I find it amazing that consumers just get the short end of the deal. When streaming as a subscription service started, it was Netlfix acquiring the rights of shows from every company, allowing for a near infinite menu to choose from.

Then every player wanted a slice of the pie savaging consumers' options, forcing everyone to pay for multiple subscriptions. (Disney plus, netflix, hbo max, paramount, peacock, etc.)

Now the players cannot sustain themselves in the oversaturated market and have to give up, but still refuse to go quietly and ignite a bidding war to make one last quick buck.

Meanwhile all these consolidation will not do anything to bring prices (that have been going up relentlessly over the years) down, if anything, a bigger player will pop up from this bidding war and fancy themselves as the premier option, then charge a figurative bomb for users wanting a better catalogue, all while shoving ads in your face, further exploiting the customers who just get trampled under the capitalistic machine...