Trump Raises Concerns Over Netflix's Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
Trump's Take on the Major Streaming Deal
Washington: On Sunday, President Donald Trump expressed his concerns regarding Netflix's recent agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, suggesting that the merger could pose significant issues due to the substantial market share it would create.
While attending the Kennedy Centre Honours, Trump stated, "There’s no question about it," when asked about the implications of the deal.
The Republican leader indicated his involvement in the federal government's decision-making process regarding the approval of the $72 billion merger. Should regulators greenlight the deal, it would unite two of the largest streaming platforms globally, merging Warner's television and film divisions, including DC Studios, with Netflix's extensive content library and production capabilities.
Trump noted that the deal could potentially transform the entertainment landscape, emphasizing that it must undergo a thorough review process.
He praised Netflix as an exceptional company, commending CEO Ted Sarandos for his impressive leadership, mentioning their recent meeting in the Oval Office prior to the deal's announcement on December 5. "I have a lot of respect for him, but it’s a lot of market share, so we’ll have to see what happens," Trump remarked.
When questioned about whether Netflix should be permitted to acquire the Hollywood powerhouse responsible for franchises like "Harry Potter" and HBO Max, Trump replied, "Well, that’s the question."
He reiterated concerns about the increased market share that would result from the merger, stating, "They have a very big market share, and when they have Warner Bros., you know, that share goes up a lot, so, I don’t know. I’ll be involved in that decision, too. But they have a very big market share."
Trump also mentioned that Sarandos did not provide any assurances regarding the merger's approval during their meeting, but he praised the CEO as a remarkable individual who has achieved significant success in the film industry.