Is Netflix going to acquire CNN, HGTV & TLC?

Earlier today, Friday, December 5, Netflix revealed its plans to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), sparking curiosity about the fate of beloved shows and channels under the WBD umbrella. As part of the acquisition, Netflix will gain control of Warner Bros. film and television studios, along with HBO and HBO Max, granting access to hit franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and the DC Universe.

But what about channels such as CNN, HGTV, TLC, TBS, and TNT? Fans can be reassured: these networks will remain separate for now. The deal does not include WBDs Global Linear Networks, which will spin off into an independent publicly traded company named Discovery Global, set to launch in summer 2026. This new entity will retain WBDs traditional TV channels.

The Global Linear Networks encompass entertainment and lifestyle channels including TBS, TNT, TLC, HGTV, Magnolia Network, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Science Channel, OWN, Discovery Channel, TruTV, Destination America, Discovery Life, American Heroes Channel, and Travel Channel. Popular programs such as TLCs Sister Wives and 90 Day Fianc, HGTVs Home Town and Fixer to Fabulous, as well as TBS and TNTs All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite and Collision, will continue to air under their original networks.

CNN, featuring shows like Anderson Cooper 360 and Erin Burnett OutFront, along with Cartoon Network, TNT Sports, and multiple international channels, will also remain part of Discovery Global rather than moving to Netflix.

Its important to note that Discovery Global and its properties could still be purchased in a separate transaction. Reports indicate that Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, who also pursued WBD, had an interest in acquiring CNN. However, Paramount Skydance and Comcast were outbid in the $72 billion deal for WBD.

The Netflix-WBD agreement is pending regulatory approval, meaning government review will be required before the acquisition is finalized.

Author: Sophia Brooks