Entertainment outlets reported early last week that Amazon was in talks to buy MGM, the iconic studio behind the James Bond and Rocky franchises, for around $9 billion. According to new reports from CNBC and The Wall Street Journal, the deal is actually very close to happening and could be announced as early as tomorrow or later this week. Amazon’s acquisition of MGM would mean that Prime Video subscribers would be able to enjoy much (if not all) of the storied studio’s rich catalog, which includes hit movies and TV shows such as Robocop and Stargate SG-1. It isn’t clear yet whether the latest James Bond sequel, No Time to Die, might debut on Prime Video as a result of the deal.
The deal would mark Amazon’s second-largest acquisition in history, behind its $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods in 2017, and highlight the premium that content is commanding as streaming wars force consolidation and drive bigger players to bulk up with assets that help them compete.
Sources: CNBC, The Wall Street Journal