Discussing “outright consolidation of an industry that is in a generational disruption” during the company’s third-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Zaslav said: “We have an upcoming new administration. It’s too early to tell, but it may offer a pace of change and an opportunity for consolidation that may be quite different, that would provide a real positive and accelerated impact on this industry that’s needed.
The executive’s comments reflect one C-suite narrative that has taken hold among some executives that a second Trump administration would further push deregulation, freeing up dealmakers. A day before Zaslav’s comments, TV station giant Sinclair’s top executive made “It does feel like a cloud over the industry is lifting here, and we do think some much needed modernization of the regulations will be forthcoming, and we intend to, as we’ve always said, or consistently over the last few years, we intend to participate in that, in the M&A in the industry, be it as a buyer as a seller or a merger partner,” said Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley.
The comments came after WBD reported third-quarter studios unit revenue that fell 17 percent to $2.68 billion as theatrical revenue fell 40 percent, “primarily driven by lower box office revenue as the performance of in the prior year.” Studios adjusted EBITDA dropped by 58 percent to $308 million. Games revenue at the studios segment declined 31 percent, also driven by the better performance of the prior- year slate, led by . And TV revenue increased 30 percent, “primarily driven by higher initial telecast revenue as a result of the impact from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the prior year,” WBD said. On Shoes Are Up to 40 Percent Off: Here Are the Brand’s Best Sneakers for Running, Walking and Hitting the Gym.