Breaking: In Last Minute Surprise, Paramount Just Won The War For Warner Bros.

[RhodyPatriot]

I think this was always the game plan.

Netflix was trying to get Paramount to spend more than they wanted to, but a studio-centric merger always made more sense than allowing a tech behemoth to swallow up Warner Bros.



As a cinephile who only subscribes to these three services (all the best movies either originate or eventually land there), this is the best outcome possible.

Netflix would have been too big with HBO, and now Paramount and HBO become a viable player as one.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Looks like we have Big T to thank - as always:

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos failed Thursday to convince a skeptical Trump administration to approve his proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery – and with that, his nearly done deal to buy WBD’s streaming service and studio went into a death spiral.

People at Paramount and their partners at Redbird will begin the onerous process of combining all their operations as soon as Friday, when they and WBD are expected to make an announcement on the future of the company.

Paramount Skydance victory in Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war came after failed Netflix exec visit to win over White House

Sources says that the White House was unmoved by Sarandos’ arguments, that competition from social media negates their antitrust concerns, and that the administration would oppose the deal.

nypost.com

 

[egp320i]

I think this was always the game plan.

Netflix was trying to get Paramount to spend more than they wanted to, but a studio-centric merger always made more sense than allowing a tech behemoth to swallow up Warner Bros.



As a cinephile who only subscribes to these three services (all the best movies either originate or eventually land there), this is the best outcome possible.

Netflix would have been too big with HBO, and now Paramount and HBO become a viable player as one.

NO kidding........well I sold off my WBD after making a big profit, it has been flat
put that into MU and I am up thousands

I doubt even paramount + WBD is going to outpace this one

 

[Montrovant]

I think this was always the game plan.

Netflix was trying to get Paramount to spend more than they wanted to, but a studio-centric merger always made more sense than allowing a tech behemoth to swallow up Warner Bros.



As a cinephile who only subscribes to these three services (all the best movies either originate or eventually land there), this is the best outcome possible.

Netflix would have been too big with HBO, and now Paramount and HBO become a viable player as one.

Why would Netflix have been too big with some, but not all, of WB, but Paramount will not be too big with all of WB?

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Why would Netflix have been too big with some, but not all, of WB, but Paramount will not be too big with all of WB?

Netflix eclipses the rest of the streaming universe quite easily.

Even after this merger is finalized, Netflix will STILL be bigger than Paramount/Warner Bros.

Now there is a tertiary competitor besides Netflix and Disney for the top brass.

(And Disney sucks.)

 

[Montrovant]

Netflix eclipses the rest of the streaming universe quite easily.

Even after this merger is finalized, Netflix will STILL be bigger than Paramount/Warner Bros.

Now there is a tertiary competitor besides Netflix and Disney for the top brass.

(And Disney sucks.)

Netflix is bigger in streaming, but this merger isn't all about streaming. It wouldn't have been even if Netflix had won the bidding. This includes WB theatrical releases.

Considering how expensive it has become to try to watch streaming with all of the different companies involved, it's getting to the point that it might be better for the consumer to have as much content on one service as possible, rather than paying 8 different services. I'm not a champion of Netflix by any means, and we'll see how this all shakes out with Paramount+/HBO. To this point, though, I'd put Paramount+ behind Netflix, Disney, HBO, and even Hulu for streaming content.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Netflix is bigger in streaming, but this merger isn't all about streaming. It wouldn't have been even if Netflix had won the bidding. This includes WB theatrical releases.

WB releases about 12 movies a year.

They had a great 2025 with Sinners, Superman etc. - but it's a drop in the bucket for a multi-billion dollar deal like this.

Considering how expensive it has become to try to watch streaming with all of the different companies involved, it's getting to the point that it might be better for the consumer to have as much content on one service as possible, rather than paying 8 different services. I'm not a champion of Netflix by any means, and we'll see how this all shakes out with Paramount+/HBO. To this point, though, I'd put Paramount+ behind Netflix, Disney, HBO, and even Hulu for streaming content.

When it comes to to TV shows it's a bit more complicated - but when it comes to movies these three services eventually get pretty much everything. (Netflix, HBO, Paramount).

As long as you are subscribed to the premium versions, you don't miss any third party content and they have the most reliable 4K in the streaming industry.

The other players are leaning more in the directions of sports and live events - and Hulu has always been largely focused on cord cutters for network fare.

Whether you are willing to wait a couple of years is the question - but with the amount there is to watch in the meantime I find it no problem at all.

You name any major studio, mid-tier movie, or buzzy indie flick - at some point they are hitting one of these three.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

What emerges now is not market contraction but market recalibration. A Netflix–Warner combination would have entrenched the dominant streaming platform. A Paramount–Warner combination creates something else: two subordinate competitors combining to form a more viable challenger capable of standing alongside the top tier. The numbers bear this out beyond streaming.

Now, consumers stand to gain from a streaming market that features genuine rivalry. Netflix has raised subscription prices repeatedly during its period of dominance. A strengthened competitor with comparable content depth introduces discipline. Price increases become strategic decisions rather than assumptions.

KASSAM: Why Netflix Turned Tail and Abandoned Its Warner Bros Bid. - The National Pulse

For months, the assumption in both political and media circles was that the Netflix-Warner Bros-Paramount throuple’s argument would end in a bidding war. Paramount made an offer for Warner Bros. Netflix retained the contractual right to match. Paramount nudged its bid up by another dollar per...

thenationalpulse.com

 

[Montrovant]

KASSAM: Why Netflix Turned Tail and Abandoned Its Warner Bros Bid. - The National Pulse

For months, the assumption in both political and media circles was that the Netflix-Warner Bros-Paramount throuple’s argument would end in a bidding war. Paramount made an offer for Warner Bros. Netflix retained the contractual right to match. Paramount nudged its bid up by another dollar per...

thenationalpulse.com

Unfortunately, pretty much all of the streaming services have been increasing prices, whether they are true competitors with Netflix or not.

Every Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu Price Increase: The History of Streaming Service Prices

Which streaming prices have gone up? What increases can you expect this year? Why is everything so expensive? Your questions, answered.

www.cabletv.com

It would be nice if the Paramount/WB merger led to fewer price increases in streaming, but I won't hold my breath for it.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Unfortunately, pretty much all of the streaming services have been increasing prices, whether they are true competitors with Netflix or not.

Every Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu Price Increase: The History of Streaming Service Prices

Which streaming prices have gone up? What increases can you expect this year? Why is everything so expensive? Your questions, answered.

www.cabletv.com

It would be nice if the Paramount/WB merger led to fewer price increases in streaming, but I won't hold my breath for it.

For those of us who get Paramount and HBO already, it will probably be a price reduction.

Right now the premium tiers of both services combined costs about $37 a month.

With the integrated app that is expected to be less than $30.