Hollywood Hates Netflix’s WBD Takeover & Apple Dazed By Leadership Exodus

56.528 - 78.047 Neil Fryman

Good morning and welcome back to the week. I know it's not exactly my lane to comment on design trends, seeing as I don't follow any, but couldn't help but notice that Pantone released its color of the year for 2026 late last week. And it was a true shocker, an off shade of white. The first time Pantone has gone white in the 26 years it's been choosing a color of the year.

78.027 - 95.196 Neil Fryman

As Pantone sees it, the white shade called Cloud Dancer is, quote, a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society, a blank canvas upon which we can start anew, peace, unity, and cohesiveness. Others saw it quite a bit differently, saying white was a bailout choice and at odds with the tempestuous political climate.

95.496 - 99.563 Neil Fryman

Either way, Toby, I think this means you have to wear a white tux to your wedding next year.

99.779 - 121.27 Toby Howell

I think that's a good idea. I think there will be a white dress involved. So we got half of it covered already. Pantone's Instagram announcing this was a kind of a battlefield, honestly. There was 13,200 comments under the post. The general vibe was white for real. Some people called it a recession indicator because how can the color of the year have no color?

121.631 - 136.074 Toby Howell

And I thought I was going to be a hater of this too, if not for one specific fact, the name. Cloud Dancer is sick. Oh, what color is that wall? Oh, that's Cloud Dancer. What color is that cable knit sweater you're wearing? Oh, this? This old thing? This is Cloud Dancer. So the color itself?

171.251 - 184.731 Toby Howell

Right now, spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com slash MBD. That's LinkedIn.com slash MBD. Terms and conditions may apply.

184.711 - 199.767 Neil Fryman

Netflix has sent an earthquake rippling from SoCal to DC after agreeing on Friday to buy Warner Brothers Discovery. Worth $83 billion, it's Netflix's largest purchase by far and cements the Silicon Valley disruptor as the new emperor of Hollywood.

200.127 - 220.953 Neil Fryman

In buying WBD, Netflix will acquire one of the most valuable and iconic movie studios and libraries in existence, which includes DC Comics, Harry Potter, and HBO's entire portfolio. Speaking of HBO, Netflix will also take control of HBO Max, the third largest streaming service with about 130 million subscribers. You already know who's number one.

221.394 - 239.42 Neil Fryman

Co-CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged the deal was a departure from the company that has typically built things internally instead of buying them from the outside. I know some of you are surprised we are making this acquisition, he told analysts on Friday, but this is a rare opportunity that will help us achieve our mission to entertain the world. He's right about one thing.

239.58 - 257.701 Neil Fryman

This is going to be entertaining because the merger announcement is just the start of what could be years of drama. Already, Hollywood labor groups and some politicians have come out against the deal, saying it would give Netflix an illegal monopoly over the entertainment industry. Plus, the companies that Netflix beat out to buy WBD probably aren't going to sit still.

1061.603 - 1087.155 Neil Fryman

actual car today that's the mustang chevy only makes one actual car sedan today that's the corvette so there is very little demand people yes they are fun and cute to look at but when you're actually thinking about hey what do i want to drive on the road what do i want to drive on a highway and you go out in your car currently and you see suvs and all these other heavy trucks on the road you're saying actually the tiny car is the last thing that i want if i want to keep my family safe

1087.135 - 1109.467 Toby Howell

It would take a rewriting of NHTSA rules. Basically, they're just way too small. They don't have basic features like a airbag sometimes or roll bars or things that just you have to have to drive on American roads today to go along with the fact that cars are becoming bigger and heavier. So even if you do fudge the safety regulations, would families want to endanger their family?

1109.487 - 1121.725 Toby Howell

Because when you're going up against a Ford F250 and you're in a K car, suddenly it doesn't seem as cute anymore. So Yes, both from a consumer perspective, there's some headwinds, but also from a regulation perspective.

1121.745 - 1145.982 Neil Fryman

If you do want one, though, you can get one into the United States. There is a measure that is meant to accommodate classic car collectors that allows you to import certain cars. So there were an estimated 7,500 K cars imported into the United States last year under this car collecting measure. So it is possible to get one. You probably won't be able to take it on the road.

1145.962 - 1165.033 Neil Fryman

Highway, certainly not, and barely any roads unless there's this whole rewriting of the federal vehicle safety landscape, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was asked about this after Trump said we should get Japanese K cars on the roads. He said, like, we're looking into it. We're looking into it. But don't expect anything to happen soon.