Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#111

Post by salamanderman » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:09 PM UTC

ajaimk wrote: post #72

Pxtl wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One wrinkle of that era was how they even had their own stable of actors working for them exclusively. The new vertical integration doesn't seem to be going that far down. I imagine there's not as much interest in that, and actors have a powerful union now.

That’s kinda happening now too but with directors that have signed first look deals with VOD providers.

First look deals with production companies never went away. The first one coming to mind is The Weinstein company had a first look deal with Disney (yes, Disney turned down lord of the rings).

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#112

Post by elliekelly » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:09 PM UTC

rchaud wrote: post #74

wut42 wrote: post #16

> The deal can be viewed as a doubling down on business strategy that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, articulated at a conference in 2016: “When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes,” he had said, referring to Amazon's diverse business divisions. This part is a real nugget.

Indeed. The acquisition opens up numerous product placement opportunities. I can't wait to watch John Krasinski watching a mission briefing with his mPow 2021 Slim Noise Cancelling Bluetooth USB-C headphones.

And after having watched that episode of Jack Ryan those exact headphones will conveniently be “suggested” to you as you browse Amazon.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#113

Post by rapnie » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:09 PM UTC

lifty wrote: post #80

Any good guesses as to what name will the final world corporation take?

And what would be their subscription model?

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#114

Post by lotsofpulp » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:09 PM UTC

rchaud wrote: post #74

wut42 wrote: post #16

> The deal can be viewed as a doubling down on business strategy that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, articulated at a conference in 2016: “When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes,” he had said, referring to Amazon's diverse business divisions. This part is a real nugget.

Indeed. The acquisition opens up numerous product placement opportunities. I can't wait to watch John Krasinski watching a mission briefing with his mPow 2021 Slim Noise Cancelling Bluetooth USB-C headphones.

That’s a funny example considering mPow got banned from Amazon a few days ago for manipulating reviews.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#115

Post by excalibur » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:09 PM UTC

paganel wrote: post #83

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We could really use laws that force, once again, some sort of separation between production and distribution. Piracy is competition to bad content behavior. It's a meaningful consumer response to monopoly, balkanization and other anti-consumer practices.

Or we could fall back to watching movies made from the ‘30s to the ‘50s, that’s what I have been doing for more than half a year now and it has been wonderful for my mental well-being (they really knew how to make comedies back then, even after the Hayes code).

Not enough is said about this. The amount of TV available for free (with an internet connection) these days is mind-boggling, and the vast majority of people ignore these options altogether.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#116

Post by amelius » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:10 PM UTC

rchaud wrote: post #74

wut42 wrote: post #16

> The deal can be viewed as a doubling down on business strategy that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, articulated at a conference in 2016: “When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes,” he had said, referring to Amazon's diverse business divisions. This part is a real nugget.

Indeed. The acquisition opens up numerous product placement opportunities. I can't wait to watch John Krasinski watching a mission briefing with his mPow 2021 Slim Noise Cancelling Bluetooth USB-C headphones.

Or getting a close-up of his shoes, for that matter.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#117

Post by lifty » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:10 PM UTC

eganist wrote: post #90

lifty wrote: post #80

Any good guesses as to what name will the final world corporation take?

BnL Corp.

What does that stand for?

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#118

Post by mrfusion » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:10 PM UTC

I don’t worry too much about the competitive aspects of this but I worry about the mega corps having a monopoly on our culture. Turn on any any radio station and they’re all playing the same ten songs. Yikes.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#119

Post by brink » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:10 PM UTC

vimy wrote: post #87

paganel wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or we could fall back to watching movies made from the ‘30s to the ‘50s, that’s what I have been doing for more than half a year now and it has been wonderful for my mental well-being (they really knew how to make comedies back then, even after the Hayes code).

Any recommendations?

Some Like it Hot is hilarious.

Re: Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

#120

Post by wut42 » Wed, May 26, 2021, 2:11 PM UTC

presty wrote: post #57

wut42 wrote: post #16

> The deal can be viewed as a doubling down on business strategy that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, articulated at a conference in 2016: “When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes,” he had said, referring to Amazon's diverse business divisions. This part is a real nugget.

for what is worth, Amazon already won a few golden globes: 3 this year https://www.geekwire.com/2021/amazon-takes-3-golden-globes-i... a few more in the past with Fleabag and others

Yeah-- and it's deserved, they are producing good content. The rationale of WHY they are doing good content is... eh.