Around 24 hours after Netflix came to a $83 billion deal to buy Warner Bros‘ TV and film studios, streamer HBO Max and HBO, the Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters-run streamer has sent a note to its over 82 million U.S. subscribers telling them “nothing is changing.”
In fact, in links from a four paragraph email from the “Netflix team,” the phrase “nothing is changing” comes up again and again. What also comes up when it comes to Netflix and HBO Max is “both streaming services will continue to operate separately,” the correspondence assures subscribers to the former.
The number #1 streamer in America and the number #3 streamer in America will continue to operate separately — for now.
Read the full Netflix letter to US subscribers below
Answering the pre-designated question “what if I already have an HBO Max subscription, should I cancel?” Netflix says on it deal Help Page: “Netflix and Warner Bros. will remain separate until the transaction is closed.”
In the victory lap Welcoming Warner Bros to Netflix” missive, the streamer says: “We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share.”
Coming off a big day of understatements in CEO memos and meetings, a Warner Bros Discovery town hall, reactions (not a lot of Atta Boys, if you know what I mean?) and more, those almost aside “regulatory and shareholder approvals” make take top prize. There is a minefield of such obstacles, including more than likely the Paramount and Ellisons-loving President of the United States, the federal Department of Justice, the EU and 50 state Attorney Generals. Then there’s the possibility of a Paramount lawsuit or an overbid to snuff out the $28 per share offer from Netflix. All TBD.
As it is Netflix late Friday was gleeful about having “Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon.”
The opposition to NetBros has certainly resulted in some strange things and strange bedfellows.
What else can you think of that seems to unite Donald Trump (who heaps praise on paramount CEO David Ellison and his Oracle founding/second richest man on the planet father Larry Ellison), Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Hollywood unions? A unity for very different reasons, it might be noted.
Accusing Netflix of “swallowing” the jewels in the WBD crown, the two-time unsuccessful Democratic nomination contender from Vermont said in a post today:
Read the full Netflix letter Friday night to subscribers here:
