Information that Netflix plans to purchase Warner Bros. in a large deal is elevating plenty of questions — together with for customers.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
When you concentrate on HBO, what first involves thoughts?
(SOUNDBITE OF TV STATIC)
KELLY: Or perhaps it is the dysfunctional mob household in “The Sopranos” and the beloved hero/antihero Tony.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “THE SOPRANOS”)
JAMES GANDOLFINI: (As Tony Soprano) I am making an attempt to do the fitting factor by you. You try to have me whacked?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character) She does not perceive you.
GANDOLFINI: (As Tony Soprano) She’s smiling. Take a look at the look on her face.
KELLY: Yeah, or perhaps you suppose HBO, and also you suppose Carrie and Charlotte and Miranda and Samantha, the foursome from HBO’s groundbreaking “Intercourse And The Metropolis.”
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “SEX AND THE CITY”)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) You are smoking at a funeral?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #3: (As character) Javier would have wished it that means.
KELLY: OK. Now, what about Netflix? What do you suppose once you suppose Netflix?
(SOUNDBITE OF NETFLIX OPENING NOTES)
KELLY: Possibly the ragtag group of children over at “Stranger Issues.”
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “STRANGER THINGS”)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #4: (As character) Have you ever had any contact with Eddie?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #5: (As character) That psycho freak killer? God, no.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #6: (As character) We have not heard from him in ages.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #7: (As character) Completely not.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #8: (As character) We barely know the man.
KELLY: Or perhaps it is the aristocratic households of “Bridgerton.”
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “BRIDGERTON”)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #9: (As character) They’re courting.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #10: (As character) They’ve danced a few occasions collectively at a ball. It doesn’t signify…
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #9: (As character) They promenaded this morning, and he despatched flowers as we speak, costly ones.
KELLY: So many good characters. And the information is that this motley crew could also be merging into one large household. That is as a result of Netflix says it plans to purchase Warner Bros., together with HBO and HBO Max, which is exactly the second that I wish to hear what’s on the thoughts of NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans. Hey, Eric.
ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: You realize, you are placing a number of duty on my again on this one.
KELLY: (Laughter) Properly, let’s examine in the event you can carry it. My query – what does this imply for me? And by me, I imply, , all customers, everyone who subscribes to Netflix, and we love HBO, and we love going to the films. How’s it going to have an effect on us?
DEGGANS: Properly, we actually do not understand how that is going to have an effect on customers. I imply, this deal is not even going to shut for 12 to 18 months, and there is plenty of inquiries to be answered earlier than then. After all, Netflix officers say that is going to be extra alternative and larger worth for customers. However Netflix and HBO Max, collectively they have greater than 420 million subscriptions. That could be a enormous portion of the market. And bear in mind, we have seen streaming companies provide low costs at first, solely to lift them later.
That is the primary time that Netflix has tried a deal this large. So are they going to power elements of Warner Bros. Discovery to serve the streaming service, or are they going to allow them to do what they do like a rival firm like Disney does when it acquires stuff?
KELLY: After which what about films, particularly? Like, how is that this touchdown in Hollywood?
DEGGANS: Properly, everyone from filmmaker James Cameron to organizations that characterize producers, administrators, theater homeowners, they’ve all expressed concern. The Writers Guild of America simply got here out with a press release saying, this merger have to be blocked. And lots of of those teams cite antitrust considerations and Netflix’s previous resistance to giving lots of its personal movies lengthy runs in theaters. I imply, they sometimes solely play lengthy sufficient to qualify for Hollywood awards. And critics say that Netflix’s objective as an organization is to funnel that materials to its streaming service.
However in a convention name this morning with buyers, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos mentioned they might honor Warner Bros. Studios’ commitments to its films to play in theaters, though he made it clear he is not a giant fan of those lengthy, unique theatrical runs. Now, I really suppose they are going to transfer cautiously right here ‘trigger additionally they have to have good relations with the inventive expertise in Hollywood, and so they don’t want the city to activate them.
KELLY: Yeah, that is sensible. Return to streaming platforms. Do we all know what the influence on streaming will likely be?
DEGGANS: Properly, I feel this all connects again to the unique query I requested, which is, like, how is Netflix going to strategy this deal? I imply, Netflix mentioned as we speak that they are sustaining Warner’s operations, however can they actually justify having two completely different giant streaming companies below the identical possession? I imply, it additionally raises this query of what is going on to occur to the property that Netflix does not purchase. I imply, cable-centered platforms like Discovery, TNT Sports activities and CNN are going to get spun off right into a separate firm known as Discovery World by the tip of subsequent yr, simply when viewers are turning away from cable contracts in droves. Now, can that firm survive by itself, or are shopper goes to have to fret about who’s going to personal CNN’s large information operation a couple of yr from now?
KELLY: And the timing, Eric. That is all removed from over. The federal authorities must weigh in and approve this deal earlier than it really turns into actuality.
DEGGANS: That is true. Now, President Trump mentioned within the fall that Paramount’s CEO David Ellison and his father, Larry, had been mates and large supporters. This was the rival firm that attempted to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery as properly. Many individuals anticipated that the administration would help Paramount right here. And Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has additionally criticized this cope with Netflix as a, quote, “antimonopoly nightmare.” However President Trump additionally has a historical past of being very transactional. So the final query is likely to be, what does Netflix need to do to get this deal permitted?
KELLY: We’ll watch and wait and see. NPR’s Eric Deggans, thanks.
DEGGANS: Thanks.
Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts could differ. Transcript textual content could also be revised to right errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its authentic broadcast or publication. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
