Netflix buying Warner Bros... I wouldn't count on it
Dylan Byers over at Puck made mention late last week that he has heard that Netflix is considering putting in a bid on Warner Bros. He doesn’t offer much detail beyond that, but goes on to talk about the three players he is aware of that is considering a bid.
It seems hard to imagine—maybe Netflix would want the studio and streaming division—but the whispers, themselves, are indicative of this feverish new era of M&A activity, catalyzed in large part by Ellison’s entry into the space. Ellison’s seemingly limitless cash and ambition have accelerated Hollywood’s consolidation process, and his decision to bid for all of WBD now—in an attempt to preempt potential rivals—is forcing nearly everyone to dust off their models. NBCUniversal, which is in the worst position to acquire Zaz’s assets from a regulatory perspective, spent the weekend “running the numbers on WBD,” per a source familiar, though a Comcast source cautioned that such a takeover was implausible, especially as it was spinning off Versant. (Reps for Netflix and Comcast did not comment.)
I get why the Skydance/Paramount team want the WB assets - it’s all part of an effort to scale up. It’s also why Comcast probably ran the numbers. But, I’m a bit befuddled at what Netflix would want out of it beyond the IP library.
Maybe the library is enough. I can certainly see the benefit in supercharging the Netflix library with a lot of that archive content. And generating licensing revenue. But, WB is more than just a library and IP rights holder and I just can’t see CNN, the movie studio, the TV studio, DC Comics, etc adding all that much to Netflix.
Netflix became HBO faster than HBO could become them. And then they pivoted because there was greater value in becoming NBC before NBC could become them. Why would they now want to own HBO?
It doesn’t pass the sniff test.
Apple is the one company where a Warner Bros play makes the most sense. But it has been radio silence from those guys.
The acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery is a story to watch, but without any actual bids being made, it is all a bit of a non-story. For the moment.
News Desk
Conservative US TV affiliate group Sinclair went all-in on the culture war fight to take down Jimmy Kimmel. But on Friday it backed down over plans to pull a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and replace it with a Charlie Kirk memorial special. Instead, it published the special to YouTube. Read: Deadline
Mark Ruffalo, a longtime player now in the Disney Marvel films (and expected to have a significant role in the upcoming Avengers and Spider-Man films) has posted a criticism of Disney to his Threads account.
What’s the value in supporting Donald Trump? Well, Trump says that the Murdoch’s are likely to be part of the investing consortium in the US TikTok spin-off. Read: WSJ
Pamela Anderson is producing a Barb Wire TV series of the film nobody wanted to see back in 1996, alongside sons Brandon Thomas Lee and Dylan Jagger Lee. Read: Deadline
Harry Potter actor Jessie Cave says that she has been blocked from Harry Potter conventions because she runs a (non-sexual) OnlyFans. Read: Variety
Reese Witherspoon has some headlines today for comments about how the kids don’t go to the movies anymore, using her anecdotal evidence of her own kids behaviour. Now, there is a conversation around this (which is related more to the idea that ticket prices are outpacing teenage ability to spend and broader concerns about there not being enough films to adequately supply theatres), but just going from her one example… Ms Witherspoon, may I ask… do you have a screening room in your undoubtedly lavish home? I’d suggest that might diminish enthusiasm to leave the house to do the same thing that can be done at home. Read: Variety
We’ve lost another Munchkin. Read: Variety
Sonny Gibson has died, aged 88. While some will speak of his involvement with The Crickets, I’d instead point to his work as the writer and performer of the theme song for The Mary Tyler Moore Show. An absolute classic. Read: Deadline
That’s the newsletter for today.
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