Late last week, “Netflix bought Warner Bros.” was a sentence often bandied around. The truth was, as always, far less glamorous. Netflix hasn’t bought the entertainment giant just yet. Rather, it just extended a lucrative offer, which gives other suitors and regulating agencies a chance to respond. And respond, they have. Paramount has just made a sizable counteroffer for Warner Bros. Discovery, totalling US$ 108.4 billion in value.

Much like last week’s report, the wording is crucial here. Netflix made an offer for Warner Bros. Paramount is making an offer for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix’s offer of US$ 82.7 billion (or US$ 27.75 per share) hinges on Warner Bros. Discovery un-merging and forming two separate entities: the Warner Bros. arm and the Discovery arm. Netflix plans to buy the former, while the latter (along with its associated networks) will be free to break off into its own ventures. Should it be approved, the deal will be inked only starting around the latter half of next year.

On the other hand, Paramount wants everything, including the cable networks. It’s willing to pay US$ 30 per share, or US$ 108.4 billion.

The company counters that Netflix’s offer is “based on an illusory prospective valuation of Global Networks that is unsupported by the business fundamentals and encumbered by high levels of financial leverage assigned to the entity.”

The company further says that their previous six bids were never seriously considered by Warner Bros. Discovery, whereas the latter reached a unanimous decision with Netflix.

In terms of value, Paramount promises a combination of Paramount+ and HBO Max, as well as an infusion of sports like the NFL and the Olympics.

Though Paramount’s price is much higher than Netflix, it must also go through an approval process. It will expire on January 8, 2026.

I walked into Samsung’s newly opened Business Experience Studio in Manila expecting a typical corporate showcase. Instead, it felt like I had stepped into the near future of everyday living.

The lights shifted on their own, and the screens responded instantly. It was a glimpse of how businesses are about to transform the places we move through every day.

This was Samsung Electronics Philippines bringing its SmartThings Home and business ecosystem together in one space.

The experience reimagined hospitality, retail, education, and even high-compliance industries in a way that felt seamless, and surprisingly personal.

Because while all of this is built for businesses, the end result is something every customer will feel the next time they check into a hotel, grab a quick meal, or walk into a store.

Hospitality that meets you before you even reach your room

The hospitality zone felt like an intelligent concierge waiting to anticipate needs.

Hotels can now use Samsung’s connected systems to simplify check-ins and lessen the long lines that usually greet you after a long trip.

The moment you enter your room, SmartThings pulls everything together through one interface. Lighting, temperature, entertainment, and even comfort features feel like they were set up by someone who knows you.

The rooms use Samsung’s hospitality TVs paired with immersive audio and smart cooling systems like the One-Way Cassette and WindFree Air Conditioners.

It creates an environment that stays comfortable even when the outside weather behaves unpredictably.

The entire room behaves as one connected space that adjusts naturally. This means hotel stays will start to feel more restorative and less like a checklist of things you need to adjust manually.

A faster and smoother retail experience

The retail and quick-service restaurant zone delivered the biggest shift for anyone who has ever stood in a long queue.

Samsung Kiosks showed how ordering meals can feel smoother and less prone to errors, especially during peak hours when service teams get overloaded.

Payments, orders, and confirmations happen in one place, and customers move faster without losing accuracy.

Digital displays placed inside and outside the store captured attention the way a good storefront should.

Retailers can change menus, promos, and visuals instantly through VXT CMS. It means the next time you pass by your favorite cafe, the signage that lures you in may have been updated seconds earlier.

Classrooms that feel more collaborative

The education zone felt less like a lecture hall and more like an open studio.

Samsung tablets, Flip Pro digital boards, and Samsung TVs created a learning environment where students and teachers could move, annotate, mirror, and collaborate with ease.

Galaxy tablets running Samsung DeX turned into mini workstations. AI-powered productivity tools made it easier to consolidate notes, manage tasks, and keep everyone in sync.

It was a showcase of how future classrooms will focus on how people use technology together rather than simply placing gadgets on desks.

Technology for industries that work in demanding conditions

The final zone highlighted rugged devices like the Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5.

These were not built for air-conditioned offices. They were created for industries that operate in unpredictable environments.

The devices are tough enough to handle drops, vibration, and harsh conditions while maintaining connectivity and real-time communication. It means that frontline teams can move confidently without worrying about equipment failures.

Samsung Knox added a layer of security designed for industries where data protection is non-negotiable.

Administrators can manage an entire device fleet remotely and lock and wipe compromised units instantly. They can track locations securely, and broadcast urgent messages to teams on the ground.

Combined with SmartThings Pro, it creates an ecosystem where businesses can monitor, automate, and safeguard operations without slowing down.

The intelligence that ties it all together

As I moved through each zone, the common thread was this idea of an intelligent system supporting our daily life.

Samsung’s Business Experience Studio showed how AI and connected devices can help businesses work smarter while giving customers smoother, more delightful experiences.

The future might not look like flying cars and neon skylines. It may look more like hotel rooms that prepare themselves before you reach them.

Or cafes that take your order without delay, classrooms that adapt to how students learn best, and workplaces that stay productive even in challenging environments.

If this showcase is any indication, that future is already waiting the next time you step into your favorite hotel or store.

As of late, Warner Bros. became the hottest property in the world of entertainment. Despite efforts to revitalize the brand among audiences, Warner Bros. Discover, as the bigger company is known, has decided to put itself up for sale. Of course, there were a lot of potential contenders. Last month, rumors swirled that Netflix might end up becoming the library’s main suitor. Now, it’s official: Netflix is set to acquire Warner Bros for around US$ 82.7 billion.

The history of Warner Bros. in the modern era represents one of the biggest mergers in history. In previous years, the company merged with several notable properties including HBO, DC, Discovery, TNT, and Cartoon Network. It was, and is, a conglomeration of gigantic proportions. However, recent failures have prompted the company to pull the plug.

As noted above, Netflix toyed around with the idea of buying the property for itself. Now, the deal is nice and printed, ready for approval.

Notably, it hasn’t been approved just yet. The likeliest window for the deal to get approved, if it gets approved, is after the third quarter of 2026, which is when Warner Bros. Discover will break off into two separate entities. In the meantime, other suitors and the government itself might put up some opposition to the huge merger.

Should it push through, most of the library will enter Netflix. The few who don’t follow will likely go with Discovery, which isn’t part of the deal. Additionally, HBO Max might end up getting shelved and folded into Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Netflix might acquire HBO Max