Shares of newly public Versant Media fell on the first day of trading as an independent public company, closing down 13% at $40.57. Executives led by CEO Mark Lazarus were on hand at the Nasdaq market for the debut of the newly standalone entity that houses TV networks and complementary digital businesses, including CNBC, MS NOW formerly MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass and SportsEngine. Comcast announced about a year ago plans to separate de ...

Core Insights - Soo Kim, founder of Standard General, is in discussions regarding a potential acquisition or investment in Warner Bros Discovery's television networks [1] Company Developments - Standard General, a New York-based hedge fund, is exploring opportunities to buy or invest in Warner Bros Discovery [1]

Group 1 - Netflix has reached a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, concluding a competitive bidding process involving Paramount Skydance and Comcast [1] - The acquisition is valued at $27.75 per WBD share, leading to a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion [1] - The deal includes WBD's film studio and streaming service, HBO Max, while WBD will still separate its TV networks, including TNT and CNN, as previously planned [2] Group 2 - The acquisition is expected to close after the separation of WBD's TV networks, anticipated in the third quarter of 2026 [2]

Core Insights - Tushar Shah, Chief Marketing Officer & Business Head at Sony Pictures Networks India, has announced his resignation after a 16-year tenure, with his last working day set for March 31, 2026 [1][5] Company Overview - Tushar Shah has been with Sony for over 19 years, starting from 2002 to 2005, and has played a significant role in driving business and brand strategy across various high-impact portfolios, including Sony MAX, Sony PAL, and Sony BBC Earth [2] Achievements - During his tenure, Shah successfully led the turnaround of Sony AATH and managed the Hindi and English Movies, Regional, FTA, and Infotainment clusters, focusing on brand-building, profitability, and audience growth [3] - He was instrumental in the network-wide rebranding of the Sony Pictures portfolio, marking the first complete refresh since the channels' launch [3] Leadership Remarks - Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO of Sony Pictures, acknowledged Shah's valuable contributions to significant brand and business milestones, emphasizing his leadership and consumer-first approach [5] - Shah expressed gratitude for the trust and opportunities he received during his time at SPNI, highlighting the exceptional teams he worked with [6]