Daniel Frankel and David Bloom break down a massive week in media, tech, and telecom — including Netflix’s stunning move to buy Warner Bros (but not Discovery), what it means for Hollywood, and why linear cable might be showing the first signs of life in years.

From telecom drama to college football chaos to major leadership departures at Apple, this is a loaded episode of Next TMT Talks.

💬 In this episode
• Netflix buys Warner Bros — without Discovery
• Why the deal “slipped under the radar” Friday
• The Obama conspiracy narratives & WGA antitrust complaints
• Will Netflix merge HBO Max into its platform?
• The post-Hollywood era begins
• Warner Bros’ shrinking theatrical output & what it means for cinemas
• Why old IP won’t save anyone
• Netflix gaming: Hogwarts Legacy-size potential
• EchoStar stiffing its contractors & “act of Carr” defense
• AT&T dumps DEI → FCC magically approves spectrum
• Wireless Black Friday: T-Mobile gives away almost $2,000 in hardware
• Versant (Comcast’s spinoff) and the unexpected revival signs in linear TV
• College football playoff drama (Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Indiana)
• WBD sub-rights to CFP games → landing on HBO Max
• Huge leadership shake-up at Apple: AI head retiring, hardware leadership in flux, design chief jumps to Meta
• Early noise about Tim Cook’s succession planning

🎙 Hosted by Daniel Frankel & David Bloom
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Tags / Keywords:
Netflix buys Warner Bros, Warner Bros sale, WBD spinoff, Warner Bros Discovery split, HBO Max Netflix merger, Versant Comcast spinoff, linear TV comeback, EchoStar Dish news, AT&T FCC DEI, Apple leadership exits, Meta hires Apple designer, Netflix gaming strategy, Next TMT Talks, Daniel Frankel, David Bloom, media industry analysis 2025

chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Major Industry Changes

02:35 Warner Brothers Acquisition and Its Implications

04:55 Antitrust Concerns and Industry Dynamics

07:29 The Future of Theatrical Releases

10:29 The Impact of Streaming on Traditional Media

13:26 Netflix's Expansion into Gaming and Location-Based Entertainment

16:08 Curation and Content Strategy in Streaming

18:54 Advertising and Competition in the Streaming Space

21:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Industry Trends

23:15 The State of College Football Playoffs

25:22 Transformations in College Football Programs

27:02 Media Rights and Broadcasting Changes

27:55 The Future of Sports Networks

31:25 Diversity and Inclusion in Telecom

34:37 Wireless Carrier Strategies and Competition

37:45 Leadership Changes at Apple

43:00 Wrap-Up and Future Insights