On December 5, 2025, Netflix, a leading streaming service, bought Warner Bros. Discovery for 82 billion dollars. In return, Netflix acquired many classic franchises such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, and control of the HBO Max streaming service. While this deal may appear to be detached from the daily lives of the average person, the growing debates surrounding it are rooted in extremely valid concerns for employees, independent filmmakers, and consumers.
As a result of this merger, Netflix will own just over thirty percent of the video subscription market and will have a subscriber count double that of its competitors. In effect, Netflix has the ability to significantly raise subscription prices, which they have already hinted at.
Additionally, many freelance filmmakers fear that their creative abilities will be limited by this corporation, which has often favored films tailored to a cash-grabbing algorithm. With limited buyers for their media, the market will be increasingly competitive with a lower volume of diverse content, decreasing the creative power of filmmakers.
These initial concerns have escalated into a series of Senate hearings throughout February. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Vermont Senator Peter Welch raised concerns about these monopolist business practices, and prominent labor unions are worried about the thousands of predicted job cuts, worsening working conditions, and lowering of employee wages.
Currently, the Department of Justice is investigating the merger and is expected to decide in late 2026. As of now, the consequences of the Netflix Warner Bros. Discovery deal remain unresolved, concerning many individuals about the fate of their jobs and subscription costs.
Sources:
Campione, Katie. “WGA Urges Netflix-WB Merger ‘Must Be Blocked,’ Slamming Streamer’s Plans To Acquire Legacy Studio As ‘What Antitrust Laws Were Designed To Prevent.'” Deadline, 10 Dec. 2025, deadline.com/2025/12/wga-reacts-netflix-warner-bros-merger-must-be-blocked-1236637699/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
James, Meg, and Samantha Masunaga. “Hollywood has already faced steep job cuts. The Warner deal could make it worse.” The Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2025, www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-12-10/netflix-paramount-warner-bros-deal-layoffs-what-to-know#:~:text=More%20than%204%2C000%20people%20lost,Hollywood%20Inc. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Martin, Roger. “The Strategic Logic of the Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal.” Medium, 22 Dec. 2025, rogermartin.medium.com/the-strategic-logic-of-the-netflix-warner-bros-deal-391015f6d315. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
