In today’s Digest, we discuss Netflix eyeing a Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, the IAB unveiling a framework to standardise conversion APIs for CTV, and ABC and ESPN being pulled from YouTube TV ahead of their deal expiry.

Netflix eyes Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition

Netflix has retained financial advisory firm Moelis & Co to assess a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studio assets. The move comes on the heels of Moelis’ recent advisory role in Skydance Media’s bid for Paramount Global, which has reportedly granted Netflix access to Warner Bros. Discovery’s financials. A source close to the matter confirmed that Netflix is actively looking into a bid, though the company declined to comment publicly.

Warner Bros. Discovery recently confirmed its openness to a sale following its rejection of a second offer from Paramount, triggering a strategic review process in response to unsolicited interest from multiple parties. Despite the mounting speculation, Netflix’s leadership has publicly downplayed interest in traditional media consolidation. Co-CEO Greg Peters emphasised the importance of organic growth over acquisition, stating that success comes from “developing those capabilities in the trenches day to day.” 

IAB unveils framework to standardise conversion APIs for CTV

In a move to bolster Connected TV (CTV) as a performance-driven advertising channel, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a landmark guide titled The Role of CAPI in Closing the Outcome Gap for CTV. Unveiled on 30th October, the report outlines how Conversion APIs (CAPI) can transform CTV by enabling standardised measurement, privacy-safe data collaboration, and outcome-based performance akin to search and social platforms. IAB CEO David Cohen emphasised the urgency, warning that without CAPI implementation, CTV risks losing performance budgets to more measurable channels.

The guide draws on extensive industry research and highlights the technical fragmentation that has hindered CAPI adoption across CTV platforms. The IAB guide calls for a unified framework, aligning platforms on event taxonomies, consent metadata, and data flows to reduce operational friction and scale solutions like the IAB Tech Lab’s CAPI Standardisation Project. The specification aims to support a broad spectrum of performance events, offering a roadmap for CTV to meet the rigorous demands of modern advertisers.

ABC & ESPN pulled from YouTube TV before deal expiry

ABC, ESPN, and other Disney-owned networks abruptly vanished from YouTube TV late Thursday night, leaving approximately 10 million subscribers without access to prime-time programming. The blackout occurred at 11:15 pm ET, 45 minutes ahead of the scheduled expiration of the companies’ distribution agreement. Sources told Deadline that YouTube TV initiated the early shutdown to allow time for operational adjustments and customer notifications. 

According to a YouTube spokesperson in a statement to Deadline, “We know this is a frustrating and disappointing outcome for our subscribers and we continue to urge Disney to work with us constructively to reach a fair agreement that restores their networks to YouTube TV.”