Prominent Hollywood attorney Ken Ziffren addressed the pending acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery and upcoming labor negotiations in a speech to the Beverly Hills Bar Association. He highlighted health plan solvency as the key issue for 2026 guild talks, while criticizing Nielsen's measurement practices. Ziffren also touched on potential buyers like Paramount Skydance amid WBD's sale process.
Warner Bros Discovery Acquisition Rumors
In his October 28, 2025, speech at the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Ken Ziffren, co-founder of Ziffren Brittenham, alluded to an impending sale of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). He referenced a "pending acquisition" by entities including Paramount, Paramount Skydance (PSKY), without naming specifics. Ziffren noted that WBD, led by David Zaslav, has officially put itself up for sale, with PSKY—controlled by David Ellison—having its increasing bids rejected. Comcast, under Brian Roberts, has signaled potential interest, possibly to drive up the price, similar to its actions during Disney's 2017 Fox acquisition.
"What’s going to happen on that is obviously anyone’s guess," Ziffren said cautiously, adding that the outcome remains uncertain but points to another change of control at Warner Bros.
2026 Hollywood Labor Negotiations
Ziffren predicted that 2026 contract talks between the AMPTP and guilds—WGA, DGA, and SAG-AFTRA—will center on the financial health of industry health plans rather than AI or residuals, which he expects to play secondary roles. He revealed that insiders know one guild's health plan has only a six-month reserve, emphasizing the need for tough decisions to sustain these "Cadillac" benefits amid declining production output.
"The primary issue will be that precarious balance of our industry’s health plans for each of the three Guilds," Ziffren stated. He suggested guilds may need to relinquish some perks in exchange for studio funding, warning that "neither side will be happy" with the equitable solution required. Sources from guilds and studios confirm the plans' strained state post-2023 strikes.
Criticism of Nielsen
Ziffren reserved sharp words for Nielsen, calling for an investigation into its potential monopoly and inaccurate audience measurement. He argued that undercounting harms ad revenue, raises subscriber fees, and limits viewer choices, citing rivals like VideoAmp as potentially more reliable.
"There’s a pattern here, and it’s costing production companies through suppressed ad revenue," Ziffren said. "We have before us an imperative to demand a competitive, accountable and innovative measurement framework." Nielsen declined to comment on his remarks.