Murdoch Predicts Paramount-Warner Will Keep Third‑party Sales
Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch says he expects Paramount-Warner to continue to sell content to third parties and anticipates that will be a condition of the deal.
Fox CEO: Bigger Isn't Better, Quality Trumps Scale
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch says at Morgan Stanley conference, "We don’t believe in scale for scales sake, we don’t believe you need to get bigger to get better."
Paramount's Secret Weapon to Overcome Warner Deal Hurdles
Out @Lmanfredi7 lays out the path for Paramount to clear the Warner deal- the hurdles and the company’s secret weapon.
Paramount Keeps HBO Intact After $110B Warner Merger
That’s a relief: Ellison said, “Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. They built a phenomenal brand. They’re a leader in the space, and we just want them to continue doing more of it.“
Paramount Merges HBO Max with Paramount+, Retains Cable Assets
New: Paramount Will Combine HBO Max and Paramount+, Won’t Sell or Spin Off Cable Assets https://t.co/o9Loe8qBMA
David Ellison’s Rapid Media Empire Raises Strategic Questions
Our @mlcalderone drills down into David Ellisons vast new media power. What will he do with it?
Rare Asset May Not Return Soon, Says Sarandos
💯 Priceless quote from Ted Sarandos ending his post-mortem interview with @Lucas_Shaw Lucas: "If you feel like this is a rare asset, that also means that an asset like this may not come up again anytime soon, right?" Ted: "Possibly. Or...
Paramount's UFC Deal Returns Fights to HBO
Paramount boss David Ellison confirms their @ufc agreement enables them to put fights on @HBO, sorta brings HBO back to its fighting roots @BrandoLightShed $PSKY $WBD https://t.co/Dph8xQXjcP
Focus on Churn Retention, Not Just Cost Cuts
the only analysis on this, imo, outside of "efficiency savings" through mass layoffs (🤮🤮🤮🤮) and tech stack consolidation is what percentage of "churn and return" customers from these two cohorts would extend their subscription lifetime with very little CAC increases.
Paramount CEO: No Production Cuts, Streaming Demands Investment
"We have no intention to pull back on production," says Paramount CEO David Ellison, who adds combining streaming requires investing in content to achieve growth goals.
CNN's Streaming App Fails; Merge Back to HBO Max
If CNN can't get a decent sub growth push with the recent strikes in Iran, it should be a sign that a standalone CNN streaming app is a Bad Idea, and should be brought back into HBO Max. Then again,...
Paramount CEO Urges HBO to Remain Independent, Seeks Bloys Deal
"HBO should stay HBO," promises Paramount CEO David Ellison. Praises Casey Bloys and says "Game of Thrones" is his favorite HBO show." I'd get to negotiating a new deal for Bloys then ASAP.
Paramount CEO: No Asset Sales if WBD Merger Proceeds
Paramount CEO David Ellison says no asset sales planned at this time if WBD deal goes through.
Paramount CEO's Forced Excitement Masks Warner Deal Hype
Paramount CEO David Ellison calls deal to acquire Warner, "a unique and thrilling moment." Alas he said it with the enthusiasm of a parking attendant telling you to head to the roof for a space. Pre-recordings never sound exciting.
Paramount to Merge Paramount+ with HBO Max
On investor call, Paramount confirms it plans to put P+ and HBO Max together, making one service from the two.
Par‑WBD Forecasts $69B Revenue, $18B EBITDA
Combined Par-WBD estimated to have $69 billion in proforma revenue and $18 billion in EBITDA.
Paramount Targets $6
Paramount COO Andy Gordon says $6 billion in synergies can be realized in three years from consolidating streaming structures, optimizing real estate holdings, combining various units, etc.
Paramount Pledges 30 Films, 45‑day Window; HBO Stays Independent
Paramount CEO David Ellison commits to 30 theatrical movies and a 45-day window and says HBO will continue to have the resources and independence to "do what it does best."
Ellison Sees Warner Deal as Next‑gen Media Catalyst
Paramount CEO David Ellison says deal with Warner is opportunity to help shape the future and build the next generation media and entertainment company.
Paramount Investor Call Initiates Warner Merger Discussions
Paramount investor call to discuss merger w Warner is about to begin.... $PARA $WBD https://t.co/fMPs2jSr2O
BiotechTV Welcomes New Contributor Wassim Laroussi
BiotechTV is growing today. I’m happy to welcome @WassimLaroussi3 as our newest contributor. I’ve been impressed with his own videos, and he is going to do some very cool stuff for @BiotechTV. https://t.co/LUcm1sTqGz
Sarandos Calls Paramount’s Offer Irrational, Fueled
Netflix Boss Ted Sarandos Speaks Out After Losing Warner Bros. Bid: Paramount Offers Were ‘Irrational,’ Relied on Political Pressure Because it’s ‘Cheaper to Make Noise’ https://t.co/lSMiTSgKnA
Sar
Ted Sarandos to @Lucas_Shaw: "Once it was clear that we weren’t in the CNN business, it was a lot less interesting. He didn’t care that much more about our deal." https://t.co/0CAfEi37Ws
Netflix Quit Warner Bid After Paramount's Final Offer
Ted Sarandos says Netflix knew it would pull out of the Warner Bros bidding as soon as it saw the final Paramount offer. We spent 40 minutes on Saturday discussing why Netflix didn’t match and what the Paramount deal means...
Hollywood Exhausted, Angry, and Anxious After Years of Turmoil
🧵I wrote in the @nytimes about why Hollywood isn’t relieved that Paramount rather than Netflix is poised to win Warner Bros: “After years of tumult-Covid, strikes, streamer wars, wildfires- Hollywood is exhausted, angry, resentful and anxious. https://t.co/alYpuAuAp0
Amazon MGM’s Crime Thriller Holds Steady, Serves Prime Video Growth
#AmazonMGM’s new crime thriller #Crime101 starring #ChrisHemsworth, #HalleBerry & #MarkRuffalo held well at US #BoxOffice, grossing 3.4M on 3rd 3-day weekend, just a -38.2% drop from last weekend, despite losing -554 theatres on FRI and facing #Scream7 (vs #TheBeekeeper’s 6.7M,...
Warner & Paramount Skydance Deliver 200 Shows, Boost Market Leverage
Warner Bros makes roughly 80 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Paramount Skydance makes roughly 120 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Massive combined leverage as a third-party content supplier on the open market.
Hollywood's $81B Takeover Sealed in Six Months
Six Months, 9 Offers and $81 Billion. How Hollywood’s Nasty Takeover Was Won. W/@jtoonkel @laurenthomas @davidamichaels https://t.co/TFOmN7A5Zq
Video Success Mirrors Audio's Catalog‑First Strategy
We used to think audio was all about the catalog, but it turns out that might be just as true when it comes to video... h/t @michaelbeach https://t.co/RhM8t8AN6c
David Ellison Secures $2.8B Warner Bros. Deal Over Netflix
Power, politics and a $2.8-billion payout: How Paramount's David Ellison topped Netflix to win Warner Bros. Discovery. @latimes https://t.co/6HgvA4tXeH
Netflix Forces Paramount Debt, Secures Streaming Dominance
"Netflix’s real triumph was driving up the price Paramount had to pay and saddling the newcomer with enough debt to hobble any challenge to Netflix’s streaming dominance." -- @HolmanJenkins https://t.co/4V3TUD31y8
Paramount Wins Antitrust Battle, Faces Junk‑Debt Merger Challenge
"In a world in which antitrust has become a political weapon, Paramount had the upper hand. Its reward means it will now have to combine two companies whose debt is junk-rated and find a media business model that works." https://t.co/Lx1hXs4Ijz...
Paramount's Bold Move Beats Netflix, Secures Warner Bros.
‘David Ellison Scares the Shit Out of Me’: How Paramount Beat Out Netflix, Won Warner Bros. and Will Change Hollywood Forever https://t.co/Pt6DwlK7fc
Anderson Cooper Quits 60 Minutes, Then Returns to Same Team
So @andersoncooper quits 60 minutes over dissatisfaction with new ownership and now works for the same team again https://t.co/pyHkrAMNUP
Warner Boards Unanimously Approve WBD‑PSKY Merger
Warner says in SEC filing that 'The boards of directors of WBD and PSKY have unanimously approved the Merger Agreement...'
CNN Journalists Fear Paramount Takeover, Still Committed
Journalists at CNN are fearful for what's ahead if Paramount takes over - but want to just do the job My conversation with @ailsachang on NPR's All Things Considered, coming up at 4.35/6.35p
Paramount Pays Netflix $2.8 B Breakup Fee for WBD Deal
Netflix Says Paramount Has Paid $2.8 Billion Breakup Fee for Warner Bros. Discovery Deal https://t.co/tPYGdECLW7
Termination Fee Dwarfs Terminator Franchise's Global Box Office
This $2.8 billion termination fee is bigger than the combined global box office of Paramount’s Terminator franchise https://t.co/cWW1JErDM4 via @Lucas_Shaw @MichelleF_Davis
Paramount Pays Netflix $2.8B Termination Fee for WBD Deal
Netflix, in SEC filing, says Paramount 'on behalf of WBD, paid the $2,800,000,000 termination fee owed to Netflix in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.'
David Ellison Secures Warner Bros Deal After Netflix Backs Out
Last Saturday, Netflix was the heavy favorite to buy Warner Bros. What changed? How did David Ellison pull it off? Why did Netflix back off? Behind the scenes of one of the biggest deals in business history with @MichelleF_Davis and @joshua_sisco...
Warner Execs Stunned by Paramount Deal, Consider Sale
Warner Town Hall: Management sounds shell shocked about the Paramount deal. Do they really want to sell? https://t.co/XWnrLMB7zM
CNN Staff Fear Sale to Paramount Amid Shaky Stewardship
Anderson, cooped. Jake, tapped. Erin, burnt. Kasie, hunted. Wolf, blitzed. Fears are running high among CNN staff after parent company Warner cleared the way for a sale to Paramount, which has been a shaky custodian of its own journalism assets https://t.co/c3LvI7HQXl
CNN Staff Fear Warner‑Paramount Merger Will Damage Journalism
CNN Staffers Fear Warner Bros.-Paramount Deal Will Hurt Their Journalism and Network’s Financial Health https://t.co/c3LvI7Hj7N via @variety
Deal Secures Beloved IP, Expands Monetization, Locks AI Control
The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Bros. deal can be best understood through four objectives. 1. Buying IP that audiences already love — because nobody builds DC or Harry Potter from scratch. 2. Protecting valuable IP—after this deal closes, Netflix will lose "fat tail"...
Massive Media Mergers Keep Missing Value Creation
AT&T paid $85.4B for Warner Bros. and failed to create value. Disney paid $71.3B for Fox and has struggled to consistently wring value out of it. Discovery paid $43B for Warner Bros. and failed to create value. Paramount will pay $111B...
Paramount Gains, Ellisons Burdened by Massive Debt
Who really won in Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Discovery? Plus new details on the mountain of debt awaiting the Ellisons. My debate with Bill Cohan @PuckNews ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/xl4sfxLQQD
Amazon MGM Begins Production on God of War Series
#AmazonMGM is full on their iconic video game adaptations era, releasing our first look at the #GodofWar streaming series, unveiling a still of #Kratos and #Atreus, to announce that production of the series based on the popular game has officially...
Netflix Rejects Warner Bros. Deal Amid Price War Concerns
Nuance and Depth are Paramount to Understanding this Story ... @crupicrupicrupi Delivers. See What I did There? Netflix Says No to Warner Bros. After Price War, Beltway Concerns: https://t.co/Yhskq9nksa via @sportico
Ellisons Pull Off Record LBO of Warner, CNN
The Ellisons nab Warner and CNN in the biggest leveraged buy-out in history. Who's going to run it? https://t.co/KOQeZ3NQTy
Washington Hasn't Demanded Station Sales for Nexstar‑TEGNA Merger
D.C. Memo: Nexstar CEO Sook – Washington Has Not Said Company Needs to Sell Stations to Close TEGNA Deal | $NXST @NXSTMediaGroup $TGNA @TEGNA https://t.co/md3Cz4tI5F