Reference News Network, December 7 report. According to AFP, on December 5, streaming giant Netflix has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire the core assets of the media group for a total price of $83 billion, but whether it can pass regulatory approval remains uncertain.
According to a joint statement released on the 5th, if approved by regulators, Netflix will take over the competitor's HBO Max streaming platform and Warner Bros. Pictures. The deal will instantly give Netflix a vast content library, including the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" series, DC Studios' superheroes (such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman), as well as the "Game of Thrones" series.
However, Netflix will not receive Warner Bros. Discovery's television channel business (including Discovery Channel and CNN). These assets will be spun off into an independent entity and listed before the acquisition.
Netflix's offer is $27.75 per share, with a total value of about $72 billion (excluding debt), thus beating the competing cable TV operator Comcast and Paramount Global. According to U.S. media, Warner Bros. Discovery's board had previously expected a transaction valuation of around $7.5 billion excluding debt.
Katherine Brooks, analyst at XTB UK, said in a report: "This deal is likely to face in-depth review by U.S. and European regulators, as it raises reasonable concerns about monopoly."
Currently, Netflix is the world's largest video-on-demand platform, HBO Max ranks third, and Disney is second. (Translated by Pan Geping)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7581033214173626923/
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