Hey Merger Killers – your average corporate mega-merger slayer from California here, kicking off 2026 with a bang (or should I say, a lawsuit?). Our petition's still grinding at 24 voices strong, blasting comments straight to DOJ, FTC, and EU regulators. But the WBD drama just hit peak desperation: Paramount Skydance is SO thirsty for the full $108B takeover they've slapped WBD with a Delaware lawsuit (filed Jan 12), demanding every financial detail on the Netflix deal and spin-off. Meanwhile, Netflix is so obsessed with owning the entire idea of entertainment – WB studios, HBO, Max, DC, Harry Potter, everything – they've panicked and switched their $82.7B bid to pure cash (amending terms as of mid-January) to look "stronger." Both are trainwrecks – here's why we need to block 'em all.
Paramount's Desperate Lawsuit & Debt Nightmare: Shrinking the Majors to 4 – Jaw-Dropping!
Paramount isn't just bidding; they're suing like a jilted ex demanding the receipts. This Delaware filing screams desperation – after eight rejections from WBD's board (latest Jan 7), they're forcing a proxy fight and board nominations for the 2026 shareholder meeting. But their all-cash $30/share offer? It's a debt bomb: $87B+ in leverage that could bankrupt the combined entity, leading to firesales, layoffs, and slashed content budgets. Worst: Merging Paramount and WB studios would shrink Hollywood's 5 majors to 4 (Disney, Universal, Sony, and this new mega-Paramount) – jaw-dropping consolidation that kills competition, squeezes indies, and hikes everything from tickets to streaming fees. It's not "saving" WBD; it's a high-risk gamble that could implode like a bad sequel.
Netflix's Obsession with Total Control: Owning Entertainment Like a Monopoly King
Netflix isn't backing down – their pure-cash pivot shows how afraid they are of losing this crown jewel. Sarandos & co. are obsessed with dominating the "entire idea of entertainment": Snagging WB means owning theatrical powerhouses, HBO's prestige, DC heroes, Harry Potter worlds – all while pushing their streaming-first agenda that guts theaters and isolates us at home. With ~24-40% global dominance post-deal, it's monopoly city: higher prices, algorithm slop, and no sharing content on rivals like Prime or Roku. They're so fixated, they're ignoring the antitrust red flags screaming "presumptively unlawful."
The Punchline: "We Made a Mistake with Scrat – Don't Make It Repeat for Bugs!"
Remember the 2018 Fox bidding war? Disney outbid Comcast for Fox's assets, including Scrat from Ice Age – and now that furry guy's a Disney staple. We "made a mistake" letting one giant swallow it all back then; don't repeat it for Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes, or the WB legacy. Both Netflix and Paramount are repeating history's errors – one for streaming tyranny, the other for debt-fueled desperation. Politics aside (left puppet vs. right puppet), this is about logic: No one company should own it all.
Let's unite the spectrum – libertarians, progressives, conservatives – to nuke both deals. Force organic growth or smaller buyers like Starz (premium TV concerns aside, better than these beasts). Our signatures hit regulators hard: DOJ's Gail Slater, FTC's Andrew Ferguson, EU's Teresa Ribera.
Sign/comment if you agree, share with a theater fan or antitrust nerd, and let's hit 50+ sigs this week. The crane's ready – drop it!
From California, not giving up,
Your Average Corporate Mega-Merger Killer
@TheMergerBuster on X
https://www.change.org/BlockWBDMergers
P.S. Drop your "favorite WB memory" or "why both bids suck" in comments – top ones featured next! ⚔️