Netflix Buys Warner Bros. in a Groundbreaking $82.7 Billion Deal

Netflix just made one of the biggest moves the streaming world has ever seen by buying Warner Bros. in a massive $82.7 billion deal. This isn’t just any purchase — it includes both HBO Max and the Warner Bros. studio itself, making it one of the largest mergers in Hollywood history.

By snapping up Warner Bros., Netflix isn’t just strengthening its spot as the top streaming service; it’s also boosting its content library big time. Now, Netflix gets to hold on to some huge franchises like DC Comics, “Game of Thrones,” and “Harry Potter,” which are sure to attract even more viewers.

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Netflix already had more than 300 million paying subscribers as of January, while HBO Max and Discovery+ combined have about 128 million. So, with this deal, Netflix not only grows its audience but also gets an impressive stash of shows and movies.

The size of the deal itself is pretty eye-catching. Netflix is putting up $72 billion alone, which is actually more than Warner Bros.’ whole market value that’s around $60 billion. This shows just how serious Netflix is about expanding its empire.

However, this giant Netflix buying Warner Bros. deal isn’t without some hurdles. It’s expected to face some antitrust scrutiny. Back in November, senators like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Richard Blumenthal showed worry about the sale. They sent a letter to the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, warning that the deal looked like it could be tainted by political favoritism or corruption.

Also, some voices from inside the industry aren’t thrilled about the merger. Variety reported that an anonymous group even wrote to Congress, urging members to speak out against Netflix’s offer.

Warner Bros. Discovery decided to put itself up for sale in October after struggling with debt and slow streaming growth. Several companies were interested, and Paramount was thought to be the main competitor.

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The whole Netflix buying Warner Bros. process is expected to wrap up in the third quarter of 2026. Before that happens, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split from Discovery Global, which includes pay TV channels like TNT and CNN.

The deal is set to be finalized using a mix of cash and stock, with the companies estimating it will take about 12 to 18 months to close everything.

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