Netflix or Paramount: who would be the best new owner of Warner Bros?

"Netflix made a deal to buy the Warner Bros side of the company—its studio and streaming businesses—late last year, but Paramount Skydance has been undeterred, aggressively pursuing what it claims to be a better offer for the entire WBD operation. After several failed attempts at a hostile takeover, WBD is considering a final Paramount offer, to which Netflix will have the opportunity to counter."

"For cinema devotees, casual viewers and people working in the film industry, the ideal outcome would be for Warner Bros to continue as its own entity: an entertainment company making movies and TV series. But that's clearly not going to happen—nor are any number of relatively superior options floated last year, like the idea of Apple buying Warner instead."

"James Cameron appeared to speak up for the latter when he denigrated a potential Netflix deal as disastrous to the film industry in a letter to Senator Mike Lee. Cameron noted, as others have, that Netflix's business model poses risks to theatrical cinema."

Warner Bros Discovery is caught in a prolonged bidding war between Netflix and Paramount Skydance. Netflix made an initial deal to acquire Warner Bros' studio and streaming businesses, but Paramount has aggressively pursued a competing offer for the entire company. After multiple failed hostile takeover attempts, WBD is considering Paramount's final offer, with Netflix having the opportunity to counter. For film industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts, neither outcome appears ideal, as both would result in Warner Bros being absorbed by a larger corporation rather than remaining independent. Alternative options, such as Apple acquiring the studio, were previously considered but are no longer viable. James Cameron and other industry figures have expressed concerns about a Netflix acquisition, citing potential damage to theatrical filmmaking.

Read at www.theguardian.com