The closing months of 2025 noticed media firms ramp up dealmaking throughout movie, TV, publishing and know-how. Streaming platforms poured cash into sports activities rights, bundling methods and tech partnerships, whereas different gamers turned to acquisitions and licensing agreements. The quarter’s most dramatic second got here when Netflix introduced its $83 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studio property—just for rival Paramount Skydance to counter with a money provide for all of WBD. (At press time, WBD has formally really useful that shareholders settle for Netflix’s provide.)
Right here’s a have a look at a number of the most notable media and tech offers that made headlines throughout the fourth quarter:
Paramount Skydance acquires The Free Press
Considered one of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison’s most attention-grabbing strikes of 2025 got here in October, when the corporate introduced its $150 million acquisition of Bari Weiss’ unbiased, subscription-based media firm, The Free Press. As a part of the deal, Weiss was named the first-ever editor-in-chief of Paramount-owned CBS Information.
YouTube groups up with the Oscars, beginning in 2029
The post-broadcast way forward for the Oscars is coming into focus. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will stream dwell—and free of charge—worldwide on YouTube underneath a deal that runs by means of 2033. The settlement consists of purple carpet protection and behind-the-scenes entry, together with year-round Academy programming and a number of Academy Museum content material. The Walt Disney Firm’s ABC will stay the Oscars’ U.S. broadcast accomplice by means of its a centesimal ceremony in 2028.
Apple and System 1 attain a U.S. streaming deal
Following the discharge of Apple Unique Movies’ Brad Pitt–led racing drama F1, Apple TV has expanded its sports activities slate by securing unique, five-year streaming rights to System 1. The deal, which begins in 2026 and is valued at round $150 million, will make Apple TV the house of all System 1 observe periods, qualifying races, Dash occasions and Grand Prix races after ESPN’s contract expires on the finish of this yr. System 1 content material will likely be included at no further price as a part of Apple TV’s $12.99 month-to-month subscription.
Disney pronounces a $1 billion partnership with OpenAI
Greater than 200 iconic Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters are coming to OpenAI’s Sora video-generation device. Disney has struck a $1 billion funding and partnership cope with OpenAI. The settlement will enable customers to create quick movies that includes Disney-owned characters, whereas Disney plans to combine A.I. extra broadly throughout its companies and into Disney+.
Apple TV and Peacock launch a streaming bundle
Apple and NBCUniversal teamed up on a cross-streamer bundle pairing Apple TV with Peacock Premium for round $15 a month—roughly a 30 p.c low cost in contrast with subscribing to every service individually. As streamers seek for methods to face out in an more and more crowded market dominated by giants like Netflix, the bundle affords entry to Apple TV’s status originals, similar to Ted Lasso, alongside Peacock’s mixture of dwell sports activities, actuality TV and mainstream leisure.
Meta reaches licensing agreements with information retailers
Meta introduced multi-year licensing offers with main publishers, together with CNN, Fox Information and USA At the moment, bringing their journalism immediately into Meta’s A.I. merchandise. Below the agreements, Meta can pay for entry to real-time reporting and updates, permitting its A.I. methods to floor breaking information, leisure and life-style protection whereas linking customers again to the unique publishers.
Warner Bros. Discovery groups up with a South Korean agency to supply HBO Max Ok-dramas
Warner Bros. Discovery and South Korean leisure firm CJ ENM, the studio behind Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, have entered a multi-year partnership to adapt Korean content material into a world slate of exhibits for HBO Max. The deal consists of co-producing and co-financing authentic Ok-dramas for worldwide launch, whereas making Max the first streaming residence for CJ ENM’s TVING platform throughout 17 Asia-Pacific markets.
Fox Leisure acquires rom-com podcast firm Meet Cute
Fox Leisure continued its podcast growth by buying Meet Cute, the romantic comedy audio studio behind scripted hits like A Mid-Semester Evening’s Dream, starring Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran. The deal positions Meet Cute as an incubator for scripted—and finally unscripted—initiatives, with founder Naomi Shah becoming a member of Fox as SVP of operations and technique.
Folks Inc. acquires meals writer and creator community Feedfeed
Folks Inc. made its first acquisition since rebranding from Dotdash Meredith, snapping up Feedfeed, a 12-year-old meals media model constructed for the social period. With greater than 7 million followers and a community of roughly 1,000 creator companions, Feedfeed strengthens Folks Inc.’s meals portfolio, which incorporates Allrecipes and Meals & Wine, whereas including a playbook for influencer-led publishing.
