Prominent initial response to Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros.

NEW YORK The announcement of Netflix's $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. and its film and TV operations sparked immediate reactions across the entertainment industry on Friday. Various industry groups, including guilds and cinema owners associations, voiced concerns that the merger could negatively impact audiences and movie theaters.

Executives from both companies highlighted the positive aspects of the deal. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav emphasized that the merger will allow audiences everywhere to continue enjoying the worlds most compelling stories for generations. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos added that the agreement will deliver more of the content that audiences love.

Industry and Political Reactions

Michael OLeary, CEO of Cinema United: Netflixs business model is fundamentally opposed to theatrical releases. This merger could lead to theater closures, job losses, and harm to local communities.

Producers Guild of America: As the entertainment landscape evolves, it is critical to preserve producers livelihoods and authentic theatrical distribution. Creativity, employment opportunities, consumer choice, and freedom of expression must remain central. Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. must meet these standards, as legacy studios represent not just content libraries, but cultural heritage.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.): This deal represents a potential anti-competitive scenario. A Netflix-Warner Bros. merger could dominate nearly half of the streaming market, raising subscription costs, reducing consumer choice, and endangering American jobs.

Writers Guild of America: The largest streaming service acquiring a major competitor is precisely the type of consolidation antitrust laws are meant to prevent. This could eliminate jobs, depress wages, worsen working conditions, increase prices for viewers, and reduce the variety of available content. Such a merger should be blocked.

U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (D-Calif.): Ongoing industry consolidation has already resulted in job losses. Any merger must be carefully assessed for its impact on competition and employment, especially in Hollywood and surrounding areas where Netflix and Warner Bros. operate.

Jason Kilar, former WarnerMedia CEO and Hulu co-founder: Selling Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix seems like one of the most effective ways to decrease competition in Hollywood.

Author: Benjamin Carter