‘This Deal Looks Like an Anti-Monopoly Nightmare’ — Netflix’s $82.5 Billion Warner Bros. Buyout Risks Job Losses and Higher Subscription Prices, Senator Elizabeth Warren Warns
Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on the Justice Department to examine Netflix’s $82.7 billion buyout of Warner Bros., and branded the deal as “like an anti-monopoly nightmare.”
The prominent politician is among the first to speak out against the proposed deal, which Netflix and Warner Bros. announced early this morning, and said would provide better value to subscribers and shareholders.
In contrast, Warren has highlighted the risks of the potential merger — which, if approved, will be finalized in the second half of 2026. In a statement, Warren said a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. risked job losses and higher subscription prices, and said that the Justice Department must now enforce the country’s anti-monopoly laws “fairly and transparently.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren. Image credit: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty.
“This deal looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare,” the senator said in a statement via Reuters. “A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk.”
Warren’s comments were echoed by US Representative Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the House Monopoly Busters Caucus, who also labelled the deal as a “nightmare.”
“It would mean more price hikes, ads, & cookie cutter content, less creative control for artists, and lower pay for workers,” Jayapal stated. “The media industry is already controlled by a few corporations with too much power to censor free speech. The gov’t must step in.”
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In the past few hours, one report has claimed Netflix is particularly keen to obtain Warner Bros.’ vast content library as the streamer ramps up its potential to offer AI-generation tools and content in the future, just weeks after Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed it would imminently begin rolling out AI content and capabilities via Disney+.
Criticism of Netflix’s move has also come from both sides of the aisle, as Republican Senator Mike Lee, who also leads the Senate antitrust committee, suggested earlier this week that the idea of the streaming service owning Warner Bros. “should send alarm to antitrust enforcers around the world.”
In an investor call earlier today, attended by IGN, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged the upcoming regulatory process that will take place the deal before it is finally approved, but struck a confident tone when asked about its chances for success. “We’re highly confident in the regulatory process. This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it’s pro-creator, it’s pro-growth,” Sarandos said.
As part of the same call, Sarandos said Netflix would continue to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters for now, though expected theatrical release windows to shorten over time to become “more user friendly.”
For now, Netflix and Warner Bros. will continue to be run independently until the deal is scrutinized next year. It may end up being a lengthy process — Microsoft’s $68.7 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard got snagged for months due to objections by the Federal Trade Commission in the US, as well as the European Commission abroad, before it was ultimately passed.
“Under Donald Trump, the antitrust review process has also become a cesspool of political favoritism and corruption,” Warren concluded today. “The Justice Department must enforce our nation’s anti-monopoly laws fairly and transparently — not use the Warner Bros. deal review to invite influence-peddling and bribery.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
