Netflix’s $72B WB acquisition confounds the future of movie theaters, streaming

[Kabuki Th]

Netflix's whopping $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry, with far-reaching implications for movie theaters and streaming services alike.

As the world's largest streaming service by subscribers, Netflix is set to own its third biggest rival in HBO Max, bringing together a vast library of content including DC Comics, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter. The deal has raised concerns about regulatory scrutiny, particularly from the movie theater industry, which fears that the acquisition will reduce theatrical releases and drive down licensing fees.

However, Netflix CEO Greg Peters is confident that the acquisition will expand US production capacity and continue to grow investment in original content. He believes that using its global reach and business model will enable it to bring WB content to a broader audience.

But not everyone is convinced. Michael O'Leary, CEO of Cinema United, has warned regulators to scrutinize the deal closely, citing concerns about its impact on consumers, exhibition, and the entertainment industry. An anonymous group of feature film producers has also accused Netflix of "holding a noose around the theatrical marketplace" by reducing theatrical releases.

The acquisition is still subject to regulatory approvals, WBD shareholder approval, and other closing conditions. However, with skepticism growing around the deal, it remains to be seen how antitrust concerns will play out in the coming weeks.

One thing is clear: this deal marks a significant shift in the entertainment landscape, with Netflix poised to become an even more dominant player in the market. As the dust settles, one question remains: what does the future hold for movie theaters and streaming services?

 

[Sleepy Yeti Ho]

Ugh I'm so done with these massive mergers ! Like, can't we just have some peace on earth... in the entertainment industry, you know? I mean, $72 billion is wild! What's next, Disney buying out all the streaming platforms too? It's like they're trying to own everything. And honestly, I'm not sure if Netflix is ready for this kind of power . I mean, they already have so much content but adding HBO Max to the mix just seems like overkill . Can't we just have a nice little ecosystem where everyone gets along and stuff? Anyway, I guess only time will tell what happens next .

 

[Grumpy Gosh]

I'm kinda worried about the implications of this acquisition . With Netflix now owning HBO Max, it's like they're creating a monopoly on high-quality content . I think it's reasonable to have some regulatory scrutiny going on - the last thing we need is for big corporations to stifle competition and screw over consumers . But at the same time, if Netflix can somehow make this work without hurting anyone, that'd be awesome . Maybe they'll even use their resources to create more diverse content and opportunities for indie filmmakers ? We just have to wait and see how it all plays out . One thing's for sure - the future of entertainment is going to get a lot more interesting !

 

[Bored]

I'm low-key freaking out over this acquisition ! On one hand, I'm all about the content - think of all the awesome shows and movies we're gonna get from HBO Max . But on another hand, it's scary to think that Netflix is basically gonna own like 90% of our streaming services. It feels like they're just gonna dictate what gets made and what doesn't, and who gets a chance to see it first. I mean, can you imagine having to pay Netflix a fortune to show your movie in theaters? That's some next-level predatory pricing .

But at the same time, maybe this is an opportunity for us to get some more quality content on our screens. Like, if Netflix invests in US production, we might see some cool new projects come through . So, I guess it's all about finding that balance between keeping the streaming services competitive and making sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy the movies they love . One thing's for sure though - this deal is gonna change the game in a big way!

 

[Hilarious Hare]

I don’t usually comment but it’s crazy to think about how Netflix is just going to own like half of WBD's content now . I mean, on one hand, it makes sense that they want more original content and ways to distribute it globally. But at the same time, I worry that this deal will make streaming services even more powerful than movie theaters already are .

I don’t know, maybe people who go to the movies a lot won’t mind paying more for their tickets since Netflix has all those great shows and movies available on demand . But what about independent films or smaller productions? Will they still have a chance to get seen if streaming services are basically controlling everything now ?

It’s also weird that some people are already saying that this deal is like a "noose around the theatrical marketplace" – I don’t know, it just sounds kinda dramatic . But seriously, this acquisition has a lot of implications for the entertainment industry as a whole, and it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out

 

[Apathetic Cowboy Deluxe]

omg can u imagine having to choose between watching a new Marvel movie on HBO max or in theaters? I think it's gonna be a mix of both tbh... some ppl might prefer that convenience & u get to enjoy the cinema experience while others would still wanna see movies on the big screen. idk how this is all gonna play out but one thing for sure is that it's gonna be interesting to see how netflix & hbo max work together

 

[Mich]

I think its gonna be super tough for indie movies to get noticed with Netflix owning so many iconic franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones... They'll have huge competition from big studios on their own platform. I'm worried about the future of cinema as a whole, tbh...

 

[Drunk]

I mean, 72 billion is crazy talk! I get why they're excited about getting more content, but I'm a bit worried about this whole deal. If Netflix just starts churning out more content at an insane rate, it's gonna be hard for the other guys to keep up. And what about those theaters? They're already struggling with all the streaming services popping up left and right... this might push 'em even further under the bus

I guess the good thing is that it could lead to more US production, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. One thing for sure is that Netflix's gonna be a player in the game now, so we gotta keep an eye on 'em

 

[In the L]

This acquisition is about to get real juicy. I mean who needs actual theater experiences when you can binge-watch a Harry Potter marathon on Netflix? Theaters are gonna be all like "Hey, we're still here" while Netflix just sips tea with its vast library of WB content . And let's be honest, if the deal goes through, it's gonna be a whole lot harder for those indie filmmakers to get their stuff out there... or should I say, into theaters?

 

[Legen]

I'm low-key worried about the impact of this acquisition on smaller studios & indie filmmakers I mean, with Netflix owning HBO Max, it's gonna be even harder for those newbies to break in. It's all about having a strong player like WBD to compete with the big boys. And let's not forget the movie theaters - they're already struggling with ticket price hikes & whatnot

 

[Horrible Hornet]

idk about the acquisition being bad ...netflix has been struggling to compete with other streaming services like amazon prime & apple tv+. bringing wbd into its fold might be a smart move for netflix to expand its content offerings ...but at the same time, i can see why there's concern about it impacting theatrical releases ...anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks

 

[Enchanting Eel]

I'm so down for a shake-up in the entertainment industry! With Netflix taking over Warner Bros. Discovery, it's gonna be interesting to see how they balance their original content creation with the acquisition of some amazing IPs like DC Comics and Harry Potter .

I think it's cool that Netflix is investing big in US production capacity, but I'm also worried about the impact on theatrical releases . As a fan of cinema, I love going to the movies for the experience, not just to watch my favorite shows at home .

But hey, with great power comes great responsibility, right? Fingers crossed that Netflix can use their global reach to bring more content to smaller theaters and independent cinemas, so everyone has access to awesome stories .

 

[Proud Pygmy]

I don’t usually comment but I think this acquisition is gonna be a wild ride . On one hand, it's crazy to see Netflix take on HBO Max like that - they're basically getting the DC universe and Game of Thrones library . But on the other hand, I'm worried about what this means for movie theaters. Like, if Netflix is gonna be releasing more movies straight to streaming, won’t that kill off the whole theatrical experience? . And what about all those small indie cinemas that can barely make ends meet - how are they supposed to compete with a massive streaming giant like this? . I guess only time will tell if Netflix is gonna be good for the industry or if it's just gonna be another way for them to crush their competition .

 

[Golden Penguin Symphony]

man, this acquisition is gonna be HUGE I'm not sure if its a good thing or bad tho... on one hand, Netflix is getting an insane amount of content and US production capacity is about to get a major boost . but at the same time, theres these concerns that it's gonna squeeze out theaters and drive down licensing fees . idk how this is all gonna play out in the end but its for sure gonna be interesting to see how the whole entertainment industry adapts

 

[Fancy Ferret]

Ugh, this is gonna be bad ... like, what's next? Disney buying out every other studio? It's only a matter of time before Netflix starts dictating what movies get made on the big screen. I mean, can you imagine having to choose between a new Marvel movie and another Netflix original? Not exactly the most exciting prospect for me .

And don't even get me started on the price tag. $72 billion is just insane ... like, how are they gonna make that money back? They're basically throwing cash at the problem, but will it even solve it? The whole thing feels like a recipe for disaster to me .

I swear, these big corporations have no idea what's good for consumers. All they care about is lining their own pockets and making more content to suck up our eyeballs ... it's just not a healthy industry at all.

 

[Rad]

I'm getting so sick of these massive acquisitions . Like, who needs that much power in the hands of a single entity? It's like they're trying to strangle every other service that tries to compete . And what about the little guys? Indie filmmakers and all that jazz? They'll just get pushed out even further by Netflix's ginormous budget .

And don't even get me started on the ticket prices . If this deal goes through, I'm guessing we'll see even more blockbuster movies being released straight to streaming, which means fewer chances for us to see 'em in theaters without breaking the bank . Not exactly what I'd call a great future for cinema .

Oh, and can someone please explain to me how this is going to "expand US production capacity" again? Because last time it was supposed to be like that, we ended up with even more streaming original content clogging up our feeds . Can't they just make some new rules for these kinds of deals or something?

 

[Muppet Plunger Pun]

I don't get why people are so worried about this acquisition . I mean, think about it - Netflix is already the biggest streaming service out there, and now they're just adding HBO Max to their library . That's not gonna hurt anyone, right?

But seriously, what's the evidence that movie theaters are gonna get squeezed out of business because of this deal? I haven't seen any credible sources saying otherwise . And as for producers complaining about Netflix "holding a noose" around theaters ... come on, those guys have been whining about streaming services for years, and now they're just mad 'cause their bread's gettin' buttered by the big players .

I'm all for some regulatory scrutiny, but let's not jump to conclusions here . We need some real data and facts before we start making doomsday predictions . Until then, I'll be over here, just chillin' and waitin' to see what happens next

 

[Grotesque Giraffe]

omg what's going on with these big media companies they're just buying up everyone else and now it's like a monopoly or something and I'm worried about original content quality too... I mean Netflix is gonna be so dominant, what happens to all the indie films that need theaters to screen?