Trump says $72bn Netflix-Warner Bros deal “could be a problem”

Trump says $72bn Netflix-Warner Bros deal “could be a problem”


Share this post

US President Donald Trump has flagged potential concerns over Netflix's planned $72bn (£54bn) deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery's movie studio and popular HBO streaming networks.

At an event in Washington DC on Sunday, he said Netflix has a "big market share" and the firms' combined size "could be a problem".

On Friday, the two companies said they had reached an agreement to bring Warner Brothers' franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones to Netflix, creating a new media giant.

The planned deal, which has raised concerns among some in the industry, is yet to be approved by competition authorities. The BBC has contacted Warner Bros, Netflix and the White House for comment.

Launched in 1997 as a postal DVD rental business, Netflix has grown to become the world's largest subscription streaming service. The deal, the biggest the film industry has seen in a long time, would cement its number one position.

Under the agreement several global entertainment franchises, such as Looney Tunes, The Matrix and Lord of the Rings, would move to Netflix.

The deal is expected to be completed after Warner Bros splits its business in the second half of 2026.

The US Justice Department's competition division, which oversees major mergers, could contend that the deal violates the law if the combined businesses account for too much of the streaming market.

At an event at the John F Kennedy Center in the US capital, Trump said that Netflix has a "very big market share" which would "go up by a lot" if the deal goes ahead.

Trump added he would be personally involved in the decision on whether or not to approve the deal and repeatedly highlighted the size of Netflix's market share.

He also said that Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently visited the Oval Office and praised him for his work at the company.

"I have a lot of respect for him. He's a great person," said Trump. "He's done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies."

Mr Sarandos earlier acknowledged that the agreement may have surprised investors but said it was a chance to position Netflix for success in the "decades to come".

Bill Kovacic, a former chair of the US competition watchdog the Federal Trade Commission, said Trump's comments meant negotiations over any problems surrounding the deal were "going to run through the White House".

"That means that we're going to have probably a deep level, an unprecedented level of presidential control in the resolution of what used to be a technical analysis of a merger," he said.

Netflix beat several rivals including Comcast and Paramount Skydance to strike an agreement with Warner Bros.

Paramount Skydance, which is headed by David Ellison, had previously tried to buy all of Warner Bros, including its cable networks.

Warner Bros rejected that approach before putting itself up for sale.

David Ellison's multi-billionaire father, Larry Ellison, is a close ally of Trump.

The Writers Guild of America's East and West branches called for the merger to be blocked, saying the "world's largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent."

"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," it said on Friday.


Share this post
Comments

Be the first to know

Join our community and get notified about upcoming stories

Subscribing...
You've been subscribed!
Something went wrong
A$AP Rocky Points to Rihanna as the Source of Drake’s Beef

A$AP Rocky Points to Rihanna as the Source of Drake’s Beef

In a revealing discussion with DJ Akademiks, A$AP Rocky addressed the long-speculated tensions with Drake. This gave fans an unusually direct look at the personal dynamics behind the headlines. Rocky spoke candidly about friendships and rivalries in the music world. He unpacked the often-complex emotions that fuel public disputes. Moreover, his willingness to engage openly has sparked conversation online, as listeners weighed his perspective against years of speculation. Akademiks highlighted


O A

2026 Oscar Nominations: Watch Live and See the Full List of Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards

2026 Oscar Nominations: Watch Live and See the Full List of Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards

The nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards are set to be announced on Thursday morning in Los Angeles, where some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and brightest newcomers are expected to vie for Oscars this year. The announcement event will air live on ABC, Hulu and Disney+, and will be livestreamed on the Academy’s TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages, as well as Oscar.comand Oscars.org beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. The nominations will be revealed by actors Danielle Brooks and Le


O A

LeBron James left out of All-Star starters selection for first time since 2003 - 04

LeBron James left out of All-Star starters selection for first time since 2003 - 04

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James has been left out of an NBA All-Star game for the first since 2004, ending a record 21-year run as a starter.  James missed the 2025 NBA All-Star game due to foot and ankle injuries, marking the first time he had been selected but did not play at the event. Monday saw James left out, however, as the NBA revealed the 10 players voted in as starters. A fan vote accounted for 50 per cent to determine the 2026 starters, while a further 25 per cent came via votes f


O A

JD and Usha Vance Announce They’re Expecting Baby No. 4

JD and Usha Vance Announce They’re Expecting Baby No. 4

Second lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy due in late July 2026, adding one more kid to a household that already includes Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. The news dropped Jan. 20 via a short social post from Usha saying their “family is growing,” followed by confirmation from the vice president’s office and outlets like NBC News in a piece titled “JD Vance and wife Usha Vance announce they’re expecting their fourth child”. Coverage has zeroed in o


B P