NCS experiences that Netflix has reached a $72bn settlement to accumulate Warner Bros. and HBO, essentially the most dramatic consolidation transfer but within the streaming period.
Hollywood is reeling after Netflix announced a sweeping agreement to buy Warner Bros. and HBO in a deal that could collapse long-standing industry rivalries and redraw the global entertainment map, NCS experiences. It is being described as a historic merger.
Under the plan outlined by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the corporate will cut up into two publicly traded entities in 2026.
Netflix intends to buy the Warner Bros.–targeted half, gaining the studio behind among the most influential movies and collection in fashionable historical past, together with the HBO Max streaming service.
NCS and different cable channels would transfer to a separate group known as Discovery Global.
NCS famous that Paramount and Comcast, each bidders earlier within the course of, should try and problem the result — a reminder that the saga stays fluid.
Surprise shake-up
For weeks, Paramount had appeared poised to win the auction, with executives touting close strategic alignment with the Trump administration and positioning themselves as natural buyers of WBD’s full portfolio.
But sources told NCS that Netflix surged ahead after submitting two aggressive proposals, matching Paramount’s costly breakup fee and signalling unusual confidence about its ability to navigate regulatory hurdles.
Those hurdles could prove formidable. U.S. politicians immediately expressed alarm, calling the merger one of the most consequential antitrust tests in years.
Sen. Mike Lee warned that Netflix’s move to buy “its real competitive threat” should raise red flags globally.
Netflix’s defence
Netflix executives have argued that the deal is complementary rather than consolidating, claiming it will expand opportunities for creators and strengthen the industry.
Co-CEO Greg Peters said Warner Bros. “has helped define entertainment for more than a century,” adding that Netflix’s global reach could bring those worlds to more audiences while boosting shareholder value.
But skepticism remains widespread. Cinema United, representing movie theatre owners, called the merger an “unprecedented threat” due to Netflix’s limited commitment to theatrical releases.
Anticipating backlash, Netflix insisted it would maintain and expand Warner’s theatrical strategy.
End of an era?
Analysts quoted by NCS say the acquisition could effectively conclude the streaming wars, establishing Netflix as the unchallenged centre of global entertainment.
A Bank of America report put it bluntly: “If Netflix acquires Warner Bros., the streaming wars are effectively over.”
With regulatory reviews ahead and competitors circling, the final outcome is far from settled — but the industry is already bracing for seismic change.
Sources: NCS