Netflix, the streaming giant, has revealed its landmark plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming division in a massive USD 72 billion deal. “We’ve recently announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. This unites our leading entertainment service with Warner Bros.’ iconic stories, bringing some of the world’s most beloved franchises like Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters,” the message to subscribers read. The deal has already captured the attention of the entertainment industry. Netflix came out on top in a competitive bidding war that involved major players such as Paramount, Skydance, and more. Valued at approximately $82.7 billion, including debt, the deal covers process, and we’ll see what happens,” underscoring the magnitude of the deal. Trump also commented, “They’ve done a phenomenal job. But it’s a lot of market share, so we’ll have to see how it shakes out.” For Netflix, this acquisition represents a significant shift. Traditionally, the streaming giant has focused on producing original content rather than acquiring large media properties. “I know some of you are surprised we are making this acquisition,” Sarandos acknowledged during a call with analysts. Warner Bros.’ film and television studios as well as HBO, with an equity value of $72 billion. The acquisition still awaits regulatory and shareholder approval, including review by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. It warned users not to get too excited just yet, as the streaming giant still needs to complete some of the deal’s final formalities. “Nothing is changing today. Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share,” the message to subscribers added. Earlier, Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters conveyed his confidence that the acquisition will “accelerate our business for decades to come,” while Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav described the merger as the union of “two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world.” US President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the headline grabbing news of Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Speaking to the press, he commended Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and his partner Greg Peters, calling Netflix “a great company” and Sarandos “a fantastic man.” He noted, “Well, that’s gotta go through a “Netflix has always been more builders than buyers. But this is an exciting step forward.” The company has pledged to maintain Warner Bros.’ existing operations while leveraging its strengths, particularly in theatrical releases. Warner Bros. currently has agreements to release films in cinemas through 2029, and Netflix has confirmed it will honour those commitments. From a financial perspective, Netflix anticipates that the merger will generate annual savings of $2 billion to $3 billion by the third year after closing. The company also expects a positive impact on earnings per share by the second year
Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in Historic $72 Billion Deal
