Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025:
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS....
The second round of bids for all or parts of Warner Bros. Discovery was due yesterday (Monday) and the things we don't know far outnumber the things we do. But after spending a lot of time reaching out to people with knowledge of the proceedings, this is what we know - or at least suspect.
The three original bids were revised and if the Warner Bros. Discovery board chooses to do so, they have the option of proceeding into an exclusive, two-week negotiation with one of the companies that submitted a second bid. Although the board has apparently made clear that they would still be open to revised bids for the other two bidders or a bid for a new entity (although no one I spoke with believes that will happen).
There is a lot we don't know, including the approximate amounts of the bids. But as expected, the Paramount Skydance bid was for all of the WBD assets, while the Comcast and Netflix offers were for the studio/streamer part of the business. The Paramount Skydance bid was apparently primarily cash with some stock, as was the bid from Comcast. But the Netflix bid was an all-cash offer.
From what I have been told, one differentiator between the Comcast and Netflix bids centered around the details of what precisely was included in the "studio and streamer" bid. For instance, the linear network TCM is part of that package, but Netflix is much less interested in continuing that as a linear network and reportedly offered to not include the network in its bid. Comcast and Netflix also have some different ideas about some of the other smaller assets that were originally included in the studio and streamer package, such as the WB consumer products division.
But what is clear is that no matter who might win, HBO Max will not be long for this world. All three bids include scenarios in which HBO Max is rolled into an existing streamer, the difference primarily being that Netflix or Comcast will have to decide whether to attempt to license content from the WBD linear networks. That content amounts to nearly half of the existing HBO Max library, so it's not a small consideration. The consensus seems to be that while it's not a must-have for either Comcast or Netflix, Comcast is much more likely to be interested than Netflix.
I continue to think that Netflix has the inside track here and that it is also the best case scenario for the Warner Bros studio. But that it more just a sense I have after speaking with various people at the three companies. In a situation like this, the negotiations are as much about the public spin as anything else and I have no doubt that everyone I am speaking with is spinning me in some fashion.
ODDS AND SODS
* If you enjoyed Alton Brown's OG Food Network series Good Eats, you'll want to check out his new YouTube series Alton Brown Cooks Food, which combines a familiar approach with a lot of sitting. Here's my quick review.
* Sometimes I write things that I know will mostly appeal to a very specific audience. Like this piece about five incredibly popular 1970s bands that you have probably forgotten.
* The sports docuseries Zero Star: The Cam Ward Story premieres Thursday, December 4th on Tubi. Here is a first video look at the the three-episode series.
* Quentin Tarantino made a never-filmed section of his original Kill Bill script as an animated short in Fortnite.
* The format Hollywood Game Night is getting another international remake - this time in Mongolia.
* NBC's Steve Kornacki is going to be covering tonight's scattered election results with a special live cam that will be available on NBC.com and X. I don't see a mention of Peacock, even though that seems like a natural fit for this. Here is Kornacki's description of the stream: "I'll be streaming live from the Big Board -- no frills, no guests, just results. It'll go live at 7:45, 15 minutes before polls close, and I'll stay until we've got a result. Hopefully the start of more nights like this!"
TWEET(S) OF THE DAY
WHAT'S COMING TODAY AND TOMORROW
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND:
* CMA Country Christmas (ABC)
* Fixer To Fabulous Season Premiere (HGTV)
* Kimora: Back In The Fab Lane! Series Premiere (E!)
*Matt Rife: Unwrapped — A Christmas Crowd Work Special (Netflix)
* Vanderpump Rules Season Premiere (Bravo)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD:
* Cheap A$$ Beach Houses Series Premiere (HGTV)
* Christmas In Nashville (NBC)
* Christmas In Rockefeller Center (NBC)
* My Secret Santa (Netflix)
* Oh. What. Fun (Prime Video)
* The New Years Series Premiere (Mubi)
SEE YOU EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING!