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Published May 18, 2021

Big tech streaming M&A + NYT’s Taylor Lorenz on creators, Clubhouse & Jake Paul’s VC fund | E1217

Jason Calacanis delves into big tech mergers like Amazon's MGM acquisition and AT&T's WarnerMedia-Discovery deal, while Taylor Lorenz joins to discuss influencer-driven venture capital, the challenges facing social media platforms like Clubhouse, and the evolving dynamics between tech journalists and the industries they cover.
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  • Amazon's MGM Deal

    Amazon's potential acquisition of MGM is a strategic move to bolster its content library and compete with streaming giants like Netflix and Disney. highlights that MGM, with its vast catalog including the James Bond franchise, offers significant value despite not being on par with Disney's IPs like Marvel or Star Wars 1. This acquisition could position Amazon closer to Netflix by enhancing its Prime Video offerings.

    If Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar are all worth billions of dollars, why wouldn't James Bond?

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    The deal would also provide Amazon with over 4,000 film titles and 17,000 TV episodes, potentially transforming its streaming service into a formidable competitor 1.

       

    Streaming Competition

    The streaming landscape is fiercely competitive, with Amazon Prime Video vying for dominance against Netflix and Disney. notes that Amazon's bundling strategy, which includes Prime Video as part of its broader subscription service, gives it a unique edge 2. This approach contrasts with Netflix's standalone model and Disney's lower-cost subscription, making Amazon's offering particularly appealing.

    If you force people to pick Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Disney, and they can only pick two, which two would you pick?

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    With over 200 million Prime members, Amazon's strategy of integrating diverse services under one subscription could redefine consumer preferences in the streaming market 2.

       

    WarnerMedia & Discovery

    AT&T's decision to spin off WarnerMedia and merge it with Discovery marks a significant shift in the media landscape. This merger aims to create a powerful entertainment entity capable of competing with major streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video 3. explains that the move is partly driven by AT&T's need to reduce its substantial debt and focus on its core wireless business.

    This idea that you're going to own the plumbing and you're going to own the content seems to be too much for one management team.

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    The new company will combine popular brands like HBO and Discovery, potentially reshaping the streaming service offerings and consumer choices 3.

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