In our second Riffs episode, Lydia and I discuss reports that Paramount Skydance is preparing a takeover offer for Warner Bros Discovery. We talk about the particulars of any potential deal, how it could be funded and which bits of WBD the buyer might get. Lydia – who was at Discovery when WBD formed four years ago – also tells us about why that merger happened and what the internal sentiment was at the time. 

That leads to a conversation about how and why OTT leaders, and leaders in general, greenlight specific decisions. They might have the qualitative and quantitative information needed to (confidently) take the next step but it’s ultimately it’s still up to them to press go. 

You can find a full chapter breakdown, including timestamps, below the video. 

Chapter Breakdown

• 00:00: Paramount Skydance’s potential takeover of Warner Bros Discovery
• 14:45: How do OTT leaders make decisions?
• 17:35: The difference in decision-making between legacy broadcasters and streamers
• 22:10: Netflix’s pivot away from DVD mail order and into streaming 
• 24:25: The Competence Quadrant + the repetition of mundane actions
• 29:10: The particular alchemy of commissioning and making content
• 31:20: Upcoming decisions that OTT leaders might have to make