Netflix acquires Warner Brothers

[Ubik]

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...rner-bros-discovery-streaming-and-studio-sale

The TLDR:

Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros Discovery studio and streaming business in $83bn deal streaming service to gain control of studio behind Harry Potter and Batman, as well as HBO, home to The White Lotus and Game of Thrones

The streaming company will take control of prize assets including Warner Bros, the studio behind franchises including Harry Potter, Superman and Batman, as well as HBO, home to shows including Game of Thrones, The White Lotus and Succession.

Netflix will also get hold of an extensive TV archive that includes classics such as Friends, which is scheduled to be removed from Netflix at the end of the year, and The Big Bang Theory.

“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” said Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive of Netflix. “Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”

 

[Ubik]

IMHO, no way they don't do something with B5, in whatever capacity. Me, I'd love to see some new blood involved, especially in the writer's room. JMS as creative consultant. After The Road Home, I have zero desire to see him heavily involved in the writing.

 

[AntonyF]

I'm not sure why Netflix acquiring them would make a sudden need for a B5 show. They're interested in IP such as Harry Potter, not a 30 odd year old TV show where even fans are going they don't like recent stuff or want the creator writing it.

I think it's an odd acquisition. It sounds nice to pick up some franchises, but it's going to be two entirely different business models at loggerheads with each other.

 

[Ubik]

I'm not sure why Netflix acquiring them would make a sudden need for a B5 show. They're interested in IP such as Harry Potter, not a 30 odd year old TV show where even fans are going they don't like recent stuff or want the creator writing it.

I think it's an odd acquisition. It sounds nice to pick up some franchises, but it's going to be two entirely different business models at loggerheads with each other.

Unsure why the business models would be at loggerheads? WB was attempting to transition to streaming with HBO MAX, etc. It's just taking the whole library and folding it into Netflix. Cable is dead, so it makes sense for there to be consolidation in the sector. There's some very lucrative properties and some more obscure ones (like B5). Equally Netflix are pushing into hollywood films, but could use a helping hand. WB gets them a far better shot at blockbuster films. Of course, with a narrower window from big screen to small.

I suppose I'd compare it to Amazon now making new Stargate. I expect Netflix will be looking very carefully at what IPs in that stable could work for streaming TV. Perhaps someone will look at B5, perhaps not. But I think Netflix are a tad more adventurous than WB and it could shake loose a few of the cobwebs.

It feels like it could be a fresh start for some beloved properties. Of course, I'm just speculating here! We don't have much else to talk about in the realms of B5 and this is big news.

As I said before, I also hope it fosters a fresh approach IF things are to continue. (Up for debate if that's good or bad, TRH didn't do much to inspire confidence in the old guard).

 

[Springer]

IMHO, no way they don't do something with B5, in whatever capacity. Me, I'd love to see some new blood involved, especially in the writer's room. JMS as creative consultant. After The Road Home, I have zero desire to see him heavily involved in the writing.

Frankly, I'd rather they just don't touch B5. If you want to bring in new people, have them create something new of their own rather than hang on the coattails of others. I'm fed up of remakes and reboots that don't have the soul of the original. Like it or not (and legalities of WB owning it aside), B5 is JMS' story and it should stay that way. It would be as abhorrent as having Brandon Sanderson or someone rewrite the Lord of the Rings books.

 

[Ubik]

Frankly, I'd rather they just don't touch B5. If you want to bring in new people, have them create something new of their own rather than hang on the coattails of others. I'm fed up of remakes and reboots that don't have the soul of the original. Like it or not (and legalities of WB owning it aside), B5 is JMS' story and it should stay that way. It would be as abhorrent as having Brandon Sanderson or someone rewrite the Lord of the Rings books.

I'm with you on the over reliance on existing properties, endless sequels, prequels and reboot. It's not great.

However, let me play devil's advocate for a moment. B5 in someone else's hands could also be as good as Tony Gilroy making the best Star Wars content since the original films (Andor). Not all spin offs that don't involve the original creator are bad.

Others can play in the universe, with the potential for great things.

 

[Jan]

JMS' comment on the WB / Netflix sale:

 

[Springer]

I'm with you on the over reliance on existing properties, endless sequels, prequels and reboot. It's not great.

However, let me play devil's advocate for a moment. B5 in someone else's hands could also be as good as Tony Gilroy making the best Star Wars content since the original films (Andor). Not all spin offs that don't involve the original creator are bad.

Others can play in the universe, with the potential for great things.

Maybe as a sequel, with JMS' blessing, there might be an opportunity for another creator. But a remake under someone else would be unconscionable to me.

I haven't seen Andor, but I didn't like Rogue One.

 

[AntonyF]

Unsure why the business models would be at loggerheads?

WB is still largely a traditional studio. It may have streaming ambitions, but it's a crowded marketplace and a lot of people are losing money over it.

WB is a big machine, it needs to churn out movies to keep afloat and place money on big bets. With Netflix there starts to become friction. Do you put it on Netflix first? You take the bottom out of your cinema business. Do you put it on Netflix second? Well now you've lost all your international rights, that money for linear broadcast is still pretty big. WB makes things for other people - does it stop doing that? It couldn't afford to. So does Netflix just get the choicest bits and Netflix is both then a broadcaster and a distributor and a producer of content? Will Netflix now produce Blu-rays, so back to discs?

The irony is the older studios are struggling because things like Netflix are a new business model without the legacy pain, and then you kind of bolt the old onto the new.

There are some benefits, mostly picking up IP. But what they've done is pick up IP with a big price tag and a lot of legacy issues. Disney has failed to capitalise on the Fox acquisition which from my limited knowledge was a lot less complicated.

Shareholders will want returns, debt will go up, and Netflix's subscription count can't keep going up for ever. But to bring this back to B5 they will want to capitalise on the rock hot properties and try to milk them. I don't think B5 is one of them. Even shows like Westworld were canned due to cost cutting, I think we'll see more in that direction first.

 

[Ubik]

WB is still largely a traditional studio. It may have streaming ambitions, but it's a crowded marketplace and a lot of people are losing money over it.

WB is a big machine, it needs to churn out movies to keep afloat and place money on big bets. With Netflix there starts to become friction. Do you put it on Netflix first? You take the bottom out of your cinema business. Do you put it on Netflix second? Well now you've lost all your international rights, that money for linear broadcast is still pretty big. WB makes things for other people - does it stop doing that? It couldn't afford to. So does Netflix just get the choicest bits and Netflix is both then a broadcaster and a distributor and a producer of content? Will Netflix now produce Blu-rays, so back to discs?

The irony is the older studios are struggling because things like Netflix are a new business model without the legacy pain, and then you kind of bolt the old onto the new.

There are some benefits, mostly picking up IP. But what they've done is pick up IP with a big price tag and a lot of legacy issues. Disney has failed to capitalise on the Fox acquisition which from my limited knowledge was a lot less complicated.

Shareholders will want returns, debt will go up, and Netflix's subscription count can't keep going up for ever. But to bring this back to B5 they will want to capitalise on the rock hot properties and try to milk them. I don't think B5 is one of them. Even shows like Westworld were canned due to cost cutting, I think we'll see more in that direction first.

Up to Netflx to re-structure WB to their advantage I guess. I can see what you're getting at here. There will be some major changes I imagine.