Daniel Frankel and David Bloom close out a momentous 2025 with a wide-ranging Next TMT Talks episode covering the collision of AI, Hollywood consolidation, streaming wars, and legacy media economics.

From Netflix’s high-stakes battle with Paramount and Warner Bros to Disney’s surprising $1B partnership with OpenAI, this episode explores how power, money, and technology are reshaping entertainment faster than regulators — or studios — can react .

• Netflix faces bipartisan antitrust pressure as the Warner Bros deal drags on
• Paramount–Skydance’s hostile bid sparks DC scrutiny over foreign investors
• Disney invests $1B in OpenAI and integrates Sora — with heavy guardrails
• Why AI video is improving faster than anyone expected (Coca-Cola’s AI ads)
• The future of user-generated content in games, film, and TV (Overwolf)
• Why mid-budget adult dramas are disappearing — and why Netflix may save them
• Fallout from Golden Globes “shakedown” tactics and awards-season economics
• Pay TV posts its first growth quarter in years — is linear stabilizing?
• Cloud gaming, Samsung TVs, Fallout, GTA Online, and Microsoft’s big bet
• College football playoffs land on HBO Max — a new sports distribution reality

🎙 Hosted by Daniel Frankel & David Bloom
🗞 Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter → https://nexttmt.com

Chapter List:

00:00 Introduction to Next TMT Talks

01:17 Warner Brothers Acquisition and Regulatory Challenges

04:05 Disney's Investment in OpenAI and AI in Media

08:11 Coca-Cola's AI Christmas Ads and Video Evolution

10:33 The Future of Video Entertainment and Mergers

17:53 Antitrust Concerns and Foreign Investments in Media

21:34 The Decline of Mid-Budget Films and Industry Changes

25:25 The Golden Globe Controversy

29:32 The Impact of Awards on Film Careers

33:51 The State of Pay TV and Streaming

39:13 Emerging Trends in Streaming and Gaming

Daniel Frankel and David Bloom return for a special mid-week Next TMT Talks update — because the media world moved too fast this week to wait for Sunday.

From Netflix’s shifting stance on Warner Bros to David Ellison’s surprise hostile takeover bid, to AI’s impact on media valuations, to the Stranger Things theatrical finale, this episode breaks down all the chaos in real time.

💬 In this episode (from the transcript)
• Trump confirms a meeting with Ted Sarandos — and says Netflix shouldn’t be blocked
• David Ellison launches a hostile bid backed by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds + Jared Kushner
• Netflix execs say they’re “super confident” regulators will approve the deal
• Laura Martin reverses herself — says Netflix doesn’t need Warner Bros’ “anchor” business
• Why Paramount MUST win or risk irrelevance
• Fallout of $6B “synergies” — massive layoffs baked into all scenarios
• Stoller’s theory: Netflix may be kneecapping competitors by tying them up in a mega-deal
• The real end of Hollywood 1.0 — legacy studios being “sold off for parts”
• AI summaries cut publisher traffic by 30%+, freezing media M&A
• Pay TV shows first growth in eight years — YouTube TV + Charter stabilize the sector
• Versant (Comcast spinoff) looks surprisingly healthy in a mature TV world
• HBO Max flubs Mad Men’s 4K release — visible rigs, vomit machines, mislabeled episodes
• AI “slop content” flooding YouTube
• Stranger Things 5 returns huge — and the series finale will debut in theaters on New Year’s Eve

🎙 Hosted by Daniel Frankel & David Bloom
🗞 Subscribe → https://nexttmt.com
📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube
🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Tags / Keywords:
Netflix Warner Bros deal, David Ellison hostile takeover, Skydance Paramount bid, AI media valuations, Stranger Things theatrical release, pay TV growth YouTube TV Charter, Versant Comcast networks, HBO Max Mad Men 4K, AI slop content, Next TMT Talks, Daniel Frankel David Bloom, streaming wars 2025, Hollywood M&A

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Next TMT Talks

01:32 Warner Brothers Discovery Auction and Netflix's Bid

04:16 The Impact of AI on Media M&A

08:32 The Future of Paramount and Netflix

13:03 The End Stage of Hollywood

17:53 The Current State of Pay TV and Streaming

20:52 AI's Influence on Content Creation

21:48 Mad Men 4K Release and Quality Control

23:38 Stranger Things and Theatrical Releases

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
🗞 Subscribe → https://nexttmt.com
📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📰 Weekly newsletter every Monday

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