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The battle between Netflix and Paramount will likely change the media landscape

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Netflix has a deal in place to buy Warner Bros. Discoverys studio and streaming assets, including HBO/HBO Max, but regulatory hurdles loom.

• Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile takeover bid with a higher all-cash offer for the entire company, directly challenging Netflixs agreement.

• The bidding war is likely to stretch into 2026 and its outcome could reshape streaming prices, content libraries, and competitive dynamics.

Warner Bros., the film studio, is for sale. That much is certain. Who will end up owning it is still very much up in the air.

What began as a definitive deal between Netflix, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has spiraled into one of the most dramatic corporate showdowns in Hollywoods recent history.

On Dec. 5, Netflix and Warner Bros. announced an agreement for Netflix to acquire a large portion of WBDs studio and streaming business including HBO, DC Entertainment and the HBO Max platform in a deal valued at roughly $82.7 billion in enterprise value.

But just three days later, Paramount Skydance the newly merged studio led by David Ellison tore up the industry rule book by announcing a hostile takeover bid of its own, offering shareholders up to $108.4 billion in cash for all of WBD. Paramounts aggressive move directly challenges Netflixs arrangement, setting the stage for a prolonged and complex bidding war.

Political and regulatory scrutiny

This isnt just about money. Paramounts bid includes traditional cable networks like CNN and Discovery, assets that Netflix explicitly chose to leave out of its offer, making the two bids structurally very different.

Industry watchers expect the battle already intensified by political and regulatory scrutiny to stretch well into 2026, as Paramount tests whether a higher offer or legal maneuvers can pry the deal away from Netflix.

How this could change what you watch

What makes this different from a routine business story is the potential impact either outcome could have on viewers. The result of this corporate duel could ripple across the entertainment landscape for years:

Content libraries and availability

• If Netflix wins: HBO content, iconic franchises like DC Comics, and Warners film slate could become part of Netflixs global platform potentially exclusive to one service.

• If Paramount prevails: Warner Bros. content may blend with Paramounts franchises, possibly appearing across Paramount+ and Pluto TV, but under a single super-studio roof.

Subscription costs and choices

Consumers may see higher subscription prices. Larger conglomerates often need to offset the huge debt from mega-acquisitions. Critics argue consolidation tends not to reduce prices, and a combined Netflix/WBD or Paramount/WBD could wield enormous market power.

Fewer independent studios could mean fewer diverse creative voices. Labor and consumer advocates warn that consolidation might reduce risky artistic projects that dont promise huge returns and may even lead to job cuts or less competition overall.

Netflix must still obtain antitrust approval from U.S. regulators a process that industry leaders acknowledge could take 12 to 18 months or longer. Paramount argues its all-cash proposal reduces regulatory uncertainty, though both bids are likely to face scrutiny over market dominance.

Simple delivery tweaks that make your boxes way less stealable

• Pick one hidden drop spot (deck box, behind the side gate, tucked by a planter, side door) and make that your default delivery note with USPS/FedEx/UPS. Dont reinvent it every order. Set it once and stick with it

• If its high-value stuff (phone, laptop, console, sneakers, meds), dont let it touch your porch. Send it to an Amazon Hub Locker, UPS Access Point, or do FedEx Hold at Location and grab it when youre ready

• Turn on tracking alerts (USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager) so you get the ping the second it's delivered. And if the retailer offers it, choose plain packaging so it doesnt scream steal me

Porch pirates arent exactly criminal masterminds. Theyre just brazen enough to shop your front porch for free.

With holiday boxes piling up this year more than ever, your doorstep can start to look like an easy hit if youre not careful. The good news is you dont need to build a fortress or buy an expensive security system to fight back.

A few smart tweaks to how and where your packages get delivered can make your porch a hard-pass for most thieves.

1. Turn your porch into a dead zone

Keep in mind that thieves are lazy and are only interested in an easy hit.

More than anything, they want to see visible packages on your porch and a quick escape route. So, if your drop zone cant be seen from the street, youve already won half the battle. The vast majority of crooks will move on to the next house where the loot is clearly visible.

Heres what to do to make your packages disappear:

• Create a hidden landing spot: Could be a deck box, a storage bench, behind a side gate, or even a spot behind a big planter or hedge.
• Then standardize that "spot"across carriers:
  • FedEx Delivery Manager lets you add permanent delivery instructions, including leave at back door or side gate box.
  • USPS Delivery Instructions and the USPS Manage page let you specify where packages should be left or held.
  • UPS My Choice and similar tools allow you to set delivery preferences and change drop-off points.

Once your delivery instructions are saved, you can rest assured that every delivery is more likely to land in your predetermined invisible spot instead of on your porch with the proverbial spotlight shining on it.

2. Give expensive packages their own safe route

Its smart to prioritize the security of some deliveries over others. Especially those boxes that contain expensive items thatwould really hurt if they disappeared.

Keep a mental short list of always protect items: phones, laptops, gaming systems, high-end sneakers, prescription items, or anything limited-edition.

Then when getting one of these items delivered, make sure to route it differently. Specifically, pick one of the following to avoid the box ever sitting unprotected at your house:

• Amazon Hub Lockers (and Apartment Lockers) are secure, self-service kiosks that are no-brainers for expensive items. They exist at many grocery stores, college campuses, and apartment buildings. Your package will sit in a locked compartment until you show up with a code and open the locker.
• UPS Access Point locations lets you redirect packages for ID-verified pickup to retailers like CVS and Michaels.
• FedEx Hold at Location is a must use if you get a lot of expensive packages via FedEx. It allows you to send packages straight to FedEx or even partner retailers like Walgreens for pickup at your convenience.
• USPS Hold for Pickup keeps packages behind the counter at your local Post Office until you show your ID.

Think of these safe options as a VIP lane for the stuff porch pirates would be thrilled to grab for themselves.

3. Use tracking apps as a defense system

Many consumers will track their packages incessantly, then once its delivered, forget about them completely and leave it on the porch for hours.

A much smarter move is to treat package tracking as a trigger to take action immediately once a box gets delivered.

Use the following apps to make it happen:

• USPS Informed Delivery(now with its own app) shows todays incoming mail and packages (get alerted every morning) and lets you give delivery instructions directly from your phone.
• FedEx Delivery Manager and UPS My Choice let you change your delivery times, reroute to pickup locations if needed, or request holds when you realize youll be gone.
• I love the idea of creating apackage plan with the members of your household or one trusted neighbor:
  • When an important Delivered alert shows up on your phone, whoever is closest (or home) grabs it and texts picked up.
  • Also, if youre traveling, have a friend or neighbor on-call to go grab a box if needed. Speaking from experience, even with the best planning, its easy to have a late package arrive after youve gone on vacation.

4. Make the brown box look boring on purpose

Porch pirates are not dumb; they have a keen eye for boxes and packaging that give away the contents.

Could be a gaming console, small appliance, or shoe brand.Ive even had a 55 Samsung TV show up on my porch in the original box.

Do the following to quietly remove that temptation:

• On Amazon specifically, look for the line Item arrives in packaging that shows whats inside. To hide it, choose Ship in Amazon packaging at checkout. Be sure to ALWAYS select that option so they throw the branded box in a plain brown Amazon box at no extra cost.
• For other retailers, look for the discreet or unbranded packaging option during checkout. Youll often find this under shipping options. Ive noticed in the past year that more merchants are now offering this as a privacy feature.
• Lastly, when shipping gifts to someone that lives in a high-theft area, consider mailing the original box inside a larger, generic shipping box so it looks like any other boring shipment.

5. Build a micro package watch group

Popularneighborhood apps (like Nextdoor) can be great for asking for plumber recommendations, not so awesome for trying to protect packages on your porch.

Instead, try to build a tight, informal package watch with just a couple nearby households as it will be much more effective.

Here are some tips on how to set it up:

• Have a simple rule that everyone agrees to.If you see a box sitting for more than ~60 minutes at any of our doors, grab it and text got it. Well do the same for you.
• If you have a neighbor whos almost always home (remote worker, retiree, stay-at-home parent), ask them if they would consider being the unofficial package captain. As a thank you, maybe everyone chips in for a nice gift card to a local restaurant at the end of the year.
• For apartment and condos, ask management if a camera can point to the mail area and whether packages can be staged inside a locked package room instead of theopen lobby. Its not an unreasonable request as many buildings are already moving this way after repeated theft.

6. Insure the porch as well as the purchase

Even after implementing some of my above tips, some pirates are still going to win.

To that end, you have the ability to basically insure your porch before any package ever goes missing.

Here are some things to consider:

• Dedicated package insurance: New services like PorchPals charge $120 a year and will reimburse you for stolen packages, up to certain limits. For PorchPals specifically, youll get coverage for unlimited packages with a 10% deductible per claim, and $2,000 max protection per year.
• Credit card purchase protection: Did you know many cards will cover theft or damage for 6090 days after purchase? The card issuer, not the retailer, will be the one reimbursing you if a package is stolen. (Check your cards benefits before you rely on it.)
• Renters or homeownersinsurance: Some policies cover theft from your property, including packages on the porch, after you meet your deductible. If your neighborhood tends to be a hot spot, ask your insurer how claims like that are handled.
• Always keep screenshots of your order confirmation, any tracking info that shows the box Delivered, and any camera footage. All of this together serves as useful documentation when it comes to claims, chargebacks, and potential police reports.

It's a push for federal control over AI

• Executive order empowers federal government to challenge state AI regulations

• States risk losing broadband and other funding if laws remain in place

• Critics warn move favors tech industry without national consumer safeguards

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at curbing state laws that regulate artificial intelligence, a move that could invalidate dozens of state-level consumer protection and AI safety measures while consolidating regulatory authority at the federal level.

The order grants sweeping power to the U.S. attorney general to sue states and overturn laws deemed inconsistent with what the administration calls the United States global A.I. dominance. It also directs federal agencies to withhold funding for broadband and other infrastructure projects from states that refuse to roll back their AI regulations.

"Got to be one source"

Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. must lead the world in artificial intelligence and has criticized state laws as creating a fragmented regulatory environment that could slow innovation.

Its got to be one source, Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office, flanked by senior officials including David Sacks, the administrations AI and cryptocurrency czar. You cant go to 50 different sources.

The president framed the order as essential to keeping the U.S. ahead of China in the global race to develop advanced AI technologies. The directive seeks to replace state-level oversight with a single federal framework that would supersede local rules.

With todays executive order, Donald Trump is doing his best to take care of his Big Tech buddies and donors. This reward to Big Tech is a disgraceful invitation to reckless behavior by the worlds largest corporations and a complete override of the federalist principles that Trump and MAGA claim to venerate," said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen.

Tech-friendly agenda accelerates

The executive order is the latest in a series of actions signaling Trumps growing alignment with the AI industry. In recent months, he has signed orders limiting regulation, expanding companies access to federal data and easing the construction of data centers and other infrastructure needed to power AI systems.

Trump has also moved to loosen restrictions on exporting advanced chips that drive AI development and has publicly praised technology executives. Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor, has emerged as a central figure in shaping the administrations AI policy.

Legal challenges expected

The order has already drawn broad, bipartisan criticism and is expected to face swift legal challenges from states and consumer advocacy groups. Legal experts say the move may overstep executive authority, arguing that only Congress has the power to override state laws.

Critics also warn that eliminating state protections without replacing them with strong federal standards could leave consumers vulnerable.

If Mr. Trump succeeds in neutering state laws, he should instead offer a robust national standard on A.I. regulations, said Wes Hodges, acting director of the Center for Technology and the Human Person at the conservative Heritage Foundation. Doing so before establishing commensurate national protections is a carve-out for Big Tech.

Consumer risks remain unresolved

The debate comes as generative AI tools capable of mimicking human voices, writing and images have rapidly proliferated. While the technology has fueled innovation, it has also been linked to , deceptive deepfakes and instances in which chatbots have provided harmful advice to minors.

Consumer advocates say many state laws targeted by the order were designed to address those risks, raising concerns that the administrations push for AI dominance may come at the expense of public safety and accountability.

Let AI be your shopping buddy, not your bank account

• Use AI to brainstorm gifts, compare products, and summarize reviews. Dont let it log into accounts, enter card details, or auto-check out for you

• Keep prompts product-focused, not identity-focused. Skip tools/extensions that want broad access (saved payments, browsing history, manage your web data)

• For tech, designer items, and hot toys, ask AI to only suggest options from official sites or major retailers. Then verify the sellers name, site quality, and pricing

A recent U.S. PIRG Education Fund article explains how agentic commerce is rolling out fast. In laymans terms, this is when an AI bot acts as your personal shopper and will find, research, and even make purchases on your behalf.

But research has also shown how AI assistants can be tricked into shopping on fake websites and accidentally buying counterfeits.

Use AI for research, not for paying

According to the research, people are most comfortable using AI for simple tasks like gift ideas, review summaries, and comparing products.

Conversely, they're much more wary of AI when paymentsand their personal data gets involved. Thats exactly the line in the sand you should draw.

With that said, here are some smart ways to use AI when shopping:

• Brainstorm gifts: Give me 10 gift ideas under $50 for a 12-year-old who loves art and basketball.
• Compare similar products: Compare these three air fryers on size, warranty and real-world complaints in reviews.
• Summarize reviews: Summarize the top pros and cons people mention in reviews for this TV.
• Spot deal patterns: Has this price been lower in the past 30 days? What do reviewers say about quality at this price?

Scenarios where you should stop using AI:

• Dont let AI enter your credit card number on your behalf, log into accounts, or auto-check out for you.
• Dont paste full card details, full address, or passwords into a chat box just to make it faster.
• Think of AI as the friend who helps you research a product, but not the friend you hand your wallet to.

Smart tips to protect your privacy

The article warns that risk goes up as you hand over more data and as that data passes through more systems.

Follow these safer AI habits:

• Keep conversations product-focused, not identity-focused. Size 9 running shoes for flat feet is fine; your full address and birthday are not.
• Avoid storing your card details inside experimental tools or browser extensions that promise one-click AI checkout.
• If an AI tool wants broad access to your data, ask yourself if the convenience is worth the risk. Examples to avoid include read all your browsing history or manage all your web data.

Think of it this way: If you wouldnt feel comfortable saying the information out loud in a crowded checkout line, dont feed it to an unfamiliar AI assistant.

Dont let AI pick potential counterfeits

The article cites brand-protection research showing that about 3 in 10 people who accidentally bought a counterfeit used AI to help them search.

That doesnt mean AI forces you to buy fakes, it simply means that AI will happily find knockoffs if you dont tell it otherwise.

Tips to avoid counterfeits:

• For high-risk items like tech, designer brands, and hot toys, ask AI to only show options from official or well-known retailers (think Target, Walmart, Best Buy, the official brand site, etc.).
• Double-check the following:
  • Seller name (is it the brand, or a random third-party seller with no reviews?)
  • Are the product photos and website quality up to snuff.
  • Is the price way below everyone else? If so, assume its a knockoff until proven otherwise.
• When in doubt, I recommend going directly to the brands website, or a major retailer that you trust. Search for the product with your own fingertips and you won't get burned.