If we're being honest, with the IPs they hold, I wouldn't be surprised to see Comcast join in here. It was also rumored that WBD had interest in Paramount.I also believe Skydance is in the running to acquire Paramount.
They can try to block, but if they couldn't block Activision/Microsoft, i'm honestly not sure what they really will be able to in the movie space. This isn't like video games where you only have really two major competitors. Comcast can eat up most of Paramount (there would be parts they couldn't legally own like CBS for example) and they still have WBD, Disney/Fox, Sony, Apple, Netflix, Amazon/MGM, and even all as major companies who they'd be competing with either theatrically or in the streaming marketplace.Comcast has the money that they can try to do it. The question is--should they do it.
The FTC has adapted since Fox, and I think they'd be more wanting to shoot something like another mega-consolidation down considering they're still wounded from failing to block Microsoft/Activision.
Dumb question but that means Paramount Pictures would be sold off?To help finance, Allen is allegedly planning to sell the film studio, real estate and "some IP" if the offer goes through. Tbh sounds kinda rough for Paramount should this go through.
Who's going to want to buy the studio if they aren't getting the associated IP though?Presumably yes. It sounds like Allen would keep the linear channels, CBS and Paramount+ as well as some (but not all) of the IP associated with those channels. The rest gets sold. Similar to when Fox sold off their film studios and TV assets besides Fox network and News, though it sounds like Allen would keep a lot more.
Byron Allen isn't in the same business as Comcast or Disney, he wants stable, strong cable revenue even if it's a melting ice cube, and he doesn't really seem to care about the ancillary stuff. He might sell something like Mission Impossible, which is a big film franchise and possible ancillary revenue driver that doesn't really affect CBS or the cable assets, but keep something like Drag Race or Star Trek, which still drives viewership on the streamer/cable platforms.Who's going to want to buy the studio if they aren't getting the associated IP though?