{"id":2518136,"date":"2025-12-05T18:29:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T23:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflixs-warner-bros-win-sets-off-anti-monopoly-concerns\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T18:33:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T23:33:33","slug":"netflixs-warner-bros-win-sets-off-anti-monopoly-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflixs-warner-bros-win-sets-off-anti-monopoly-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Netflix&#8217;s Warner Bros. win sets off anti-monopoly concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnetflixs-warner-bros-win-sets-off-anti-monopoly-concerns%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2518136&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Netflix&#8217;s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Revelation (WBD) for $82.7 billion has sparked meaningful anti-monopoly concerns and opposition from lawmakers,industry groups,and regulatory bodies. If completed, the merger would combine Netflix, the world&#8217;s leading streaming service, with WBD&#8217;s HBO Max, creating a dominant media giant controlling nearly half of the streaming market. Critics,including Senator Elizabeth Warren and members of both political parties,warn this could led to higher prices,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fcc-commissioner-who-helped-kill-net-neutrality-says-new-biden-net-regs-are-unlawful\/\" title=\"FCC Commissioner, involved in ending net neutrality, deems Biden&#039;s new net regulations as &#039;illegal&#039;.\">reduced consumer choice<\/a>,job losses,and less diverse content. The Department of Justice is expected to scrutinize the deal closely, perhaps delaying its completion until 2026. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance has launched a antagonistic competing bid, asserting their offer&#8217;s higher value, and comcast has exited the bidding. The merger represents a major shift in the entertainment landscape, but faces substantial legal and regulatory hurdles before it can proceed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Netflix&rsquo;s Warner Bros. deal sets off anti-monopoly concerns, hostile bid rumors<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2424564\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Netflix&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mergers-and-acquisitions\/\">acquisition<\/a> of Warner Bros. Discovery, which would mark a seismic shift in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hollywood\/\">Hollywood<\/a>, is already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-whistleblower-leaks-document-to-project-veritas-showing-agency-allegedly-labeling-misinformation-under-election-crimes\/\" title=\"FBI Whistleblower Leaks Document To Project Veritas Showing Agency Allegedly Labeling \u2018Misinformation\u2019 Under \u2018Election Crimes\u2019\">facing massive opposition<\/a> on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antitrust\/\">antitrust<\/a> front.<\/p>\n<p>Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed anti-monopoly concerns over the $82.7 billion deal. As the world&rsquo;s leading streaming service, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/netflix\/\">Netflix<\/a> will dominate the entertainment market further by combining its own platform with WBD&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hbo\/\">HBO Max<\/a>. If finalized, this would further solidify the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflix-immediately-paid-a-price-after-chairman-endorsed-kamala-harris\/\" title=\"Netflix Immediately Paid a Price After Chairman Endorsed Kamala Harris\">streaming giant&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s grip on Hollywood and effectively narrow the competition.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908112\/teamsters-chief-brands-amazon-corporate-white-collar-crime-syndicate\/\">Teamsters chief brands Amazon a &#8216;corporate white-collar crime syndicate&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908444\/eu-fines-x-140-million-risking-trump-administration-ire\/\">EU fines X $140 million, risking the ire of Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908424\/netflix-acquire-warner-bros-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\">Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflix-acquires-warner-bros-in-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\" title=\"Netflix acquires .... in blockbuster entertainment ...\">blockbuster entertainment deal<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a statement, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA) called the deal an &ldquo;anti-monopoly nightmare.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenWarren\/status\/1996966530177733114\">wrote on X<\/a>. &ldquo;It could force you into higher prices, fewer choices over what and how you watch, and may put American workers at risk.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Warren then urged the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a> to &ldquo;enforce our nation&rsquo;s anti-monopoly laws fairly and transparently,&rdquo; rather than letting the Trump administration&rsquo;s review of the deal &ldquo;invite influence-peddling and bribery.&rdquo; The senator has similarly claimed President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> tainted the Paramount-Skydance merger process this year after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/paramount\/\">Paramount<\/a> settled Trump&rsquo;s lawsuit against CBS News.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3884951\/house-democrats-scrutiny-paramount-skydance-merger-inadequate-response\/\">HOUSE DEMOCRATS RAMP UP SCRUTINY OF PARAMOUNT-SKYDANCE MERGER OVER &lsquo;INADEQUATE&rsquo; RESPONSE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Democratic lawmakers have scrutinized Paramount Skydance, attempting to determine whether there was a connection between the company&rsquo;s $16 million settlement and the approval of the $8 billion merger by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\">Federal Communications Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some Republican lawmakers also oppose the Netflix-WBD acquisition on antitrust grounds. Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) expressed his concerns before the deal materialized, warning Netflix&rsquo;s bolstered market dominance &ldquo;would mean the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/basedmikelee\/status\/1996431519590547705?s=46\">end of the Golden Age of streaming<\/a> for content creators and consumers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/darrell-issa\/\">Darrell Issa<\/a> (R-CA) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.senate.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025_11_17-Letter-to-DOJ-FTC-re-Netflix2.pdf\">Roger Marshall<\/a> (R-KS) penned similar letters that raised <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/issa.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/issa.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/11.13.25-netflix-doj-letter.pdf\">competition concerns<\/a> to the DOJ about a possible Netflix-WBD merger.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With more than 300 million global subscribers and a vast content library, Netflix currently wields unequaled market power,&rdquo; Issa wrote. &ldquo;Adding both HBO Max&rsquo;s subscribers and Warner Bros.&rsquo; premier content rights would further enhance this position, reportedly pushing the combined entity above a 30 percent share of the streaming market: a threshold traditionally viewed as presumptively problematic under antitrust law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A major Hollywood union also jumped into the fray on Friday, issuing a rather <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wga.org\/news-events\/news\/press\/2025\/wga-statement-on-the-acquisition-of-warner-bros-discovery-by-netflix\">forceful statement<\/a> criticizing the deal.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The world&rsquo;s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent,&rdquo; the Writers Guild of America said. &ldquo;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 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >powerful companies maintaining tight control<\/a> over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters. This merger must be blocked.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Netflix <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/about.netflix.com\/en\/news\/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros\">announced the merger<\/a> on Friday morning, hours after initial reports revealed the No. 1 streaming service had entered exclusive talks with WBD. The announcement followed a tumultuous 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, WBD requested a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3907796\/warner-bros-discovery-paramount-bidding-war\/\">third round of bids<\/a> from Netflix, Paramount Skydance, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/comcast\/\">Comcast<\/a> after Paramount Skydance claimed WBD&rsquo;s sale process was biased in favor of Netflix. WBD denied the allegation, saying its board &ldquo;robustly complied&rdquo; with all fiduciary obligations.<\/p>\n<p>Netflix ultimately emerged victorious in the bidding war, with a price of $27.75 per share, which amounts to the total enterprise value of $82.7 billion. Its cash-and-stock bid was mostly cash.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, Paramount Skydance made an all-cash bid of $30 per share. The company is reportedly launching a hostile bid to take over WBD because its offer had a higher value than what Netflix offered, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CGasparino\/status\/1997008542692487604\">according to<\/a> business journalist Charles Gasparino. Paramount Skydance is expected to make its case to the WBD shareholders who have a vested interest in which company buys the for-sale studio.<\/p>\n<p>Of the three bidders, Paramount Skydance has fewer regulatory hurdles to overcome and benefits from its relationship with Trump. David Ellison, the son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, leads the company.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Paramount Skydance, Comcast is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sherman4949\/status\/1997015808174694555?s=20\">apparently bowing out<\/a> of the bidding war after Netflix decisively won.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908424\/netflix-acquire-warner-bros-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\">NETFLIX TO ACQUIRE WARNER BROS. IN BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT DEAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While Trump has not publicly commented on the proposed Netflix-WBD merger, the DOJ&rsquo;s Antitrust Division is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/03\/media\/netflix-acquisition-of-warner-bros-studio-and-hbo-max-would-face-stiff-doj-antitrust-opposition-sources\/\">reportedly planning<\/a> to stop the agreement from proceeding. Gail Slater, the department&rsquo;s antitrust chief, has held a series of meetings on the Hollywood studio&rsquo;s sale. If Slater takes action, the sale could be held up for a few years while a federal investigation is underway.<\/p>\n<p>As it stands, Netflix and WBD are expected to finalize the deal by the third quarter of 2026. However, the closing date is entirely dependent on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Netflix-Warner Bros. deal sparks antitrust fears, bid disputes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2518137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25339675388500.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51096,5158,64882],"class_list":["post-2518136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-monopoly-2","tag-netflix","tag-warner-bros"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25339675388500.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2518136"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518144,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518136\/revisions\/2518144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2518137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2518136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2518136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2518136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}