Netflix’s co-CEO talked about the Warner Bros. agreement with Trump
Will Netflix’s Acquisition of Warner Bros. Receive Regulatory Approval?
There is growing speculation about whether federal authorities will greenlight Netflix’s proposed $82.7 billion purchase of Warner Bros.
Although Paramount was initially believed to have the inside track on acquiring the iconic studio—largely due to CEO David Ellison’s ties to the Trump administration—recent reports from Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter reveal that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with President Donald Trump in November to discuss the potential transaction.
During their conversation, Trump reportedly advised Sarandos that Warner Bros. should be sold to whoever offers the highest price. Following the meeting, Sarandos appeared confident that the president would not stand in the way of the acquisition.
After news of the meeting surfaced on Sunday, Trump confirmed that the discussion had occurred. Commenting on the deal, he stated, “Netflix is a great company. They’ve done a phenomenal job. Ted is a fantastic man. I have a lot of respect for him. But it’s a lot of market share, so we’ll have to see what happens.”
Bloomberg further notes that Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav was hesitant to part with the company and was caught off guard when Paramount began pursuing an acquisition. Zaslav had anticipated that Ellison would wait until the studio completed the planned separation of its film and streaming divisions from its cable operations.
In the end, Warner Bros. opened the door to additional offers, sparking a bidding war that Netflix ultimately won. However, Paramount may still attempt to challenge the outcome with a hostile bid.
This article has been updated to include Trump’s remarks.
