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

Daniel Frankel and David Bloom break down a wild holiday week in tech, media, and telecom — short week, big news. From Warner Bros Discovery bidding wars to FCC battles, Netflix antitrust chatter, and even OpenAI’s nuclear-level power bill, it’s all here.

💬 In this episode (from the transcript)
• Who’s buying Warner Bros Discovery? Netflix flagged as an “antitrust concern” by the White House
• Why Skydance Ellison and Comcast are playing a trillion-dollar chess game
• State AGs complicating any WBD merger — CA, NY & TX take center stage
• Sinclair & Nexstar vs. FCC caps, Trump, and Newsmax pressure
• CBS News & Barry Weiss — and Trump’s new “media offender” list
• Regional sports networks: surprising DTC growth
• NFL Sunday Ticket jumps 37% on YouTube TV
• Netflix holiday rom-com takeover (“Champagne Problems”)
• OpenAI’s massive power consumption + nuclear energy debate
• SMRs / modular nuclear reactors and America’s unresolved waste problem
• Big Tech valuation surge — Google nears $4T, Nvidia $5T, Apple $4T

🎙 Hosted by Daniel Frankel & David Bloom
🗞 Subscribe (free): https://nexttmt.com
🎧 Full episodes on Spotify | 📺 Watch on YouTube

Tags / Keywords:
Warner Bros Discovery sale, Skydance Ellison bid, Netflix antitrust, Comcast strategy, Sinclair Nexstar FCC, CBS News Barry Weiss, OpenAI power usage, modular nuclear reactors, Google Gemini, Big Tech valuations, regional sports networks, NFL Sunday Ticket YouTube TV, Netflix holiday romcoms, Next TMT Talks, FAST, Streaming wars, Telecommunications, telecom

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Week's Topics

11:37 Sinclair and Nextar's Broadcast Ambitions

17:06 Barry Weiss and CBS News Direction

22:58 Direct-to-Consumer Strategies and Sports Network Dynamics

28:30 The Ethical Implications of AI and Mental Health

37:10 Nuclear Power's Future and Energy Demands