1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. You're listening to the 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Intelligence podcast. Catch us live weekdays at ten am 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Eastern on Apple, Cocklay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: Business app. Listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts, 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: or watch us live on YouTube. 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: M and A Media m and A pending big, big 7 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 2: deal Warner Brothers Discovery. It's in discussions and accepted bids 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: from Paramount, sky Dance, from Netflix, maybe even Comcast. Now, 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: I guess we wait and see what happens. But this 10 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: is when this deal crosses a tape, it's going to 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: be a big deal. It's gonna have enterprise value of 12 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 2: north of ninety billion. 13 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 3: I can't wait for them to make a limited TV 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 3: series about this parting process. 15 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 4: Yes, it's gonna be great. 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly right, coming to Netflix on soon. Keitha rang 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: Andathen She covers the media space for Bloomberg Intelligence as 18 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: the media analyst there Ethan. What's the latest on Warner 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: Brothers Discovery. I guess the question now is that BIS 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: has been accepted. What are next steps? Yeah? 21 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 5: Next steps, Paul is that these were just first round bids. 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 5: They're non binding bids. You know, as far as the 23 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 5: news reports go, it looks like all three companies that 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 5: were in the race, Paramount skuy Dance for all of 25 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 5: Warner Brothers, and then Netflix and Comcast for just the 26 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 5: studio and streaming assets, have all placed their bids. This 27 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 5: is going to be a very long drawn process, so 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 5: we're going to have multiple rounds. 29 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 6: You know. 30 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 5: We've had some conflicting reports actually on what Paramount sky 31 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 5: Dance was offering. There was something earlier this week but 32 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 5: suggested they were offering something north of twenty eight dollars 33 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 5: per share. They came out refuted that report, and the 34 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 5: latest reports seemed to suggest that it might be it's 35 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 5: definitely going to be something much lower than that, probably 36 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 5: something above twenty five, but still below twenty seven. But 37 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 5: let's remember David Zaslav has publicly said that he wants 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 5: something north of thirty dollars per share, So this is 39 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 5: going to play out for quite a while. 40 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 3: I think, yeah, that is a pretty big gap between 41 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 3: what David Zaslov wants and what the reporting indicates Paramounts 42 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 3: Guidance is likely to pay. So if this is going 43 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 3: to be a long drawn out process, does that benefit 44 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 3: Warner Brothers Discovery or these bidders, who comes out ahead 45 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 3: in that kind of scenario. 46 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, the long drawn out processes is really 47 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 5: not good, I think for for Warner Brothers Discovery. But 48 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 5: having said that, let's remember that they do have another 49 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 5: plan B in place, and the Plan B is that 50 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 5: they are going to go ahead and split their company 51 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 5: into two parts, so you have the TV Networks business 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 5: and the streaming and studio business. And the good news 53 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 5: for them is that the studio turnaround, which was you know, 54 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 5: kind of in progress, is now really kind of taking shape. 55 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 5: We're seeing some really tangible, you know, growth come out 56 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 5: of both streaming as well as studio. And so worst 57 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 5: comes to worst if nothing you know, materializes from all 58 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 5: of these bids and from all of this same chatter 59 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 5: and buzz, they are still on track to separate their businesses, 60 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 5: and who knows, maybe that would be the better path 61 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 5: for them going forward. So all is not lost even 62 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,119 Speaker 5: if you know these bids don't work out. 63 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: KEITHA, I know you've done the work. What do you 64 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: think the entire company is worth? 65 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 5: So, Paul, you know, it all again depends here on 66 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 5: who's making the bid for what parts of the business 67 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 5: they're making. But so as we kind of look at 68 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 5: it right now, I don't think David Zaslav is far 69 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 5: off when he says he wants thirty dollars per share 70 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 5: for all of the company. We think majority of that 71 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 5: value will actually rest with the studio and streaming network. 72 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 5: So we when we kind of crunch the numbers, we 73 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 5: get twenty five to twenty eight dollars just for the 74 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 5: studio and the streaming business. But at the end of 75 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 5: the day, Paul, it all comes down to synergy. So 76 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 5: if you look at you know, combining the entire corporation, 77 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 5: all of Warner Brothers Discovery with all of Paramount for instance, 78 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 5: and they both have you know, substantial linear network exposure, 79 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 5: they both have studios, they both have streaming assets. You know, 80 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 5: we're looking like something like at about four or five 81 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 5: billion dollars in synergies, which you know, then then adds 82 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 5: to the deal value. 83 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 7: Also, stay with us. More from Bloomberg Intelligence coming up 84 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 7: after this. 85 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Intelligence Podcast. Catch us live 86 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: weekdays at ten am Eastern on Apple, Cocklay and Android 87 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: Auto with the Bloomberg Business app. Listen on demand wherever 88 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts or watch us live on YouTube. 89 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 3: A column that I read this week really resonated because 90 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 3: it hits upon three key themes that we're seeing across 91 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 3: the markets. Retail earnings, tech forward companies, and people worried 92 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 3: about losing their jobs in this AI era. Beth cow 93 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 3: It is a Bloomberg opinion columnist, and she's written a 94 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: story about Walmart and it's masterclass and reputation rehab. But 95 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 3: it really rests on this idea that Walmart invested in 96 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 3: its workforce and its treatment of workers at a time 97 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 3: when it was being criticized for not treating its workers well, 98 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 3: and this is paid off in many ways. Beth joins 99 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 3: us now in our bloom Work Interactive Brokers studio. So Beth, 100 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 3: just take us back a couple of years to when 101 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 3: Walmart decided that it was going to spend on its workforce. 102 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 3: It was going to invest money into the workforce, and 103 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 3: investors did not like hearing that. 104 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, it's hard to think about this now, 105 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 8: but a decade ago, Walmart was one of the most 106 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 8: reviled companies in America. Right it was being criticized for 107 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 8: paying its employees low wages. For wiping out mom and 108 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 8: pop retailers for basically creating a culture of disposable consumerism. 109 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 8: So it really was getting hit from a lot of 110 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 8: different angles. And rather than just ignore the bad press 111 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 8: or army, you know, hire an army of pr people, 112 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 8: it decided to do something about it. And Doug McMillan decided, 113 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 8: we're going to invest in our people and two point 114 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 8: seven billion dollars over a couple of years, and we 115 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 8: now know this really paid off. 116 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: So I mean, for Doug McMillan, I mean to me, 117 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: after reading your article, this could be one of his 118 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: as he's stepping down, could be one of his lasting 119 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: legacies at the company. 120 00:05:59,080 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 4: I really think so. 121 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 8: I think I think that you know, he's been at 122 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 8: the company now more than a decade. I think this 123 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 8: will be amongst the most enduring things that he has done. 124 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 8: I think this. I'm not sure that the company would 125 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 8: be in the place it's at today if he had 126 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 8: not really addressed this. 127 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 3: And let's be clear about what exactly he did with 128 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: that two point seven sharing dollars. Pay increases, there is 129 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 3: training and really just attracting a better quality worker. 130 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 8: Yeah, and the way he did this was right. It 131 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 8: was pay increases, but more than anything else, it was 132 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 8: creating not low paying jobs, but a career. 133 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 6: Right. 134 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 4: There was now a path. 135 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 8: For people who started at Walmart to move up the ranks, 136 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 8: and that was really important, right to attracting more ambitious employees, 137 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 8: to getting them to stay, and I think that that 138 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 8: shifted the whole culture of the company. 139 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 2: So what's the company saying about AI? Because there's a 140 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: lot of answer just in the overall economy about what 141 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 2: the impact AI will have upon jobs. One could look 142 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: at big box stores as industry that might be at 143 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: risk because. 144 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 7: They do employ so many people. 145 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: What does Walmart say. 146 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 8: Walmart's taken a very different approach, I think than some 147 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 8: other big employers, and it has embraced a EYE. Let's 148 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 8: be clear, Like there's a AI is throughout embedded throughout 149 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 8: the company, but it has not used a EE to 150 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 8: have some of these mass layoffs that were justify some 151 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 8: of these mass layoffs that we've seen at other companies. 152 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 8: And I think part of that is this history, like 153 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 8: it knows how important these entry level workers are and 154 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 8: that they need a path, they need this workforce to 155 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,679 Speaker 8: sort of grow the company. So it said AI will 156 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 8: change every job. It knows that, but it is trying 157 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 8: to get every worker through to the other side, so 158 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 8: whether that's retraining, finding new rules, rules for them. So 159 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 8: it's just a very different outlook, I think than what 160 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:51,119 Speaker 8: we're hearing from others. 161 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 3: And you've noted as well that the last ten years 162 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 3: at Walmart has led to tremendous return for shareholders, but 163 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 3: also it's become a case study at heart Heard Business 164 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 3: school on how to on how an experiment on paying 165 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 3: your workers war or investing your workers can pay off. 166 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 4: Absolutely. 167 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 8: I mean we you mentioned this at the beginning, but 168 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 8: Wall Street hated this plan. I mean the company lost 169 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 8: tremendous value, about that much tremendous value when they announced it, 170 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 8: and now you know, we have the receipts a decade later, 171 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 8: and the I think the market gap has tripled. The 172 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 8: stock has returned more than four hundred percent. So they 173 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 8: really took a gamble on this and stuck with it, 174 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 8: and it really has it has paid off for them. 175 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: I mean, every time I look at the dees screen 176 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 2: on the Bloomberg terminal for Walmart, had just blown away 177 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: by the fact that they have two point one million employees. 178 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: What's the retention of those employees. I'm wondering if there's 179 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 2: like I would think in the warehouses it might be 180 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 2: really really high. 181 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 7: I'm not sure about the stores. How is retention sure? 182 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 8: So they've actually increased retention by ten percent since twenty 183 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 8: fifteen they when they started this plan. And another thing 184 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 8: is that they've some of the more management len roles. 185 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 8: Seventy five percent of those are hired from with it. 186 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 8: So this pipeline is really critical for them. And so 187 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 8: that's why I think that they are so focused on 188 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 8: creating a place where people stay. 189 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 4: That's key. 190 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 3: And you only have to look at the outgoing CEO 191 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: and the NTO, right, Both Doug McMillan and John Ferner, 192 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 3: the successor, are Walmart lifers. They started off as hourly 193 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 3: workers there. 194 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 8: Right, They know the importance of that and having worked 195 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 8: their way up, that needs to be something that continues. 196 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: There is this something that you think the new CEO 197 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: is as committed to as the prior CEO. 198 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 8: I would think so because he has the same background. 199 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 8: I mean, I think he knows the importance of emerging technologies. 200 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 8: He's really focused on that. But I think because of 201 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 8: his history and he's worked very closely with McMillan for 202 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 8: a long time, so they must be aligned on this. 203 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 7: Stay with us. More from Bloomberg Intelligence coming up after this. 204 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg and Intelligence podcast. Catch us 205 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: live weekdays at ten am. He's done on Apple, Cocklay 206 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. Listen on 207 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: demand wherever you get your podcasts, or watch us live 208 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: on YouTube. 209 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: Jody Lori joints us here in our Bloomberg Interactive Broker 210 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 2: studio in the Big Town. 211 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 7: How about that, Jody. 212 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 4: We love your coverage. 213 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: You covered from the credit perspective, all the fun industries 214 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 2: like hotels, like cruise ships and all that kind of stuff. 215 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: I know, you guys put out a survey talking about 216 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: how people are spending their vacation money. 217 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 7: What'd you learn? 218 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 9: So we do the survey every half a year, and 219 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 9: so we just got the results out for the most 220 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 9: recent one that we ran last week. And what's interesting 221 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 9: is that we're seeing more people planning on keeping their 222 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 9: budgets the same. 223 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 4: But what's more interesting is. 224 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 9: That if costs succeed, budgets fewer people than last year. 225 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 4: So they'd increase their budget. 226 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 9: And that's on the back of them knowing that inflation 227 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 9: is a much higher risk for them for their portfolio. 228 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 3: So in other words, people are making room for time off, 229 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 3: but they're going to have to scrimp more in order 230 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 3: to make it happen because their money is not going 231 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 3: to take them as far as it used to correct. 232 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 4: And Scarlett, I mean, I think to piggyback on that. 233 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 9: If you look the eating out, anticipation of spending is 234 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,839 Speaker 9: higher this year than last year, and I think that's 235 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 9: lesser reflection of people wanting to eat out, but more 236 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 9: that they're expecting eating out is going to be more expensive. 237 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 9: And so even though we're seeing people want to spend 238 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 9: on paid activities and experiences, which could bode well for 239 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 9: the cruise lines and the theme parks, at the end 240 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 9: of the day, when cost succeed budgets, more people this 241 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 9: year over last year are planning on cutting and looking 242 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 9: at free options. So going to the free museums, going 243 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 9: to low cost. 244 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 3: Options, well, now that the government is open DC is 245 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 3: an option once again. How about in terms of destination, 246 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 3: maybe staying closer to home, maybe not going quite as 247 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 3: far internationally, Yes. 248 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 9: And staying closer to home is very very much key 249 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 9: if we see the data, the international trend is to Canada. 250 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 9: Canada bumped up to the second spot. So we saw 251 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 9: that in the midyear, and it was pretty curious for US, 252 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 9: particularly because when you look at it the opposite way, 253 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 9: and we did this announced a few months ago. Canada 254 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 9: is not coming to the US. They don't want to 255 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 9: come to the US. It's too expensive for them, they 256 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 9: don't really like the current government situation, and on top 257 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 9: of it, I think they're scared about crossing the border 258 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 9: and what it means for immigration. So we're seeing Canadians 259 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 9: not come to the US, and we're seeing a lot 260 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 9: of companies comment on that. 261 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 4: But we are seeing a lot of Americans go to Canada. 262 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 9: And I am curious how much and this is going 263 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 9: to come in further reports. How much of the Canada 264 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 9: move is a reflection of the World Cup next year. 265 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 9: There's a lot of people going to Vancouver, for instance, 266 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 9: for the World Cup. I'll actually be there during the 267 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 9: World Cup, but not going to the World Cup. 268 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 7: Why we. 269 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 9: Might be doing a very family friendly cruise to Alaska. 270 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: Nice. 271 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 4: It just works out that that's the same time as 272 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 4: it was bad timing. 273 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 2: It's bad time, all right, talk to me. This is 274 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: when I go to Aruba, we go to an all inclusive. 275 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 2: How come I didn't know about this all inclusive thing 276 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 2: when I had four little kids. 277 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 3: I mean, were they were they a thing back then? 278 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 2: I don't know, but I mean I would get the 279 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,599 Speaker 2: bill which would be five inches thick with like smoothies 280 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 2: and chicken fingers and all that kind of crap that 281 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: they'd eat throughout. 282 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 7: The day four kids. 283 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: Man if if I knew about the all inclusive, that 284 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: would have been a savior for me. What are people 285 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: doing when they are they willing to still pay it 286 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 2: for travel? Because I still here people going to Europe 287 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: and stuff like that. I mean, they're not going to Poughkeepsie, 288 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 2: They're going to Parish and things. 289 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 9: Yeah, I mean Japan is certainly a popular destination. Strong 290 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 9: dollar there, yeah, very much increased. 291 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 4: Italy has increased. 292 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 9: We're seeing among the upper income level, you know, Portugal 293 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 9: and Spain as popular destinations. And I think probably what's 294 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 9: even more interesting is onboard spending for cruises is still 295 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 9: continuing to have momentum. 296 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 4: At the moment, I. 297 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 9: Think where we're watching is when that onboard spending shifts 298 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 9: and then the cruise lines, for example, don't get that. 299 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 4: Gravy for cash flow. 300 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 9: And to your point, Paul, I mean, even though you 301 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 9: have something called all inclusives, even though you have the 302 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 9: cruise lines, that they all are considered these package deal 303 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 9: what every company is doing, and we're talking the rental 304 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 9: car companies. You know, Avius is doing this too, obviously, 305 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 9: the airlines is they're all. 306 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 4: Doing these premium products. 307 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 9: These you know, you do different tiers of products, so 308 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 9: the add on so you can get the base level, 309 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 9: which is really the skeleton package. But anyone from cruise 310 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 9: lines to you know, theme parks, to some extent, to 311 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 9: the all inclusives, to the airlines, to the rental car 312 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 9: companies are all segmenting to give you know, the lower 313 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 9: income consumer the ability to say that they traveled and 314 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 9: the higher income consumer the ability to travel luxury. And 315 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 9: in terms of the add ons, what are these add 316 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 9: ons are they? You know, things that they used to 317 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 9: offer for free and now charge. 318 00:14:58,080 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 4: You for for some of it. 319 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 9: It is so you know, a good example I have 320 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 9: is anecdotally, I know that some of the cruise lines 321 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 9: that used to not charge to get people into the 322 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 9: center of a city, say in Europe, you're on a 323 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 9: European cruise. 324 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 4: They used to give that for free. 325 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 9: Now they say no, you have to be a part 326 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 9: of one of our you know, expeditions, one of one 327 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 9: of our excursions in order to get that for free. 328 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 9: Otherwise we charge you twenty dollars to get into the 329 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 9: Senate's colwn in you know, Czechoslovakia and not Checklisvokia, check Republic. 330 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 7: Stay with us. More from Bloomberg Intelligence coming up after this. 331 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Intelligence podcast. Catch us live 332 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: weekdays at ten am Eastern on Apple Coarclay and Android 333 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. Listen on demand wherever 334 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts, or watch us live on YouTube. 335 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 2: Obviously, the theme this week, one of the things has 336 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 2: been Nvidian It's strong earnings. AI fight has been really 337 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 2: a driving theme for this overall market for going on 338 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: three years now, and Investor has been looking for your 339 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 2: privative ways to play that theme, and one of that 340 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 2: has been how do you get tompower all these data 341 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 2: centers out there? And that leads you to utilities, and 342 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 2: that leads you to our next guest, Calvin Butler, CEO 343 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 2: of exelon it is a publicly traded company. EXC is 344 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 2: the ticker of the stocks up about one percent today, 345 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 2: up about twenty two percent year to date, so certainly 346 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: performing well with the other utility stocks. Calvin, thank you 347 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 2: so much for joining us here. Again, when I look 348 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 2: at your industry, you guys are critical to the rollout 349 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 2: of AI because we've got to power this stuff, these 350 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 2: data centers. 351 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 7: How do you guys view it? 352 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, Paul, thank you for having me and exactly how 353 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 6: you said it. We're critical to the development of AI 354 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 6: data centers and large load quantum and we take that 355 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 6: responsibility very serious. And from a standpoint of building that infrastructure, 356 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 6: protecting that grid, it's going to be the backbone of 357 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 6: all this. We always say that the energy in sector 358 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 6: there is five percent of the GDP, but we power 359 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 6: the next ninety five and we take that very seriously. 360 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 4: You take it seriously. 361 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 3: So walk us through some of the plans you're making, 362 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 3: how you're preparing for this transition, for this increase in demand. 363 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, thank you, Scarlett. What we have done, We've done 364 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 6: a few things. Is one understanding for your listeners, excellent. 365 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 6: We are truly a transmission and distribution company, you know, 366 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 6: proud to have six utilities operating the electric gas side 367 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 6: through the pipes and wires. So having said that, being 368 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 6: the backbone of that, we're encouraging those data centers and 369 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 6: large developers to come into the states in which we operate, 370 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 6: and we put together a comprehensive plan to get them online, 371 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 6: up and running sooner rather than later. Speed is everything 372 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 6: for them, and so what it takes is a coordinated effort, 373 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 6: and we've worked very hard to move upstream to get 374 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 6: them online so they can do what they do, which 375 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 6: is on the technology side. Now, as we do that, 376 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 6: we have to keep in mind first and foremost the 377 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 6: affordability factor for all of our communities, and that's where 378 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 6: we're working with them to identify sites that are more 379 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 6: ready to put their equipment and their technology in place. 380 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,719 Speaker 2: We had a couple of governor races recently in New 381 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 2: Jersey and in Virginia, and affordability was one of the 382 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: big issues. And in New Jersey the governor elect who 383 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: actually won, one of her number one issues was bringing 384 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 2: down electric utility bills. So this is an issue we 385 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 2: got to fund, We got to I guess create and 386 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 2: develop these data centers, but we got to do it 387 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 2: in a way that it doesn't cause. 388 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 7: Everybody's power bills to go up. 389 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:47,640 Speaker 2: How do you think about that transition. 390 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 6: Paul, You're absolutely right. It was a race in both 391 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 6: New Jersey and Virginia, an issue, and we believe it's 392 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 6: going to be an issue in the twenty twenty six 393 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 6: elections because of affordability. Pocketbook issues are going to be key. 394 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 6: So let me tell you what we're doing from excellent perspective. 395 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 6: We are protecting our residential customers. You know, we serve 396 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 6: almost eleven million customers. So as as important as it 397 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 6: is for data center development, it's more important for me 398 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 6: to protect the other customers in this process. So we've 399 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 6: come up with what we consider a rather innovative solution 400 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,239 Speaker 6: in creating a tear up a transmission security agreement. So 401 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 6: what that does is we require a letter of credit 402 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 6: or a cash deposit from these large developers speculating are 403 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 6: identifying what thir ten year revenue projections or cost projections 404 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 6: coming back to our utility is, and anytime that they 405 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 6: do not meet eighty percent of that load projections or 406 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 6: cash projections, we draw down from that deposit. And what 407 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 6: it does it protects the other customers on the systems 408 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 6: for the investments that we're making. So we're being very 409 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 6: intentional about protecting the other users on the system because 410 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 6: when it's done right, it should reduce the cost for everyone. 411 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 6: But when it's done haphazardly or piecemeal, it can have 412 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 6: ramifications that everyone else has impacted. But what you're seeing 413 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 6: not just from the capital investment. You're seeing the supply 414 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 6: costs go up. Supply costs are going up because of 415 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 6: the increased demand, and we have inadequate generation on the 416 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 6: system to do that. You use New Jersey as an example. 417 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 6: Let me give you a real example of what happened 418 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,479 Speaker 6: to New Jersey customers last year. New Jersey customers average 419 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 6: residential customers bill rose thirty eight dollars thirty four dollars. 420 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 6: I'm sorry, thirty four dollars. Thirty eight dollars was due 421 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 6: to supply because they were reconciling our bill, our bill, 422 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 6: our cost the demand, the transmission and distribution part went 423 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 6: down four dollars, but the bill still went up thirty four. 424 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 6: That's how important it is to get this supply stack 425 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 6: right to help lower all customers' bills. 426 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 3: Kevin, let me ask you about nuclear because this week 427 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 3: the government announced it plans to buy and own up 428 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 3: to ten large new nuclear reactors that could be paid 429 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 3: for using Japan's pledge to fund five hundred and fifty 430 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 3: billion dollars of investments in the US. Of course, this 431 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 3: is part of a push to meet surging demand for electricity, 432 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 3: and nuclear is increasingly seen as a solution to this need. 433 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 4: What's your take. 434 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 6: I think it's critical. I truly believe in a all 435 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 6: of the above approach and that nuclear base load generation 436 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 6: is going to be critical to us meeting this effort. 437 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 6: As you know, again, we've always taken an approach that 438 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 6: every electron matters to help unaffordability, and that's why it's 439 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 6: so critical. I use an example the Crane Center that's 440 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 6: coming back online in Pennsylvania. That's critical because it's new 441 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 6: generation coming back online. A large Microsoft is paying for it, 442 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 6: and that billion dollar loan is exactly what we need 443 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 6: to encourage reopening of these former facilities to get more 444 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 6: electrons back on. And that was one of the best 445 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 6: operating nuclear plants prior to its shuttering. 446 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Intelligence podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, 447 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Listen live each 448 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: weekday ten am to noon Eastern on Bloomberg dot Com, 449 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app tune In, and the Bloomberg Business app. 450 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: You can also watch us live every weekday on YouTube 451 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: and always on the Bloomberg terminal