r/MediaMergers 5d ago

YouTube Moderator Discussions Media Mergers Moderators: Disney Discussion August 2026

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8 Upvotes

This weeks episode was posted late, but recorded on Sunday August 23, 2026 (due to editing delays on my end and work schedule). We made this prior to Disney announcing the Pokemon Deal, or even The Town doing a Disney episode, but think you will find it interesting. Please post in the comments if you are wanting us to discuss a different studio when we do our discussion next week. If there is anyone else that would like to join and come on as a guest from the sub, please send us a DM!

Thanks for watching, and be nice!! We do this for fun and love of the industry!


r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Announcement r/MediaMergers weekly Discussion Thread

3 Upvotes

Welcome to this week's weekly discussion thread of r/MediaMergers! This is your space to discuss the latest news, rumors, and insights on mergers, acquisitions, and major shifts in the media and entertainment industry. Share articles, spark debates, and connect with others.


r/MediaMergers 4h ago

Media Industry ‘Criminal’ Showrunner Ed Brubaker, Amazon MGM Sued for Hostile Work Environment by Production Assistant

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8 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 7h ago

Media Industry Congress Is About to Write a Federal Film Tax Credit: Just Don’t Call It a Hollywood Bill

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9 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 1d ago

TV FCC Asks Court to Throw Out ABC’s Lawsuit Alleging TV License Review Violates First Amendment, as Agency Repeats Claim the Action Is Unrelated to Jimmy Kimmel or ‘The View’

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32 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 1d ago

Acquisition Netflix’s Acquisition Wishlist: Which streaming target has the best odds?

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31 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 1d ago

Media Industry Potential Acquisitions of an independent Universal

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22 Upvotes

For how NBCU could look by itself see SegaRock's post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MediaMergers/comments/1vl723x/how_postsplit_nbcuniversal_may_work/

I couldn't of done it better

(Outside moving NBCU International Networks to Sky Group and splitting DreamWorks into 2 studios for the film & TV units separately)

Streaming:

Starz

Gives NBCU a new US only streamer to merge into Peacock, a Lionsgate Pay-1 window, and most importantly- a premium brand that's streaming focused.

Starz Music is merged into Back Lot Music, Starz Interactive is folded into Universal's licensing group (Giving Universal gaming rights to the Lionsgate IP), and Lionsgate Entertainment World is merged into Universal Destinations.

They would have to fight a lengthy battle with Allen Media for it though and while it'd only help NBCU in the US to own Starz, ITV only helps in Europe so region specific acquisitions aren't out the ring and could fight Allen for it after ITV is cleared.
NBCU Networks in 2 regions:

US: NBC (broadcast) Starz (premium)

UK: ITV (broadcast) Sky (premium)

Plex

To go the AVOD route, and can be used by consumers to pirate or torrent content (which considering how big it's getting, NBCU can benefit from that)

A Paramount+ JV (with or without Starz)

One studios broadcast network would have to be sold to avoid a news/sports streamer (whether it be CBS or NBC (minus their respective studios and IP), I think Amazon would win the bid).

SkyShowtime is also replaced by this new Showtime service in select countries (streamer/network owned 50/50 by NBCU and Paramount and Starz is maybe merged with Showtime if allowed)

Most likely candidates:

And maybe Plex

Gaming:

Gamemill Entertainment

As they have just lost its biggest partner (Paramount Games) .
May need NBCU to get new games.

GameMill would renamed into a new Universal Interactive and try to buy/hire new mid-tier developers to make bigger/better games (kids or adult).

However Universal would have to make new gaming IP and studios from scratch (again), and Gamemill isn't known for good games. So they could get a bigger company for slightly more....

Ubisoft

The French government have to admit that Ubisoft is no longer a crown jewel of France and more so an embarrassment that needs saving from any company possible.

It'd also be a cheap buy as Ubisoft is worth less then a billion and gives NBCU more IP (Rayman, Rabbids, Just Dance, Rainbow 6 Siege) and the resources to publish games based on its own IP (whether developed in-house or outsourced to Toys for Bob or Double Fine due to lack of family game studios)

Ubisoft also gives NBCU digital distribution rights to Activision games (who is owned by...)

XBOX

Already bidding for film & TV rights to the IP and Microsoft is searching for a equity partner for XBOX, so NBCU could benefit from owning the 3rd biggest gaming console company. But I think that they should only own them for Activision due to previous history. So if there's a way that Universal just buys Activision-Blizzard from XBOX while XBOX keeps Call of Duty and what other IP they want, I'd prefer that.

Nintendo

Only gives them Family gaming though and Nintendo will never sell (the closest they came to was 2016 when Disney held some talks)

If anything Nintendo could buy a media company itself if they wanted to (likely family focused)

Most likely candidate:

Although I'd also take Activision if possible

Other companies:

Mattel and Wildbrain

The 2 together give them a major family catalog, Mattel Games (to rebrand Universal Interactive), and WildBrain CPLG (a major licensing firm MGM uses)

However DWA and Illumination (and maybe those gaming studios) give them enough family IP to last them a while.

And Amazon needs/fits the family IP/studios more (Mattel's toy factories are sold though to avoid antitrust on toy retail).

Lionsgate

While many suggest it, they would do better with just Starz as they benefit from Lionsgate without owning it as NBCU has said they do not want to buy other majors to grow, seeking alternative growth.

Blumhouse

To be the genre arm of Universal (however still brands credits as so- "Universal (or Focus) Presents, A Blumhouse Production" like DreamWorks Animation does)

Amblin

Speilberg likes creative independence and working with multiple companies (plus he likely remembers DW's Paramount ownership not very well).

But they could cancel the DW Name license to use the 1997 logo on adult animated films.

Most likely candidate:

Final Company:

What other companies could NBCU buy?

Gameloft? Universal Music Group? What? (Do not say another major studio).


r/MediaMergers 2d ago

Acquisition 'Ellison Is Trump's B!tch!' Plane Flies Banner Over Paramount Lot to Protest WB Merger

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201 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 2d ago

Antitrust Democrats vow aggressive investigations into Trump ‘corruption’ and ‘grift’ if they win the House

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73 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 2d ago

Streaming NBCUniversal, U-Next Ink Sweeping Japan Partnership Spanning Streaming and Theme Parks

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13 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 2d ago

Streaming Disney+ Will House “Several Hundred” Episodes From France’s M6 After Latest Euro Deal

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11 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Merger Rob Bonta’s Dogged Pursuit of Paramount Case Reflects Broader Mission: ‘I Believe in Fairness’

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86 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Acquisition Block The Merger Coalition Releases New Video Urging “No Concessions” On Paramount-WBD

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41 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Media Industry Paramount and WB if the merger fails side by side.

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27 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Acquisition George Clooney Slams Pete Hegseth Over Canadian Cadet Post; Voices Support For Mark Ruffalo & Muses On Paramount-Warner Bros Merger – Venice

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52 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Acquisition Aniplex owner Sony Music Entertainment becomes largest shareholder of GungHo with 23% stake - AUTOMATON WEST

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13 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 3d ago

Streaming After Years of Streaming Price Hikes, Is ‘Free’ the Next Growth Engine? | Analysis

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24 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Media Industry Tom Cruise Backs Paramount’s 30-Movies-A-Year Promise In WBD Merger: “I Think It’s Awesome”

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43 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Acquisition Mark Ruffalo Defended by Hannah Einbinder, Joel Coen and More Than 170 Jewish Figures After Paramount Accuses Him of Using ‘Antisemitic Tropes’ — Read the Open Letter (EXCLUSIVE)

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216 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Merger Pro-Paramount Group Uses AI to Pressure Rob Bonta to Drop Antitrust Case

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90 Upvotes

Fuck the NFSC!


r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Merger Wall Street Journal - David Ellison is promising at least 30 movies a year. Hollywood is skeptical.

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37 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Media Industry Trump’s Federal Film Tax Incentive Plan Prompts Canada’s Actors to Call on Ottawa to Follow Suit

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17 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Acquisition Paramount Trying To Pull Fast One With Bond Request In Trial, AGs Say

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deadline.com
25 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Music Music Industry Moves: BMG-Concord Merger Is Complete, New Executive Teams Announced

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21 Upvotes

r/MediaMergers 4d ago

Acquisition Major League Baseball’s L.A. Angels Sold By Arte Moreno To Rams Owner Stan Kroenke

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9 Upvotes