Exclusive: Telecoms among targets in investor PPF's European expansion drive
PPF Group's Acquisition Strategy: PPF Group, led by CEO Jiri Smejc, is focusing on expanding its portfolio through acquisitions in telecommunications and media, including potential interests in United Group assets in southeast Europe.
Concerns Over ProSiebenSat.1 Management: Smejc expressed dissatisfaction with the management pace at ProSiebenSat.1, where PPF holds a significant stake, indicating that shareholders may need to push for changes if restructuring does not accelerate.
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- Hearing Scheduled: DNI Tulsi Gabbard is set to testify publicly on March 18 before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding global threats, amid rising scrutiny over her involvement at a Georgia election center.
- Election Center Incident: Gabbard's presence at the Fulton County election center last month, where the FBI seized ballots from the 2020 election, raises questions about her connections with Trump and the FBI, potentially undermining public trust.
- Political Pressure Intensifies: Senator Mark Warner has called for Gabbard to testify about her phone communication with Trump during the FBI's execution of the search warrant, highlighting Democratic concerns over potential Trump interference in the 2026 congressional elections.
- Legal Developments: A federal judge in Georgia has ordered the unsealing of the affidavit used to obtain the FBI search warrant by Tuesday, further intensifying legal scrutiny over election interference, which may impact future political dynamics.

Warner Bros Discovery Announcement: Warner Bros Discovery has revealed that HBO Max will become the streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK.
Impact on Streaming Services: This move signifies a strategic shift in the streaming landscape, consolidating sports content under the HBO Max platform.
- Acquisition Challenges: Netflix's $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery faces significant antitrust scrutiny, particularly in Europe, which could hinder its market expansion strategy and affect investor confidence.
- Potential ESPN Acquisition: Should the Warner Bros. deal collapse, Netflix may pivot to acquiring ESPN, which only contributed 19% of Disney's revenue in fiscal 2025 and has seen a 25% drop in operating profit, potentially allowing Netflix to reduce content costs significantly.
- Investment in Sports Content: Netflix is making substantial investments in live sports, including exclusive NFL Christmas games starting in 2024, indicating a strategic focus on sports content to attract more subscribers and enhance platform differentiation.
- Market Reaction: Since Netflix announced its pursuit of Warner Bros., its stock has declined; if the acquisition fails, the market may respond positively to a smaller ESPN deal, enhancing Netflix's content competitiveness and user experience.
- Acquisition Obstacles: Netflix's plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion faces antitrust scrutiny, particularly in Europe, which could delay or derail the deal, impacting its market expansion strategy.
- Potential ESPN Acquisition: Should the Warner Bros. deal fall through, Netflix may consider acquiring Disney's ESPN, which accounted for only 19% of Disney's $94.4 billion revenue in fiscal 2025, indicating its underperformance and potential as a strategic asset for Netflix.
- Increased Sports Investment: Netflix has begun significant investments in live sports, becoming the exclusive broadcaster of NFL games on Christmas, demonstrating its commitment to content diversification and user engagement, which could enhance customer retention.
- Market Reaction: Since announcing the Warner Bros. acquisition, Netflix's stock has declined, and a pivot to acquiring ESPN could be viewed favorably by the market, potentially improving its content cost structure and enhancing competitiveness.
- Poor Market Performance: Despite a significant recovery in 2022, Netflix's stock has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past year, losing 11% last month and trading at a 40% discount to its 52-week high, which may dampen investor confidence.
- Strong Financial Growth: In 2025, Netflix reported revenue of $45 billion, a 16% annual increase, with net income nearing $11 billion, up 26%, demonstrating its strong influence in the streaming industry despite rising costs.
- Acquisition Risks: Netflix's all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion could enhance its market position, but with only around $9 billion in liquidity, it may need to dilute its stock or take on significant debt, leading to a pause in share repurchases.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Although revenue growth is projected to slow to 12%-14% in 2026, Netflix expects subscriber growth and a near doubling of ad revenue, indicating long-term potential in the streaming market, but short-term challenges may persist.
- Antitrust Investigation: The U.S. Justice Department is scrutinizing Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros., focusing on potential anticompetitive practices that could affect the deal's approval and Netflix's market position.
- Transaction Valuation: Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros. at $27.75 per share, valuing the deal at approximately $72 billion, and any blockage could significantly impact Netflix's expansion plans.
- Market Share Concerns: The merger would give Netflix and HBO Max control of about 30% of the U.S. subscription streaming market, a threshold that may trigger stricter antitrust scrutiny, affecting future competitive dynamics.
- Legal Response: Netflix's lawyer stated that the company has not received any separate monopolization investigation notice from the Justice Department, although market concerns about the antitrust risks of the deal may affect investor confidence.










