Bill Cohan joins Peter to discuss how the frozen Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has left David Zaslav in an awkward spot—hamstrung by deal terms that require the Ellisons’ sign-off on virtually everything. Bill lays out what Zaz can and can’t do while the deal sits in limbo—then considers whether the irrationally exuberant world of Wall Street I.P.O.s can ever actually be reformed.

Zaz in Limbo

The Powers That Be: Daily

He basically has to ask permission from the Ellisons really to do anything of substance. You know, this is an industry that is changing rapidly and he's sort of on the strategic sidelines until this gets resolved one way or the other. Welcome to The Powers That Be Daily, Puck's podcast focused on the intersection of Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood, and the players who run it all. I'm Peter Hamby.

It's Tuesday, August 4th. Today I'm joined by Bill Cohan, who explains why the frozen Paramount-Warner Brothers merger facing an antitrust lawsuit is putting David Zaslav in a bind. At Warner Brothers, he can't really do anything right now under the terms of the deal without getting approval from the Ellisons first. Bill tells me what Zaz can and can't do in the meantime.

We also discuss whether the irrationally exuberant world of Wall Street IPOs, which continue to make bankers and underwriters very rich, can possibly be reformed. We'll discuss all that and much more on today's episode of The Powers That Be. With Instagram teen accounts, protections are turned on by default.

Yo, look at this reel. Okay, the secret is in the timing. Don't rush it. Built-in content and contact settings and automatic time reminders. Mom, heading out back. Instagram teen accounts, nothing to turn on, safer from the start. Happy Tuesday, everybody, and welcome to The Powers That Be. I'm joined today by my colleague, Bill Cohan. We're going to talk about the delayed Parabros merger.

We're also going to talk about one of Bill's favorite topics, the overheated, ridiculous, goofy IPO market. And if there are any solutions to fix this cash carnival that benefits everybody, except for retail investors and smaller companies, I think.

Zaz in Limbo

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Zaz in Limbo

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.