Trump Questions Massive Netflix–WBD Deal: ‘This Could Be a Problem’
President signals he may intervene in the $83-billion acquisition as Netflix expands its reach.
Donald Trump expressed doubt on Sunday over Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), stressing that the streaming giant already holds “a very large market share” and adding that “this could become a problem.”
“I will be involved in the decision” of the regulatory authorities regarding the $83-billion acquisition, the US President told reporters as he arrived at the Kennedy Center in Washington for a public awards event.
The Republican billionaire also noted that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently visited him at the White House.
If the acquisition proceeds in its current form, Netflix will gain control of the competing platform HBO Max as well as Warner Bros studios.
Netflix is the world’s largest video-on-demand streaming platform, while HBO Max ranks third (not counting Amazon Prime Video), with Disney+ completing the top three.
By acquiring WBD’s entertainment assets, Netflix would gain access to a vast catalogue that includes the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings film franchises, DC Studios’ superhero universe (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.), and television productions such as Game of Thrones.
However, it will not acquire WBD’s television channels—most notably Discovery Channel and CNN—as they belong to a separate publicly listed Warner Bros entity.
The streaming giant outbid two other contenders, Comcast and Paramount Skydance.
The head of the latter, David Ellison—son of billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle— is considered to have a close relationship with President Trump.