Netflix tells users ‘nothing is changing’ as Trump warns Warner Bros takeover ‘could be a problem’
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday weighed in on Netflix’s bid to acquire the storied Hollywood studio Warner Bros., cautioning that the streaming giant already holds “a very large market share” and warning “it could be a problem.”
Speaking as he arrived at the Kennedy Centre Honours ceremony, Trump confirmed, “I’ll be involved in that decision,” referring to the scrutiny now facing federal regulators over the proposed $83 billion deal, which has sparked antitrust concerns and drawn criticism from Hollywood insiders.
"Well, that's gotta go through a process, and we'll see what happens," the President said, as quoted by The White House.
The President nevertheless praised Netflix’s co‑chief executive Ted Sarandos, who recently visited the White House, declaring, “He’s done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.”
If approved in its current form, the acquisition would see Netflix absorb rival streaming platform HBO Max alongside Warner Bros. studios, the creative force behind cinematic classics such as ‘Casablanca’ and ‘Citizen Kane’, as well as modern blockbusters including Barbie.
The deal would hand Netflix an enormous catalogue, ranging from the ‘Harry Potter’ films and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ saga to DC Comics’ superheroes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. However, the transaction would not include Warner Bros.’ television channels such as Discovery and CNN, which are set to be spun off prior to completion.
Warner Bros. Discovery formally put itself up for sale in October after receiving multiple unsolicited offers, ultimately outmanoeuvring cable operator Comcast and media group Paramount Skydance. Paramount’s chief executive David Ellison, a prominent supporter of Trump, had also been in the running.
Netflix reassures subscribers
In the midst of speculation, Netflix moved to reassure its 82 million subscribers with a carefully worded e‑mail sent on Saturday evening. The message explained that negotiations remain ongoing and emphasised that no immediate changes are planned.
The e‑mail stated, “We’ve recently announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. This unites our leading entertainment service with Warner Bros.’ iconic stories, bringing some of the world’s most beloved franchises like Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters.”
Under the section titled ‘What’s changing’, Netflix stressed, “Nothing is changing today. Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share. In the meantime, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy watching as much as you want, whenever you want – all on your current membership plan.”
(With AFP inputs)