Netflix to purchase Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion

Shortly after rumors of a deal between the two media giants broke, Netflix has announced it is shopping for Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max for about $82.7 billion. If authorised, the deal will happen after Warner Bros. has disentangled itself from each its legacy cable and Discovery assets as part of the already-announced de-merger. That is more likely to happen within the third quarter of 2026, with this new tie-up happening sooner or later after that.

In an announcement, Netflix mentioned it expects to “preserve” Warner Bros. present operations, in addition to its coverage of theatrical releases for its movies. However the deal might spell the tip for HBO Max as its personal product in the long term, because the assertion additionally says “by including the deep movie and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members may have much more high-quality titles from which to decide on.”

Naturally, the deal will see Netflix develop into one of many largest gamers in international media, combining its international attain with a number of the most recognizable names in leisure. That features HBO, DC Studios, Cartoon Community, its sport improvement studios and TCM, in addition to the chunks of TNT not forged adrift with Discovery.

It is probably the deal is not going to go forward with out lots of objections from different patrons, in addition to the federal government itself. Yesterday, Paramount Skydance mentioned (by way of the Hollywood Reporter) any deal between WB and Netflix can be the results of an “unfair” course of. Given the shut ties between Paramount’s new homeowners and the administration, it is probably any deal will probably be topic to scrutiny in addition to the same old questions across the dimension of the mixed operation.

For the reason that announcement was made, Engadget senior reporter Devindra Hardawar has spoken with Hollywood gamers and collated research and statements to reply any burning questions you might need on what this deal means for you. He additionally solutions questions in regards to the chance of regulatory approval, theatrical releases and bodily media. Compensate for all that in his piece titled “The Netflix and Warner Bros. deal might be great for shareholders, but not for anyone else.”

Replace, December 5 2025, 1:45PM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add a paragraph and hyperlink to a brand new article we’ve printed that incorporates deeper evaluation and extra details about the Netflix/Warner Bros. deal and what that may imply for streaming, films, TV and shareholders.