US President warns about the legality of Netflix deal

VTV.vn - US President Donald Trump warned that Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could violate antitrust laws, as it would create a combined market share far exceeding the 30% threshold.

Netflix spends $82 billion to acquire Warner Bros.

The most controversial news in the entertainment industry in recent days is the news that Netflix will spend $82.7 billion to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max. This is a historic deal for the entertainment industry. US President Donald Trump warned that Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could violate antitrust laws, as it would create a combined market share far exceeding the 30% threshold.

Mr. Trump said he would be directly involved in the review, reducing the likelihood of the deal closing before the end of 2026 to 23% on Polymarket, down from 60%. The U.S. Justice Department and European competition authorities have both expressed concerns about the world's No. 1 streaming platform combining HBO Max. Many U.S. lawmakers have also criticized the deal as potentially reducing competition and harming consumers. Mr. Trump's comments could raise concerns that regulators will object to the combination of the world's dominant streaming service with a Hollywood icon. Netflix is ​​facing a lengthy Justice Department review as the deal could reshape the entertainment industry.

Before Netflix, Paramount and Comcast had been involved in a weeks-long bidding war. Paramount Skydance offered about $24 a share for all of WBD, including cable networks CNN, TNT, and TBS, but Netflix came out on top with a price it couldn’t refuse. Netflix agreed to pay a $5.8 billion termination fee if the deal fell through, while WBD would pay $2.8 billion if it pulled out.

However, to get their hands on the Warner Bros “gem”, Netflix will have to overcome the biggest “hurdle”: antitrust scrutiny in the US and Europe. Netflix is ​​currently the largest streaming platform globally, while WBD owns HBO Max and nearly 130 million subscribers – enough to attract special attention from regulators.

Paramount has accused the negotiations of “showing signs of favoring Netflix”. Some US lawmakers have warned that the deal could harm consumers and reduce competition across the entertainment industry. Global exhibitor group Cinema United called it an “unprecedented threat” to theaters worldwide . Director James Cameron warned that Netflix’s takeover of Warner Bros could be “a disaster” for the film industry.

In order to reduce pressure from public opinion and management agencies, Netflix announced that the deal would bring many benefits such as having more movies and TV series for audiences; expanding content production in the US; increasing spending on original works; creating more jobs and opportunities for creators and committing to maintaining the release of Warner Bros. films in theaters.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, assuming it clears all regulatory hurdles. If successful, Hollywood is likely to enter a period of deep restructuring, where streaming—rather than traditional theaters or television—will become the center of the entertainment ecosystem.

Source: https://vtv.vn/tong-thong-my-canh-bao-tinh-hop-phap-cua-thuong-vu-netflix-100251208223647023.htm