{"id":2232793,"date":"2026-01-13T11:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2232793"},"modified":"2026-01-13T11:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:02:16","slug":"warner-bros-discovery-chased-by-suitors-shines-at-the-golden-globes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/warner-bros-discovery-chased-by-suitors-shines-at-the-golden-globes\/","title":{"rendered":"Warner Bros. Discovery, chased by suitors, shines at the Golden Globes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It was a big night at the Golden Globes for Warner Bros. Discovery, which won nine awards \u2014 the most of any studio.<\/p>\n

But there was little time to celebrate before reality set in.<\/p>\n

On Monday, David Ellison\u2019s Paramount sued Warner<\/a>, demanding the company and its chief executive, David Zaslav, release more information about how Netflix\u2019s bid was chosen. The move came a little less than a week after Warner rejected Paramount\u2019s latest offer<\/a>, citing the massive debt load the Ellison-led studio would take on to finance its takeover.<\/p>\n

Despite a strong lineup of film and TV contenders this awards season, the overarching story for Warner will continue to be its uncertain future.<\/p>\n

Will the storied company\u2019s studios be swallowed up by streaming giant Netflix, which theater owners fear will lead to fewer theatrical releases? Or will Paramount prevail, which would continue the consolidation of the industry? <\/p>\n

On Sunday, Hollywood\u2019s anxiety over that deal was on full display.<\/p>\n

\u201cConglomerates are not a good thing,\u201d actor Wanda Sykes told my colleagues Tom Carroll and Rebecca Castillo<\/a> on the red carpet. \u201cYou don\u2019t want a monopoly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShark Tank\u201d staple Kevin O\u2019Leary, who made his movie debut in A24\u2019s pingpong drama \u201cMarty Supreme,\u201d predicted that Netflix would prevail in its quest to control Warner Bros.\u2019 studios, HBO and HBO Max because investors want to see the best possible return in the next two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if they control those franchises, and they have the distribution that\u2019s global … it\u2019s very, very hard to compete with that,\u201d he told The Times.<\/p>\n

Eagle-eyed observers zeroed in on a seemingly warm exchange between Zaslav and Netflix Chief Executive Ted Sarandos at the event. And host Nikki Glaser wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get down to business, shall we?\u201d the comedian said, less than a minute into her monologue. \u201cWe\u2019ll start the bidding war for Warner Bros. at $5. Do I hear $5?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jokes aside, Warner\u2019s strong showing at the Globes could mean a fruitful next few months for the company. <\/p>\n

The Globes signify the start of Hollywood\u2019s awards season. And while its status as an Academy Awards bellwether has been hit-or-miss over the years \u2014 particularly given the tumult surrounding the show and its members \u2014 recognition there can help boost a film\u2019s prospects.<\/p>\n

Leading the pack was Paul Thomas Anderson\u2019s \u201cOne Battle After Another,\u201d which collected four awards, including best motion picture for musical or comedy. The film, widely considered to be a top contender for the best picture Oscar, follows a onetime revolutionary played by Leonardo DiCaprio who must revisit his old life after his daughter is kidnapped by a former foe.<\/p>\n

Ryan Coogler\u2019s \u201cSinners\u201d was also recognized with Globe awards for cinematic and box office achievement as well as original score for a motion picture. <\/p>\n

Acclaimed medical drama \u201cThe Pitt\u201d picked up two awards, while HBO Max\u2018s \u201cHacks\u201d notched one for female actor in a television series \u2014 musical or comedy. <\/p>\n

The recognition for Warner highlights why the fight for its future has been so contentious \u2014 both Netflix and Paramount see the company and its successful franchises and film and TV slates as a major prize to be won. <\/p>\n

Also noteworthy at the Globes, this year marked the first time podcasts were an awards category. The inclusion underscores the growing importance of podcasts to Hollywood \u2014 nearly every nominated podcast was hosted by an actor or well-known personality.<\/p>\n

But Penske Media, which runs the Globes, came under fire when the Ankler reported that Penske-owned Variety solicited marketing partnerships from potential award winners. (\u201cFor Your Consideration\u201d awards campaign ads are also sold by other publications, including The Times).<\/p>\n

Penske owns the audio analytics firm, Luminate, that compiled a short list of podcast nominees. <\/p>\n

Within the podcast industry, there were also questions about the selection criteria and how some popular shows didn\u2019t make the cut.<\/p>\n

Dick Clark Productions, which produces the Golden Globes and is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, declined to comment.<\/p>\n

Of course, controversy is nothing new to the Globes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Times investigation in 2021<\/a> raised concerns<\/a> about its ethics and financial practices. NBC later pulled the show off the air in 2022<\/a> and Netflix, Amazon and many publicity agencies cut ties with the Globes, which undertook a series of changes before returning to the air a year later.<\/p>\n

In June 2023, Penske Media acquired the nonprofit group that formerly hosted the Golden Globes \u2014 the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. \u2014 and made its members paid employees of the new enterprise. <\/p>\n

The Globes scrapped that practice a year ago, describing the change in policy as \u201can acknowledgment that continuing to pay members could add to a perception of bias in voting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stuff We Wrote<\/h2>\n

Film shoots<\/h2>\n
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