ArchiveFM

The Daily

Netflix vs. Paramount: Inside the Epic Battle Over Warner Brothers

Netflix announced plans on Friday to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, in a deal that would send shock waves through Hollywood. On Monday, Paramount made a hostile bid for the studio, arguing that the Netflix deal would be “anti-competitive.” The Times journalists Nicole Sperling, Kyle Buchanan and Lauren Hirsch discuss what it all means for the future of TV and film.
Duration
42m
Broadcast on
09 Dec 2025
Audio Format
other

Netflix announced plans on Friday to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, in a deal that would send shock waves through Hollywood.

On Monday, Paramount made a hostile bid for the studio, arguing that the Netflix deal would be “anti-competitive.”

The Times journalists Nicole Sperling, Kyle Buchanan and Lauren Hirsch discuss what it all means for the future of TV and film.

Guest:

  • Nicole Sperling, a New York Times reporter in Los Angeles who covers Hollywood and the streaming revolution.
  • Kyle Buchanan, a pop culture reporter and the awards-season columnist for The New York Times.
  • Lauren Hirsch, a New York Times reporter who covers the biggest stories on Wall Street, including mergers and acquisitions.

Background reading: 

Photo: Aleksey Kondratyev for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. From New York Times, I'm Michael Bobaro. This is The Daily. (upbeat music) To hear the CEO of Netflix, Tell It, his $83 billion offer to buy Warner Brothers Studios will benefit everyone. - We think this deal with Warner Brothers is good for shareholders. We think it's good for consumers. We think it's good for creators. We think it's great for the entertainment industry as a whole. - To hear the CEO of Paramount Tell It, that same offer is a monopolistic disaster. - Allowing the number one streaming service to combine with the number three streaming service is anti-competitive. That's like saying Coke can buy Pepsi. - Today, the blockbuster deal that is rocking Hollywood, the competing hostel takeover bid that it's inspired, and what it all means for the future of TV and film, and for all of us, The Viewers. I spoke with three of my colleagues, Nicole Spirling, Kyle Buchanan, and Lauren Hirsch. (upbeat music) It's Tuesday, December 9th. (upbeat music) - I wanna welcome the three of you to the first ever edition of the round table, Hollywood edition, Lauren Hirsch. - Hello. - Nice to have you in the studio, and joining us from Los Angeles and its environs, Nicole Spirling, nice to have you on. - Hello. - And Kyle Buchanan, thanks for making time for us. - Hi Michael. - So, we usually put together these panels

Transcription truncated.

Netflix announced plans on Friday to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, in a deal that would send shock waves through Hollywood. On Monday, Paramount made a hostile bid for the studio, arguing that the Netflix deal would be “anti-competitive.” The Times journalists Nicole Sperling, Kyle Buchanan and Lauren Hirsch discuss what it all means for the future of TV and film.