"As huge swaths of the movie business are freaking out over the news that Netflix may soon control the iconic Warner Bros. film studio, folks in TV land are furiously trying to figure out what the deal means for the company's other crown jewel, HBO. The most prestigious brand in television - and its streaming counterpart, HBO Max - could soon be under the purview of a streaming colossus whose reputation in so many ways has been the exact opposite of HBO's:"
"despite its huge resources and bank reserves, the company still needs to get past regulators in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as the very real possibility of a jilted David Ellison and Paramount trying to derail the agreement, making it far from certain today's announcement will end with an approved deal. "I would guess it's 50-50 they are even able to close it," one WBD insider told Vulture on Friday, adding that the process could drag on for close to 18 months,"
Netflix's proposed purchase of Warner Bros. could place HBO and HBO Max under a streamer known for endless scroll, binge releases, and data-driven decisions. Netflix's operational model contrasts with HBO's curation, appointment-style weekly episodes, and programmer gut calls. Significant regulatory review in the U.S. and Europe and potential legal challenges from parties like David Ellison and Paramount make deal approval uncertain. An internal estimation places the odds of closing at about fifty percent and suggests the process could take roughly 18 months. Recent corporate turnover at Warner Bros. has produced multiple ownership changes, contributing to muted employee emotions and low immediate panic.
Read at Vulture
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