WBD Acquisition Thread

[RandomMe]

...Zero international channels.
Where are Space, Tooncast, Real Time, Giallo, Quest, Really, Quest Red, DMAX, K2, Frisbee, Nove, TVN, Kanal 9... And I'm definitely missing more! The world isn't just the States.
(And Super!, 10 and (Channel) 5 for the Paramount side. Missing 5 and 10 is pretty questionable.)

The graphic I posted here only refers to networks in the US.

HTV is still available on Spanish-language packages, but the channel is still 4:3 even in Latin America and WBD forgot to close it.

 

[JulianRO]

MeTV Toons is operated through the joint venture WAM TV Limited Partnership. This structure is used only for this channel, and Weigel has always stated that the channel operates in partnership with Warner. So logically, Warner has a stake (%) in the channel through WAM TV.

Umm, yup, my bad.

 

[themidnightlore]

The graphic I posted here only refers to networks in the US.

HTV is still available on Spanish-language packages, but the channel is still 4:3 even in Latin America and WBD forgot to close it.

They should make it with all the channels around the world, next. Like I said, it misses many big hitters. 5, 10, TVN are big omissions...

 

[Ace]

I think this was probably going to happen eventually it was just a matter of time. The damage done to this industry was years before this acquisition with the streaming wars and everyone conspiring in it to kill cable, the theater business and home video. A business model that worked for a new one that just didn't and the result was declining cultural relevance increasingly reliant on legacy properties.

I get the risk of creating monopolies but it's also a result of the industry struggling under it's own weight. You can only have competitors in a thriving industry and entertainment is not that especially cable.

The situation was bleak no matter what happened.

I think a silver lining though is at least cable industry itself gets a major shake up which likely won't save cable but hey at least it's interesting to see play out.

 

[the greenman]

Just insane

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[RandomMe]

Just insane

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Again, it excludes non-US networks and businesses at the top.

 

[JulianRO]

Just insane

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Can you share a link to the post where you found this?

 

[zakawer2]

Just insane

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And this image doesn't even list everything that a combined Warner Bros. Paramount would own. Here's even more things that would be under them:

• Cartoonito
• Boing (excluding Mediaset's shares in Spain and Italy)
• Eurosport
• discovery+ (where it exists)
• Investigation Discovery (including, ironically enough, Quiet on Set)
• Discovery slop like Gold Rush, Deadliest Catch, Shark Week, 90 Day, My 500 lb 227 kg Life etc.
• 50% of SkyShowtime
• Nick Jr.
• Nicktoons
• The Loud House
• Wylde Pak
• Henry Danger
• iCarly
• The Thundermans
• Tom and Jerry
• Steven Universe
• Craig of the Creek
• The Amazing/Wonderfully World of Gumball
• Adventure Time
• Regular Show
• Teen Titans Go!
• We Bare Bears/We Baby Bears
• Ben 10
• The Powerpuff Girls
• Full theatrical ownership of Friday the 13th (the movie rights are currently divided between Warner Bros. Pictures under the New Line Cinema label in North America and Paramount Pictures globally)

 

[Elijah Abrams]

But anyway, I'm still not happy that Zaslav will remain in charge should this acquisition get finalised.

I thought him remaining at a merged Paramount/WBD was no longer an option?

 

[the greenman]

I thought him remaining at a merged Paramount/WBD was no longer an option?

I don't know. One rule of business if a buyout, raise amount of shares for the shareholders, take your money and hit the door. He did that much.

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[the greenman]

Can you share a link to the post where you found this?

sorry for double post.
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[Moe]

I'm curious what would happen with MeTV Toons as well, although not owned by WBD it still airs a lot of shows from its library.

I think that syndication deal last 5 years unless it is renewed and preexisting contract would be honored, so they would get around 2 years to left when Paramount-WBD deal closes in 2027.

I think that deal renewed is more likely unless Ellison goes rogue.

The fun is that Weigel does also work with Paramount. Decades first, now for Dabl.

Those decisions came from Bob Bakish before spit with Redstone-Ellison started.

Ellison's takeover action hasn't fully set yet, exception of CBS, several shows cancelled and closure of multiple international channels.

 

[RandomMe]

I think the closure of Fave TV was a sign of things to come

 

[PF9]

Skydance is not a household name.

It could become one though.

 

[Moe]

I think the closure of Fave TV was a sign of things to come

Yeah, I forgot to mention but I felt that wasn't enough to know about future of US channels.

Lowell told me that worst is coming.

It could become one though.

If it wasn't Ellison, I would be more nuanced about Skydance.

Use Skydance for parent corporation.

Use WB, Discovery and Paramount as subsidiaries with high autonomy with separation of funds for 3 studios.

It wouldn't be worst M&A but still frowned for people who opposed to M&A.

 

[RandomMe]

Yeah, I forgot to mention but I felt that wasn't enough to know about future of US channels.

Lowell told me that worst is coming.

First the 4:3 channels will shut down, later we'll see. That's what I think.

 

[TVArchive]

Judging by how J-One and others were shut down in France, Paramount may try to get rid of the non-global brands.

 

[themidnightlore]

Judging by how J-One and others were shut down in France, Paramount may try to get rid of the non-global brands.

They missed Super! in Italy... But now they got so much under the plate there...

 

[RandomMe]

Judging by how J-One and others were shut down in France, Paramount may try to get rid of the non-global brands.

And Gameone.

 

[Checkerboard]

I had a prediction for Netflix taking over here:

Post in thread 'Warner Bros. Discovery News & Discussion Thread'

Dec 5, 2025

So if I understand this correctly, the split into a tv division and streaming/studios division is still happening, but the tv division (which includes all the linear channel+TNT Sports US+Discovery+) will be called Discovery Global instead of WBD GN and the other division will have WB Pictures/TV/Games+HBO/Max+NewLine+TNTSports+Olympics?

So basically, one part of the company has the streaming and studios producing content and the other has the tv channels to air it?

I presume that Warner Archive will be gone by 2027. So not many releases left. Also not sure about the fate of classic...

• Checkerboard

Since that's not factual anymore, might as well do one for Paramount taking over now...

• HBO, HBO2, HBO3 rebrand to SkyShowtime 1/2/3 in Europe. This will be an easy step actually. The recently launched tv channels on the service are a precurser to that and their content. There won't be diversity like now in the sense of HBO1 being the main channel - all 3 SkyS channels will have their own advantages. Only distinction will be genre. The rebrand will be actually an upgrade since they will utilize the whole SkyS library, unlike HBO being focused now mostly on its own content.
• HBO Max in Europe is merged into SkyShowtime. It gets its own new sections on the vod service - those will be HBO, Adult Swim, CN, Cartoonito.
• HBO will continue to exist as a legacy brand mostly, similarly to CN using still the og logo on products.
• In USA and select countries, HBO is merged into Paramount/Paramount+.
• More Paramount+ content is added to SkyShowtime.
• Some classic MTV/Nick shows make it over to Adult Swim.
• Comedy Central gets some Adult Swim content, including Rick and Morty.
• Some Nicktoons make it over to Cartoon Network.
• Some CN shows make it vice versa to Nick networks.
• KCA will be aired now also on CN.
• CN gets a rebrand, probably implementing some orange graphics, in the first phase.
• Warner Archive continues to operate at least until 2028. Will put out content from Paramount Skydance - namely westerns, drama and nicktoons.
• Cooking and Food Network will merge.
• MTV and Nickelodeon global feed launch HD in Europe where missing.
• TLC gets BET content.
• Some more linear feeds get closed, namely in Asia and LatAm.
• Some "random" shows make a return as reboots/reruns/rereleases. One of those will be Captain Planet.
• CBS Sports gets some Eurosport content.
• CNN is either sold off or relaunched. Gets live stream on SkyS (HBO Max) along with Eurosport/CBS Sports.
• Los Angeles Olympics 2028 will be a key event for the new media house.