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 permitted, 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 could spell the top for HBO Max as its personal product in the long run, because the assertion additionally says “by including the deep movie and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members could have much more high-quality titles from which to decide on.”

Naturally, the deal will see Netflix change into one of many greatest gamers in world media, combining its world attain with a few 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 solid adrift with Discovery.

It is doubtless the deal is not going to go forward with out numerous objections from different patrons, in addition to the federal government itself. Yesterday, Paramount Skydance mentioned (through the Hollywood Reporter) any deal between WB and Netflix could be the results of an “unfair” course of. Given the shut ties between Paramount’s new house owners and the administration, it is doubtless 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 may need on what this deal means for you. He additionally solutions questions concerning 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 accommodates deeper evaluation and extra details about the Netflix/Warner Bros. deal and what that may imply for streaming, films, TV and shareholders.