Netflix Rolls Out Fan-Bait PR Campaign to Sell Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover

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Netflix is actively trying to convince Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to support its $82.7 billion plan to buy the company. They’re framing the deal as beneficial for everyone involved – viewers, content creators, and the entertainment industry as a whole.

The campaign comes after Warner Bros. Discovery’s board officially asked shareholders to turn down the unwanted takeover offer from Paramount and Skydance, and instead support a deal with Netflix.

Netflix leaders Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters are reassuring investors that popular aspects of the service – like movie releases in theaters, established series and movies, and the creative people behind them – won’t be changing.

However, critics aren’t buying it.

Netflix Spins the Deal as “Business as Usual”

Netflix states, both in its communications and on its new website NetflixWBtogether.com, that Warner Bros. will remain a separate company. They plan to keep the current leadership and continue releasing movies in theaters for the typical amount of time before they become available elsewhere.

The PR site prominently features imagery from major fan-favorite properties, including:

  • Harry Potter
  • DC franchises spanning the SnyderVerse to James Gunn’s Superman
  • Classic Warner Bros. films and HBO prestige series

The message is clear: nothing changes — except Netflix owns everything.

Executive Stability Claims Rarely Survive Major Mergers

It’s common for companies involved in mergers to say they’ll keep the existing leadership teams, so those claims shouldn’t be taken at face value.

Big company mergers almost always result in changes at the top, organizational restructuring, and a concentration of power after the merger is finalized.

It’s common for leaders to leave after a major deal, even if they were originally brought on to ensure a smooth transition. Overlapping responsibilities, budget cuts, and changes in company direction usually lead to these departures, particularly with a deal as large and complex as this one.

It’s clear that James Gunn and Peter Safran were worried about losing their positions, as they quickly went to Bloomberg to address the situation after Netflix made a competing offer.

What Netflix Isn’t Emphasizing: Regulatory Hell Ahead

The biggest omission from Netflix’s glossy campaign is the reality of regulatory scrutiny.

Netflix says the deal to merge with another company could take between 12 and 18 months to finalize. It needs to be approved by regulators in the U.S. and other countries, including competition authorities like the DOJ and the EU.

Because Netflix is the leading streaming service worldwide, this deal is likely to face strong opposition from regulators concerned about monopolies.

People in Hollywood are worried the merger could create a monopoly, giving one company too much control over what movies and shows are made, how they’re shown, and how much they cost.

Hollywood Pushback Is Growing

Although Netflix says this agreement benefits creators, many in the entertainment industry are still doubtful.

Netflix has long been criticized for:

  • Undermining theatrical releases
  • Limiting backend participation for creators
  • Replacing traditional profit participation with flat buyouts

Recently, several prominent movie directors have criticized Netflix’s approach to releasing films. James Cameron is the latest well-known filmmaker to express concern that prioritizing streaming over traditional theatrical releases undermines the value of making movies and could harm the industry’s long-term creativity.

Many Hollywood insiders believe Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. will simply speed up existing problems within the industry.

See the PR Campaign for What It Is

Netflix is presenting itself as a protector of Warner Bros.’ content, but this marketing push isn’t really for the fans or the people who make the shows. It’s mostly designed to appeal to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders by using exciting images and calming statements.

The proposal emphasizes reliability, expansion, and support for traditional movie theaters – things Netflix hasn’t always demonstrated in the past, leading to skepticism.

It’s still unclear if regulators, content creators, or viewers will embrace Netflix’s plans, but their strong public push shows they’re prepared for a challenging battle to make it happen.

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2025-12-18 04:02