US President Donald Trump has expressed concerns over the $72 billion deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, stating that the combined market share of two of the world's biggest streaming services could be a "problem".
In an appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump indicated he would be involved in the decision-making process regarding whether to approve the merger with regulators. The deal, if successful, would create a behemoth in the entertainment industry by unifying Warner Bros.' television and motion picture division, including DC Studios, with Netflix's vast library and production arm.
Trump acknowledged his respect for Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos but noted that the sheer scale of the merged company's market share could raise red flags. "There's no question about it... It could be a problem," he said, without elaborating further.
When asked if Netflix should be allowed to acquire Warner Bros., Trump replied, "Well, that's the question." The acquisition would undoubtedly concentrate market power in the hands of one company, which has raised concerns over the impact on competition and consumer choice.
It is worth noting that Sarandos made no guarantees about the merger at a meeting with Trump last week. Despite this, the President remains cautious about the deal, emphasizing the significance of market share in his assessment.
In an appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump indicated he would be involved in the decision-making process regarding whether to approve the merger with regulators. The deal, if successful, would create a behemoth in the entertainment industry by unifying Warner Bros.' television and motion picture division, including DC Studios, with Netflix's vast library and production arm.
Trump acknowledged his respect for Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos but noted that the sheer scale of the merged company's market share could raise red flags. "There's no question about it... It could be a problem," he said, without elaborating further.
When asked if Netflix should be allowed to acquire Warner Bros., Trump replied, "Well, that's the question." The acquisition would undoubtedly concentrate market power in the hands of one company, which has raised concerns over the impact on competition and consumer choice.
It is worth noting that Sarandos made no guarantees about the merger at a meeting with Trump last week. Despite this, the President remains cautious about the deal, emphasizing the significance of market share in his assessment.
. With Trump getting involved in the decision-making process, I worry it might be a step too far towards corporate dominance. What if this giant company starts dictating what content gets made or aired? It could stifle creativity and choice for consumers... and who's to say they wouldn't use their massive market share to strong-arm smaller studios into submission? 
This deal just doesn't sit right with me, and I'm rooting for some skepticism from regulators 
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, and now you throw in a $72 billion deal and it's like, whoa! The thing that gets me is how much market share this would give to just two companies. It feels like it could be a recipe for disaster, you know? I'm not saying Trump shouldn't have his say, but the President does have a point – all of this concentration in one place could lead to some serious issues when it comes to competition and consumer choice.
also what's with him being involved in decision-making process? dont get me wrong, im no fan of regulatory capture, but come on, trump, you got a thing or two to say about market power and competition? 
what i find more interesting is how sarandos handled the meeting with trump... no guarantees, huh? that says alot about his confidence in the deal. 
idk about anyone else, but i think its time to put the merger question to rest already! 
anyway, the potential market share of this merged company is straight up alarming... like, what's next? amazon and google teaming up on everything? 
we need more transparency and stricter regulations ASAP! 
. I think it's interesting that Trump is keeping an eye on this - maybe he's trying to make sure we're not sacrificing our freedom to choose just for the sake of convenience 
. I'm all about competition in the market, and this deal definitely raises some eyebrows. Maybe Trump's involvement will lead to a more balanced approach? 
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced the government should just chill out and let companies do their thing 
. A bigger company can actually lead to better content and more choices for consumers 
it's all gonna work out in the end, right? 
. problem is, you're right to worry about market share 
. don't want one company having that kind of power over our entertainment choices 
. If Netflix gets control over Warner Bros.' entire library, it's likely that smaller studios and creators won't have access to the same level of resources or visibility 
. Let's hope regulators can do their job and ensure that this deal doesn't have any negative consequences 
and that's a major concern for me, you know? Like, what if they start pulling all their content from other platforms or raising prices? 