What a way to kick off a Friday…
Netflix has confirmed it has emerged victorious in the heated battle to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and television studio, as well as the HBO Max streaming service.
Any deal faces a difficult road to securing regulatory approval. Additionally, the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, the exhibition trade organization, issued statements with warnings that the marriage of Netflix and WBD would have dire consequences for theatrical moviegoing. Regardless, the deal is not expected to close until the separation of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Networks division, Discovery Global, becomes a new publicly traded company. This is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
Speaking with investors and the press on a conference call this morning, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos made it clear that nothing will change immediately regarding WB’s theatrical output, but that they are going to work hard to shorten the studio’s film slate’s theatrical window as quickly as possible.
“I wouldn’t look at this as a change in approach for Netflix movies or for Warner movies,” Sarandos said via Variety. “I think, over time, the windows will evolve to be much more consumer-friendly, to be able to meet the audience where they are quicker … I’d say right now, you should count on everything that is planned on going to the theater through Warner Bros. will continue to go to the theaters through Warner Bros….”
Do you think Netflix was the best choice to acquire WB? How do you think this will impact the theatrical moviegoing experience?
