- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos testified before the US Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, defending the company's proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
- Senators from both parties raised concerns that the merger could reduce competition in the streaming market, potentially leading to higher prices for consumers and fewer jobs for entertainment workers.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently reviewing the transaction, as well as a competing, hostile bid from Paramount Skydance, which is also under antitrust scrutiny.
- Antitrust experts suggest Netflix's acquisition faces greater regulatory barriers than Paramount's bid, as the DOJ is specifically investigating whether Netflix engaged in exclusionary conduct that could lead to a monopoly.
- Netflix argues that the deal is largely a vertical merger and that the competitive landscape includes robust rivals like YouTube, which accounts for more viewing time on US televisions than other streaming services.
Netflix co-CEO grilled by Senate over Warner Bros. deal antitrust concerns
Feb 6, 2026, 7:33:37 PM UTC(3 hours ago)
Impact: Medium
Affected Assets
Sources
From:@DeItaone
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