{"id":2519444,"date":"2025-12-09T20:06:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T01:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-alleges-netflix-warner-bros-deal-poses-irreparable-antitrust-injury\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T20:07:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T01:07:57","slug":"lawsuit-alleges-netflix-warner-bros-deal-poses-irreparable-antitrust-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-alleges-netflix-warner-bros-deal-poses-irreparable-antitrust-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawsuit alleges Netflix-Warner Bros. deal poses &#8216;irreparable antitrust injury&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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%2Flawsuit-alleges-netflix-warner-bros-deal-poses-irreparable-antitrust-injury%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=2519444&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>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cuomo-to-partially-reopen-indoor-dining-in-nyc-for-valentines-day-if-positivity-rates-hold\/\" title=\"Cuomo To Partially Reopen Indoor Dining In NYC For Valentine\u2019s Day, \u2018If Positivity Rates Hold\u2019\">class-action lawsuit<\/a> has been filed against Netflix following its proclamation to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery&#8217;s studio and streaming businesses in a deal valued at $82.7 billion. The lawsuit, led by HBO Max subscriber Michelle Fendelander, claims the deal would cause &#8220;irreparable antitrust injury&#8221; by reducing competition in the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market, possibly leading to higher prices and lower-quality content for consumers. The suit draws parallels to Disney&#8217;s acquisition of Hulu, which led to increased subscription costs without new competitors entering the market. Additionally, the lawsuit argues that the consolidation would harm advertisers by limiting alternatives and reducing innovation in advertising. Netflix has dismissed the lawsuit as &#8220;meritless&#8221; and a tactic to capitalize on attention surrounding the deal. The proposed merger has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-muscles-out-chicago-prosecutor-hot-on-the-heels-of-powerful-dems\/\" title=\"...en Muscles Out Chicago Prosecutor Hot on the Heels of Powerful Dems\">drawn bipartisan criticism<\/a> and faces scrutiny from regulators, including expected intervention from the Department of Justice. Simultaneously occurring, Paramount has launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, offering more than $25 billion above Netflix&#8217;s offer in an attempt to win shareholder approval.  <\/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\">Class-action lawsuit alleges Netflix-Warner Bros. deal poses &lsquo;irreparable antitrust injury&rsquo;<\/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_2439768\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/netflix\/\">Netflix<\/a> is facing its first <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/class-action-lawsuits\/\">class-action lawsuit<\/a> after the world&rsquo;s leading streaming service announced it would buy Warner Bros. Discovery&rsquo;s studio and streaming businesses in a blockbuster deal that&rsquo;s expected to be aggressively challenged on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antitrust\/\">antitrust<\/a> grounds.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit, led by Las Vegas resident and HBO Max subscriber Michelle Fendelander, alleges that the pending Netflix-Warner Bros. deal poses &ldquo;irreparable antitrust injury&rdquo; to American consumers by reducing competition in the subscription video-on-demand market.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3910400\/david-ellison-trying-save-theatrical-movie-business-warner-bros-offer\/\">David Ellison is &#8216;trying to save&#8217; theatrical movie business with offer to Warner Bros. Discovery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3910259\/paramount-hostile-bid-warner-bros-discovery\/\">Paramount makes hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3910153\/trump-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem\/\">Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. merger &lsquo;could be a problem&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Netflix has demonstrated repeated willingness to raise subscription prices even while facing competition from full-scale rivals such as WBD,&rdquo; the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.cand.460967\/gov.uscourts.cand.460967.1.0.pdf\">56-page complaint<\/a> says. &ldquo;With WBD removed as an independent competitor, Netflix would face less pressure to maintain affordable pricing or high-quality content.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The suit was filed Monday in California federal court, but it was not widely publicized until Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Netflix called the lawsuit &ldquo;meritless&rdquo; and said it is &ldquo;merely an attempt by the plaintiffs&rsquo; bar to leverage all the attention on the deal,&rdquo; according to <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In the court document, Fendelander&rsquo;s lawyers cited Disney&rsquo;s acquisition of Hulu as an argument against Netflix&rsquo;s consolidation with WBD&rsquo;s HBO Max.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A previous merger in the same market &mdash; between Disney and Hulu, leading to the ongoing consolidation of the Disney+ and Hulu services &mdash; has coincided with sharply rising SVOD prices marketwide and has not been offset by new competitive entry,&rdquo; they argued. &ldquo;This even-larger horizontal SVOD merger, taking place in an even more concentrated U.S. SVOD Market, can be expected to cause even more significant price inflation and related competitive harms to U.S. SVOD consumers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The plaintiffs&rsquo; attorneys further alleged that the deal, if approved, would harm advertisers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Advertisers seeking reach in professionally produced long-form content would face fewer alternatives, enabling Netflix to raise prices or impose unfavorable terms,&rdquo; they said. &ldquo;This concentration can also reduce incentives to innovate in ad-targeting, measurement, and viewer experience&mdash;further harming advertisers and consumers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit does not list WBD as a defendant.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3910153\/trump-netflix-warner-bros-merger-could-be-a-problem\/\">TRUMP SAYS NETFLIX-WARNER BROS. MERGER &lsquo;COULD BE A PROBLEM&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Netflix announced it was moving to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3908424\/netflix-acquire-warner-bros-blockbuster-entertainment-deal\/\">acquire Warner Bros.<\/a> for a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >announcement sparked intense bipartisan backlash<\/a> from lawmakers, who argued that the case is a classic antitrust violation. The Trump administration, specifically the Department of Justice&rsquo;s antitrust chief Gail Slater, is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3909017\/netflix-warner-bros-deal-anti-monopoly-concerns-hostile-bid-rumors\/\">expected to halt<\/a> the proposed merger&rsquo;s regulatory approval process.<\/p>\n<p>Although the Warner Bros. board went with Netflix&rsquo;s cash-and-stock bid for its studio and streaming assets, Paramount Skydance submitted a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3910259\/paramount-hostile-bid-warner-bros-discovery\/\">hostile bid<\/a> on Monday in an effort to appeal directly to Warner Bros. shareholders. Paramount is looking to buy the entire entertainment company, including its cable businesses, with an all-cash tender offer that surpasses Netflix&rsquo;s bid by more than $25 billion.<\/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>Class-action suit claims Netflix-Warner Bros. deal harms competition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2519445,"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\/AP25339716318304.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5509,4585,5158,68291],"class_list":["post-2519444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-antitrust","tag-lawsuit","tag-netflix","tag-warner-bros-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25339716318304.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519444","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=2519444"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519448,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519444\/revisions\/2519448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}