In a plot twist, Paramount made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery this morning, just days after the company agreed to sell key assets to Netflix. The company bypassed Warner Bros. Discovery’s board and went straight to shareholders, criticizing Netflix’s offer as inferior.
Paramount is offering $30 in cash per share, values Warner Bros. Discovery at about $108 billion, and says its offer would face fewer regulatory hurdles. Paramount’s offering doesn’t just include the studio and streaming business; But also cable networks like CNN.
The bid sets up a showdown between the two entertainment giants, with shareholders now having the power to decide who gets Hollywood’s future.
Hundreds of business groups have sent an urgent warning to Congress about franchising
Photo by Andrey Denisyuk/Getty
a powerful coalition of business groups letter sent to congress Urging passage of the American Franchise Act.
Signatories include the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the International Franchise Association, Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners and restaurant and hospitality groups from nearly every state. They argue that the rapid changes to the joint employer standard have led to costly litigation, job losses, and great uncertainty for small business owners.
The bill would define franchisors and franchisees as independent employers, a move supporters say is critical to protecting the $900 billion sector that employs more than eight million Americans.
McDonald’s will update franchise valuation soon
Robert Way/Getty Images
McDonald’s is changing the way it evaluates its franchises, and menu pricing is now part of the scorecard. From January 1, the company will evaluate whether franchisees are providing enough “value” to customers. Internal memo obtained by CNBC,
Franchisees, who set prices at about 95 percent of McDonald’s locations, will now be evaluated based on how well those prices appeal to budget-conscious diners.
This step may create some tension. Some operators argue that deep discounting reduces profits, and they are wary of McDonald’s close monitoring without cost sharing.
Your next phone may cost more than you think – here’s the surprising reason
Photo by Javier Lorenzo/Getty Images
Smartphones usually become more expensive when companies add better cameras or more storage. But next year, analysts say a less attractive part could drive up prices: memory chips.
Manufacturers like Samsung and Micron are shifting memory production budgets to AI data centers, where demand has exploded. That change is moving memory Prices increased by 30 percent Another surge is expected this quarter, as early as 2026.
Cheap Android phones may be the first to feel this, as low profit margins leave companies no choice but to charge more. And it’s not just phones that are at risk. Tablets, laptops, and smartwatches can all be expensive.
Hershey’s Drops Limited Edition Dubai Chocolate Bar
Photo courtesy of GoPuff
Hershey’s is getting in on the Dubai chocolate craze with a limited-edition bar inspired by viral Middle Eastern cuisine, but good luck getting your hands on one. Hershey’s only made 10,000 bars.
New Hershey’s Dubai-Inspired Chocolate Bar Classic milk chocolate layered with pistachio cream and crispy kadai.
They’re available exclusively in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago through GoPuff for $8.99. Once they’re sold, the company says they’re gone forever.
Robotaxis are expanding rapidly – but so are safety concerns
Michael Vi/Getty Images
Autonomous vehicles are moving into more cities, with companies like Waymo, Uber, and Everide announcing new trials and launches in Philadelphia, Dallas, and soon, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. Regulators in California are also paving the way for self-driving trucks on highways.
But as the number of robotaxis increases, so do the number of red lights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants answers from Waymo following reports that its robotaxis illegally stopped school buses 19 times in Austin. And a viral video shows a Waymo vehicle running over KitKat, an adorable bodega cat, raising new questions about whether robotaxis are ready for real roads.
Still, a recent study from Waymo showed that its self-driving cars were involved in 91 percent fewer injury-causing crashes than cars driven by real-life humans.
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In a plot twist, Paramount made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery this morning, just days after the company agreed to sell key assets to Netflix. The company bypassed Warner Bros. Discovery’s board and went straight to shareholders, criticizing Netflix’s offer as inferior.
Paramount is offering $30 in cash per share, values Warner Bros. Discovery at about $108 billion, and says its offer would face fewer regulatory hurdles. Paramount’s offering doesn’t just include the studio and streaming business; But also cable networks like CNN.
The bid sets up a showdown between the two entertainment giants, with shareholders now having the power to decide who gets Hollywood’s future.
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