The Writers Guild of America has joined other industry groups (SAG, theater owners, heck even the European film world) in coming out against Netflix‘s proposed blockbuster deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery‘s studios and streaming business.
The WGA warned that the $83 billion Netflix-WB deal would eliminate jobs, reduce wages — and raise prices for consumers.
“The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent,” the guild said in a statement. “The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers. Industry workers along with the public are already impacted by only a few powerful companies maintaining tight control over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters. This merger must be blocked.”
Doesn't help that the "CEOs" on both sides of this sale have come out with egregiously tone deaf statements following the announcement. Zaslav used a child's logic to infer that WB wouldn't face layoffs after merger because "Netflix doesn't have a lot." Meanwhile, Sarandos called the traditional theatrical window "outdated." Both of which were incredibly dumbfounding things to say, showing zero awareness for the realities of this move.
(https://variety.com/2025/film/news/wga-opposes-netflix-warner-bros-deal-...)
playing the devil’s advocate—that literally has been my main career for over three decades—what if this is the direction the world’s been heading for a while now? films will still be made—let’s not go into the topic of generative AI—but the number of theatres will surely decline, accelerated by this merger. since the pandemic, at home consumption has skyrocketed and will wipe out huge numbers of restaurants, retailers and theatres. to me, that just looks like a regrettable—but inevitable—tide.
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Pat Alexander, I'm certainly processing all of this! Thanks for sharing!
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James LO until i can afford a 70 ft. TV in my house, theaters have no business going anywhere. problem is, the ones making these decisions can
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James LO I'd argue with everyone being more and more secluded and isolated due to technology, in-person experiences will be more and more sought out. Dine-in theaters are more often sold out. Premium experiences and new immersive technologies can save theaters. But for now, I understand that no one wants to pay $20/ticket when you can build a home cinema for a fraction of the cost it used to be.
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I’d actually love to hear how this would eliminate jobs, decrease wages, and make working conditions harsher. what is the theory behind this?
From a business perspective, this is a great get by Netflix for the Warner bros library, and provides solid fiscal backing for future DC / Warner projects.
Netflix can now potentially provide a new tier of subscription where they launch a movie theatrically and Netflix subscribers can see the movie in a theater 4-6 weeks before going to their own platform. Think Netflix subscription + A-List, but cheaper.
Also, Netflix takes more chances on independent film projects than Warner Brothers does, allowing more potential for original content which is what the film community has been demanding from the big guns for some time.
Warner has been bought and sold before, what evidence is there that this will be more harmful than good? This is a genuine ask
What does the WGA have to do with anything? Who gives a flying rodent's rump what they think? Prices on everything are already sky high. Do you think any faction of the film industry would ever lower them? CGI should be in such an advanced state that prices should be at their lowest levels. SAG is also responsible for over-pricing their actors. How can Scarlet Johansson be worth $25M to be in Jurassic World: Rebirth or RDJ reportedly getting $75M to play Dr. Doom? those are insane fees that should never have been agreed to. OH, but the WGA demands the merger be blocked. SHUT UP! The film industry allows imaginations to run free and bring to life visions that would not normally find a voice, but it is run by some of the dumbest, greediest, insanely incompetent people on the planet that love to not only shoot themselves in the foot but they love to make sure that they empty the whole magazine into their legs so that they can never walk again.
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Pat Alexander To block a merger or acquisition, there first needs to be a legitimate legal basis — often some form of antitrust or national security concern. WBD apparently mismanaged itself into financial distress. Once a company is effectively in bankruptcy, the sharks start circling.
Apparently, potential buyers have been narrowed to Netflix, Comcast, and Paramount. I thought Bezos was in the mix.
If I were WBD, I would boot out whoever dragged the company into the abyss and bring in a team that specializes in navigating failing companies back to sound financial condition. I just can't imagine the logic or rationale of selling, in some cases, 100-year-old IP assets.
WBD’s business spans various lines, which suggests that most potential buyers are likely considering only certain parts — either those that integrate into their current business model or those that stand a chance of not exceeding the 30% market share threshold for antitrust considerations:
It takes a special type incompetence to mismanage an entity of this sort unless of course its a deliberately engineered distress to kill or break it off.
Streaming / Direct-to-Consumer
[HBO Max, HBO, Discovery+, CNN TV app, Warner TV, CW Seed (FAST channels), Pam Grier's Soul Flix (FAST channel)]
Film & TV Production / Studios
[Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, New Line Cinema, DC Comics / DC Studios, Warner Bros. Television Group]
Cable & Linear Entertainment Networks
[TNT, TBS, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), CNN, CNN en Español, HLN, Warner TV, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, TruTV, Cinemax, TVN, Space, Boing, Discovery Family, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery (ID), TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Oprah Winfrey Network, Magnolia Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, DMAX, Giallo, Frisbee, K2, Nove, Canal 9, Discovery Familia, Hogar de HGTV, Pogo, Tooncast]
Sports
[TNT Sports, Eurosport, Golf Digest]
Unscripted / Lifestyle / Reality
[Discovery Channel, Discovery+, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Magnolia Network, Travel Channel, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Life, Discovery Familia, DMAX, Quest, Quest Red, Space, Giallo, Frisbee, K2, Nove, Canal 9, Boomerang, Pogo, Tooncast]
Interactive / Gaming
[Warner Bros. Games (Avalanche Software, NetherRealm Studios, Portkey Games, Rocksteady Studios, TT Games, TT Fusion, Traveller's Tales, WB Games Boston, WB Games Montreal, WB Games New York, WB Games San Francisco)]
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I agree with the WGA that the merger would be harmful to the industry — just listen to recent episodes of The Town for specifics — but proving it illegal is a challenge. Plus, you would need the government to block it, and other mergers have gone through just fine in recent years.
Alternately, I wouldn’t want WB to go to Skydance/Paramount either.
We’ve already seen the worst when Warner merged with Discovery. All long term moves to maintain or build brands were shoved aside in favor of short term gains like tax breaks. Now it’s rearranged into pieces and being sold off. If another studio buys WB, any identity its components have will be watered down or disintegrated.
If you want to see what has happened to Turner Classic Movies behind the scenes, see the excellent “TCM Wine Club” video from Patrick Willems.
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The Death of the TCM Wine Club
https://youtu.be/4Bq8aNRCwts?si=0aKCEL5uSycrvbq_
(It’s not just about wine.)