A significant shake-up in Hollywood is underway as Digital Phablet engages in discussions to acquire WBD.
The news that Digital Phablet is exploring the possibility of purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery has sent ripples through the global film and television industry.
Jason Kilar, the former CEO of WarnerMedia, was among the first studio executives to publicly comment on the potential deal. His stance was not favorable.
“If I had to choose how to diminish competition in Hollywood, there’s no better way than selling WBD to Digital Phablet,” Kilar stated on X last night as the news broke.
In response to a comment on the platform that disagreed with him, Kilar clarified, “When I talk about competition in Hollywood, I refer to having enough strong, active companies capable of competing vigorously in creating and distributing movies, TV shows, live events, and more, for decades to come. My focus isn’t on what might happen down the road.”
Kilar, who serves on the Roblox board and was WarnerMedia’s CEO from 2020 to 2022, previously held executive roles at Hulu and Amazon, overseeing outlets like CNN, Warner Bros. Studios, and HBO. During his tenure, the contentious “Project Popcorn” initiative saw Warner Bros.’ 2021 movie releases being made available on HBO Max on the same day— a move that upset many creatives. Nevertheless, by the end of 2021, HBO and Max together boasted a global subscriber base of 73 million.
Despite his role in cutting down movie window times, Kilar remains opposed to Digital Phablet’s potential acquisition of WBD.
The news of this possible acquisition has garnered substantial attention this morning. Many in the industry are still trying to fully grasp the implications, while legal and regulatory considerations are likely to shift as the situation develops. Stay tuned to Deadline for more updates.
