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By Jody Godoy Feb 3 (Reuters) – Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos faces a grilling in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday at a hearing over how his company's proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will affect competition in the streaming entertainment industry. U.S. Senator Mike Lee will lead the hearing where Sarandos and Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros' chief strategy officer, are expected to testify. While the Senate cannot itself prohibit the deal, the hearing allows lawmakers to demand details from Netflix on how the transaction would affect consumers, workers and competitors. The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the transaction, along with a competing, hostile bid from Paramount Skydance.  Both Netflix and Paramount Skydance covet Warner Bros for its leading film and television studios, extensive content library and major franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter" and DC Comics' superheroes Batman and Superman. Paramount has argued it will have an easier regulatory path to approval. But Warner Bros has repeatedly rejected offers from Paramount, which would wind up deep in debt to finance the transaction. Paramount's CEO is David Ellison, whose father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee, a Republican from Utah who leads the antitrust subcommittee, has been critical of Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros since the deal was announced in December. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties have voiced concerns that the deal will reduce competition in the streaming market. Netflix has pointed to statistics by media analysis firm Nielsen that say Google's YouTube accounts for more viewing time on U.S. televisions than other streaming services, but experts say the DOJ is likely to analyze how the deal affects competition in a more specific market, such as streaming platforms that charge a monthly subscription.  Lee has also questioned whether Netflix truly intends to acquire Warner Bros, or whether it is attempting to slow competition from Warner Bros during an antitrust review by the Department of Justice that could take more than a year. The Republican senator called on Netflix to disclose whether its personnel have had access to Warner Bros' sensitive information, which he said could allow the streaming service to gain an advantage before the deal closes. "Access to such information could enable anticompetitive behavior, including replication of projects in development, strategic planning, or algorithmic targeting," Lee said in a letter to Netflix in January. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Jody Godoy Feb 3 (Reuters) – Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos faces a grilling in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday at a hearing over how his company's proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will affect competition in the streaming entertainment industry. U.S. Senator Mike Lee will lead the hearing where Sarandos and Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros' chief strategy officer, are expected to testify. While the Senate cannot itself prohibit the deal, the hearing allows lawmakers to demand details from Netflix on how the transaction would affect consumers, workers and competitors. The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the transaction, along with a competing, hostile bid from Paramount Skydance.  Both Netflix and Paramount Skydance covet Warner Bros for its leading film and television studios, extensive content library and major franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter" and DC Comics' superheroes Batman and Superman. Paramount has argued it will have an easier regulatory path to approval. But Warner Bros has repeatedly rejected offers from Paramount, which would wind up deep in debt to finance the transaction. Paramount's CEO is David Ellison, whose father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee, a Republican from Utah who leads the antitrust subcommittee, has been critical of Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros since the deal was announced in December. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties have voiced concerns that the deal will reduce competition in the streaming market. Netflix has pointed to statistics by media analysis firm Nielsen that say Google's YouTube accounts for more viewing time on U.S. televisions than other streaming services, but experts say the DOJ is likely to analyze how the deal affects competition in a more specific market, such as streaming platforms that charge a monthly subscription.  Lee has also questioned whether Netflix truly intends to acquire Warner Bros, or whether it is attempting to slow competition from Warner Bros during an antitrust review by the Department of Justice that could take more than a year. The Republican senator called on Netflix to disclose whether its personnel have had access to Warner Bros' sensitive information, which he said could allow the streaming service to gain an advantage before the deal closes. "Access to such information could enable anticompetitive behavior, including replication of projects in development, strategic planning, or algorithmic targeting," Lee said in a letter to Netflix in January. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Jody Godoy Feb 3 (Reuters) – Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos faces a grilling in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday at a hearing over how his company's proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will affect competition in the streaming entertainment industry. U.S. Senator Mike Lee will lead the hearing where Sarandos and Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros' chief strategy officer, are expected to testify. While the Senate cannot itself prohibit the deal, the hearing allows lawmakers to demand details from Netflix on how the transaction would affect consumers, workers and competitors. The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the transaction, along with a competing, hostile bid from Paramount Skydance.  Both Netflix and Paramount Skydance covet Warner Bros for its leading film and television studios, extensive content library and major franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter" and DC Comics' superheroes Batman and Superman. Paramount has argued it will have an easier regulatory path to approval. But Warner Bros has repeatedly rejected offers from Paramount, which would wind up deep in debt to finance the transaction. Paramount's CEO is David Ellison, whose father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee, a Republican from Utah who leads the antitrust subcommittee, has been critical of Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros since the deal was announced in December. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties have voiced concerns that the deal will reduce competition in the streaming market. Netflix has pointed to statistics by media analysis firm Nielsen that say Google's YouTube accounts for more viewing time on U.S. televisions than other streaming services, but experts say the DOJ is likely to analyze how the deal affects competition in a more specific market, such as streaming platforms that charge a monthly subscription.  Lee has also questioned whether Netflix truly intends to acquire Warner Bros, or whether it is attempting to slow competition from Warner Bros during an antitrust review by the Department of Justice that could take more than a year. The Republican senator called on Netflix to disclose whether its personnel have had access to Warner Bros' sensitive information, which he said could allow the streaming service to gain an advantage before the deal closes. "Access to such information could enable anticompetitive behavior, including replication of projects in development, strategic planning, or algorithmic targeting," Lee said in a letter to Netflix in January. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 2 (Reuters) – Investigators believe the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie was abducted, a local sheriff in Arizona said on Monday, after she vanished from her home near Tucson and was reported missing over the weekend. "We believe 100% right now she could not have walked away from that home," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News. "I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly. We don't believe that." Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home on Saturday night, when she was visited by her children, and was reported missing on Sunday afternoon. She has limited mobility and could not have left her home unaided, Nanos told a press conference earlier on Monday, when he said her disappearance was being treated as a crime. Nanos later expanded on his remarks in an interview with CBS to say he believes she was abducted. Guthrie's family was especially worried because she needs to take daily medication. "She's 84, she needs her meds, her family needs her too," Nanos told reporters, imploring the public to send in tips. "This is not dementia-related, she is as sharp as a tack. The family wants everybody to know this isn't somebody who just wandered off." Savannah Guthrie did not appear in her usual seat on NBC's "Today" show on Monday morning, which broadcasts from New York City. "Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom," the presenter said in a statement read out by her colleagues. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Diane Craft)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 2 (Reuters) – Investigators believe the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie was abducted, a local sheriff in Arizona said on Monday, after she vanished from her home near Tucson and was reported missing over the weekend. "We believe 100% right now she could not have walked away from that home," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News. "I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly. We don't believe that." Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home on Saturday night, when she was visited by her children, and was reported missing on Sunday afternoon. She has limited mobility and could not have left her home unaided, Nanos told a press conference earlier on Monday, when he said her disappearance was being treated as a crime. Nanos later expanded on his remarks in an interview with CBS to say he believes she was abducted. Guthrie's family was especially worried because she needs to take daily medication. "She's 84, she needs her meds, her family needs her too," Nanos told reporters, imploring the public to send in tips. "This is not dementia-related, she is as sharp as a tack. The family wants everybody to know this isn't somebody who just wandered off." Savannah Guthrie did not appear in her usual seat on NBC's "Today" show on Monday morning, which broadcasts from New York City. "Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom," the presenter said in a statement read out by her colleagues. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Diane Craft)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 2 (Reuters) – The 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie was reported missing over the weekend after vanishing from her home near Tucson, Arizona, the Pima County sheriff's department said on Monday. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home on Saturday night, when she was visited by her children, and was reported missing on Sunday afternoon. She has limited mobility and could not have left her home unaided, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters. He and her family were especially worried because she needs to take daily medication. "She's 84, she needs her meds, her family needs her too," Nanos said, imploring the public to send in tips. "This is not dementia-related, she is as sharp as a tack. The family wants everybody to know this isn't somebody who just wandered off." Savannah Guthrie did not appear in her usual seat on NBC's "Today" show on Monday morning, which broadcasts from New York City. "Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom," the presenter said in a statement read out by her colleagues. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)