Paramount CEO Declines Senate Antitrust Hearing Invitation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1d ago
0mins
Should l Buy WBD?
Source: seekingalpha
- Hearing Decline: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison declined an invitation to testify at the Senate antitrust hearing regarding Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, indicating he believes his appearance would not be beneficial, which underscores his strong opposition to the deal.
- Hostile Takeover Bid: Ellison has initiated a hostile tender offer for Warner Bros. and stated that the Netflix deal is anticompetitive on its face, while a Paramount deal would fall below antitrust thresholds, highlighting his concerns about market competition.
- Written Testimony Offer: He expressed willingness to provide written testimony and appear before the panel if the Netflix deal does not go through and the Paramount deal progresses, a statement that could influence future transaction dynamics.
- Industry Reaction: Executives from Netflix and Warner Bros. are scheduled to testify before the Senate panel on Tuesday regarding Netflix's $82.7 billion acquisition plan, reflecting the industry's heightened scrutiny and potential legal challenges surrounding the deal.
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Analyst Views on WBD
Wall Street analysts forecast WBD stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WBD is 24.98 USD with a low forecast of 14.75 USD and a high forecast of 30.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 27.190
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
Current: 27.190
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
About WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. is a global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes a portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. The Company's segments include Studios, Networks and DTC. Studios segment primarily consists of the production and release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, production and initial licensing of television programs to its networks/DTC services as well as third parties, distribution of its films and television programs to various third party and internal television and streaming services, distribution through the home entertainment market, and others. Networks segment primarily consists of its domestic and international television networks. DTC segment primarily consists of its premium pay-TV and streaming services. Its brands and products include Discovery Channel, Max, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Share Insights: Sarandos noted that Netflix accounts for about 9% of total U.S. TV viewing time, projecting that even after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery, it would only reach around 10%, underscoring Netflix's limited market share and the necessity of competing against platforms like YouTube.
- Acquisition Details: Netflix recently proposed an all-cash offer valued at $82.7 billion for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming businesses, securing unanimous board approval and sidelining rival Paramount, which is expected to grant Netflix control over HBO Max and several major film franchises.
- Investor Reaction: Ross Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, praised Sarandos's testimony as well-articulated, reflecting market interest and support for Netflix's acquisition plans, despite the company's stock falling 3.41% on Tuesday.
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- Hearing Decline: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison declined an invitation to testify at the Senate antitrust hearing regarding Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, indicating he believes his appearance would not be beneficial, which underscores his strong opposition to the deal.
- Hostile Takeover Bid: Ellison has initiated a hostile tender offer for Warner Bros. and stated that the Netflix deal is anticompetitive on its face, while a Paramount deal would fall below antitrust thresholds, highlighting his concerns about market competition.
- Written Testimony Offer: He expressed willingness to provide written testimony and appear before the panel if the Netflix deal does not go through and the Paramount deal progresses, a statement that could influence future transaction dynamics.
- Industry Reaction: Executives from Netflix and Warner Bros. are scheduled to testify before the Senate panel on Tuesday regarding Netflix's $82.7 billion acquisition plan, reflecting the industry's heightened scrutiny and potential legal challenges surrounding the deal.
See More
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Paramount's Position: He noted that Paramount's tie-up with Netflix falls below antitrust thresholds, suggesting it may not raise significant regulatory issues.
See More
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- Streaming Competition Perspective: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos testified before the U.S. Senate, highlighting YouTube's significant influence in the television space, with approximately 50% of YouTube viewing now occurring on TV screens, challenging the traditional view of YouTube as a mobile-first service and indicating a fundamental shift in the streaming competition landscape.
- Market Share Insights: Sarandos noted that Netflix accounts for about 9% of total U.S. TV viewing time, projecting that even after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery, it would only reach around 10%, underscoring Netflix's limited market share and the necessity of competing against platforms like YouTube.
- Acquisition Details: Netflix recently proposed an all-cash offer valued at $82.7 billion for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming businesses, securing unanimous board approval and sidelining rival Paramount, which is expected to grant Netflix control over HBO Max and several major film franchises.
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- Bob Iger's Departure: Bob Iger is leaving his position at Walt Disney after two terms as CEO, during which he implemented significant changes to the company.
- Impact of Leadership: His leadership was marked by challenges and controversies, reflecting the complexities of managing a major entertainment corporation.
See More
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- Merger Defense: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos testified before the Senate, stating that the $82.7 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery will allow both companies to operate as they currently do, emphasizing the complementary nature of their streaming services to maintain market competitiveness.
- Value Creation Commitment: Sarandos highlighted that the merger will keep Warner Bros, an iconic Hollywood studio, healthy and competitive, promising to create more value for consumers, provide more opportunities for the creative community, and boost American jobs.
- Competition Concerns: Despite Sarandos' positive assertions about the merger's impact, the Senate panel expressed skepticism regarding the deal, fearing it could negatively affect competition in the streaming market, indicating regulatory scrutiny over industry consolidation.
- Industry Outlook: The defense of this merger not only pertains to the future of Netflix and Warner Bros but also has implications for the entire streaming industry landscape, reflecting strategic adjustments by major media companies in response to competitive pressures.
See More
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Testimony on Antitrust Concerns: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos testified before a Senate subcommittee regarding antitrust issues related to the company's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Focus on Merger Implications: The testimony highlights the regulatory scrutiny that major media mergers face, particularly concerning market competition and consumer impact.
See More
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- Hearing Decline: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison declined an invitation to testify at the Senate antitrust hearing regarding Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, indicating he believes his appearance would not be beneficial, which underscores his strong opposition to the deal.
- Hostile Takeover Bid: Ellison has initiated a hostile tender offer for Warner Bros. and stated that the Netflix deal is anticompetitive on its face, while a Paramount deal would fall below antitrust thresholds, highlighting his concerns about market competition.
- Written Testimony Offer: He expressed willingness to provide written testimony and appear before the panel if the Netflix deal does not go through and the Paramount deal progresses, a statement that could influence future transaction dynamics.
- Industry Reaction: Executives from Netflix and Warner Bros. are scheduled to testify before the Senate panel on Tuesday regarding Netflix's $82.7 billion acquisition plan, reflecting the industry's heightened scrutiny and potential legal challenges surrounding the deal.
See More
ELLISON INFORMED SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THAT HE BELIEVES NETFLIX DEAL IS INHERENTLY ANTICOMPETITIVE, WHILE PARAMOUNT PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT MEET ANTITRUST CRITERIA - BLOOMBERG NEWS
Elliott's Testimony: Elliott expressed concerns to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the Netflix deal, labeling it as anti-competitive.
Paramount's Position: He noted that Paramount's tie-up with Netflix falls below antitrust thresholds, suggesting it may not raise significant regulatory issues.
See More
