of $650 million, for every quarter after Dec. 31. Paramount also pledged to fund Warner's proposed $2.8 billi ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance has enhanced its bid for Warner Bros Discovery by offering additional cash for delays and agreeing to cover the breakup fee owed to Netflix if the deal fails to close this year [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Opinions - Analysts believe that the latest adjustments to Paramount's offer do not significantly change the situation, as WBD shareholders are likely to be swayed only by a substantial increase in the current $30 per share offer [1]. - The updated offer from Paramount addresses key concerns of WBD shareholders regarding regulatory approval timelines and management's demand for coverage of the breakup fee with Netflix, although the per-share price remains unchanged [2]. - The revised offer increases pressure on WBD management to justify continuing with Netflix's lower bid, as Paramount's offer is perceived as more strategic [3]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - The sweetened deal is unlikely to convince WBD to favor Paramount over Netflix, as analysts suggest that Paramount's tactics have not included raising the bid price, which is seen as essential for swaying WBD and its investors [4]. - Paramount's best chance to gain WBD's favor may depend on external regulatory actions that could block Netflix's bid [4].

Earnings Overview - More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported Q4 earnings, with 79% of the 297 companies beating expectations [1] - S&P earnings growth is projected to increase by +8.4% in Q4, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth [1] - Excluding the Magnificent Seven technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to rise by +4.6% [1] Economic Indicators - January nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +69,000, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.4% [2] - Average hourly earnings for January are anticipated to rise by +0.3% month-over-month and +3.7% year-over-year [2] - Initial weekly unemployment claims are projected to decrease by -7,000 to 224,000 [2] - Existing home sales for January are expected to decline by -3.5% month-over-month to 4.20 million [2] - January CPI is forecasted to increase by +2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI also expected to rise by +2.5% [2] Retail Sales and Employment Costs - US December retail sales were unchanged month-over-month, falling short of expectations of +0.4% [3] - Retail sales excluding autos also remained unchanged, again below the +0.4% expectation [3] - The Q4 employment cost index rose by +0.7% quarter-over-quarter, which is the smallest increase in 4.5 years and below the expected +0.8% [3] Stock Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new all-time high, while stock indexes are mixed overall [4] - The broader market received support from weaker-than-expected retail sales and employment cost index reports, leading to lower bond yields [4] - The 10-year T-note yield fell to a 3-week low of 4.15% [4] Company-Specific Movements - Ichor Holdings Ltd (ICHR) shares increased by more than +31% after forecasting Q1 adjusted EPS of 8 to 16 cents, exceeding the consensus of 6.1 cents [10] - Spotify (SPOT) rose by more than +15% after reporting 38 million monthly active users in Q4, surpassing the consensus of 32 million [10] - Datadog (DDOG) shares increased by more than +14% after reporting Q4 revenue of $953.2 million, above the consensus of $917.2 million [10] - Marriott International (MAR) shares rose by more than +8% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $11.32 to $11.57, above the consensus of $11.42 [11] - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co (GT) shares fell by more than -13% after reporting Q4 adjusted EPS of 39 cents, below the consensus of 49 cents [12]

Paramount Skydance on Tuesday sent a sweetened version of its $30 per share all-cash offer to Warner Bros. Discovery’s board as its battle to topple Netflix’s acquisition deal heats up.The revised offer includes a $0.25 per share “ticking fee” for WBD shareholders for each quarter the $78 billion transaction has not closed beyond Dec. 31, 2026, as well as an agreement to pay the $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix.Paramount on Tuesday sent a sweetened version of its $30 per share all-cash offer to Warner Br ...

Paramount enhanced its hostile offer for Warner Bros. in an effort to woo shareholders to back its bid over a rival one from Netflix https://t.co/7wmmP3BmcZ ...