Yesterday, the purchase of Warner Bros. from Netflix. The platform of streaming was spent 83 billion dollars by acquiring the studio he runs David Zaslavand this under the aegis of Discovery Warner Bros. was set to break up in the coming months. This implies that what Netflix acquired is part of Warner Bros. (the one corresponding to the films, to HBO and HBO Max) leaving aside discoveryalthough it was also a big blow for Paramount Skydancewho has been interested in this sale for some time.
In fact, the company David Ellison (recently formed after Skydance’s corresponding purchase of Paramount) promises to fight back for the outcome of the process.
Ellison says WBD favored Netflix and there are options that, given its ties to the Republican Party, are the same. Trump administration attempt to torpedo Warner Bros. acquisition In the absence of such a thing, Netflix has today established itself as the absolute entertainment leader in the market, surpassing The Walt Disney Company and bring Hollywood into a new era.
Likewise, for which the path was already marked: not so long ago Disney bought Foxand even less there is Amazon absorbed Metro Goldwyn-Mayer (hence the current was born Amazon MGM Studios).
THE majors Historical Hollywood films are entirely likely to fall under the control of much younger (and not at all committed to traditional exploitation) entertainment giants, although Netflix’s decision was undoubtedly devastating. In recent hours there have been reactions for all tastes, as compiled Hollywood journalist.
A change of cycle
Ted Sarandos, for a start. One of Netflix’s CEOs was quick to shed light on what’s most worrying the industry right now: what will happen to Warner’s films once they come under the control of a company that has no interest in theaters like Netflix.
“Our mission is to entertain the world,” says Sarandos. “Combining Warner’s incredible library (full of classics witheither Casablanca And Citizen Kane and modern phenomena such as Harry Potter And Friends) with our titles that define our culture (Stranger Things, The Warriors of K-Pop And The Squid Game), we will do even better.
“We will give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said shortly after absorbing a company founded in 1923 (long before television and streaming. Then he addresses the main question, without wanting to go into detail. “Warner Bros Studios. excellent and Warner Bros. is recognized as a leading provider of cinematic entertainment.
“HBO and HBO Max also provide an attractive and complementary offering for consumers. Netflix hopes to maintain Warner’s current operations and leverage its strengths,” including theatrical release of films“.
So, Warner Bros. films. will they continue to be released in theaters? It seems so… for now: “The approach is not going to change for Netflix films or for Warner films. Over time, the showcases will evolve to be much more user-friendly and reach audiences more quickly. I would like to do all of those things but I would say that, for now, anything that is planned to be released theatrically through Warner Bros. will continue to be released in theaters via Warner Bros.
“And Netflix films will follow the same path as today: some will be released in theaters for a short time, but our main goal is to offer our subscribers first films. David Zaslav, Warner Bros. CEO Discovery, shared its enthusiasm for the operation. “By joining Netflix, we will ensure that people around the world continue to enjoy the world’s most compelling stories for generations.”
Opinion against
What do the voices opposed to this transaction think? Well, on the one hand, the United Cinema expressed his anguish: the confluence of exhibition channels drew attention to the lack of interest that Netflix tended to show to cinemas. And the unions have also started to mobilize: the Writers Guild manifests itself in similar terms, and the Administrators Union He wanted to quickly organize a meeting with Netflix executives.
This meeting will be Christopher Nolan as a protagonist, since today he is president of the Directors’ Union. Nolan, on the other hand, is known for his belligerent views against streaming (it was interference from HBO Max that caused, years ago, parting ways with Warner go to work at Universal), and perhaps his concerns are nobler than those of Paramount Skydance. Ellison’s company also sent a letter to WBD’s lawyers saying the move would be harmful and should be reconsidered.
“Netflix does not have as much incentive to release films theatrically and will want to use WBD’s world-class IP library to solidify Netflix’s dominance in the market. streamingwhile it will harm distribution in theaters, among talents and movie buffs“, the letter reads. “If it merges with WBD, Netflix will reduce the number of films released in theaters, further driving consumers away from movie theaters and toward the cinema. streaming, harm cinemas which are already experiencing difficulties“
“Given that Netflix’s co-CEO called traditional movie theaters a “obsolete concept”“Netflix would continue the trend toward more empty seats in theaters, as Netflix moves its films further away from first theatrical releases,” he concludes. “Netflix “threatens consumers, creative talent and distribution.”
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