Netflix Co-CEO on Warner Bros. Deal & Trump Discussions

Potential Regulatory Approval of Netflix’s Warner Bros. Acquisition

The proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix is currently awaiting approval from federal regulators.

Previously, Paramount, led by CEO David Ellison, was widely considered the leading contender for acquiring the renowned film studio. This assumption stemmed from Ellison’s established relationships within the Trump administration.

Recent Developments and Presidential Involvement

However, recent reports from Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter indicate that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos engaged in discussions with President Donald Trump regarding a possible deal in November.

During this meeting, President Trump reportedly conveyed to Sarandos that Warner Bros. should be sold to the entity offering the highest price. Sarandos apparently departed the meeting with the belief that the president wouldn't immediately object to the acquisition.

Following the initial publication of these reports on Sunday, Trump confirmed the meeting’s occurrence. Regarding his stance on the deal, he stated, “Netflix is a great company. They’ve done a phenomenal job. Ted is a fantastic man. I have a lot of respect for him. But it’s a lot of market share, so we’ll have to see what happens.”

Warner Bros. CEO’s Initial Position

Bloomberg’s reporting also suggests that Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav was initially hesitant to sell the company.

He was reportedly caught off guard when Paramount initiated discussions about a potential acquisition. Zaslav had anticipated that Ellison would postpone any such move until the studio finalized its planned separation of its film and streaming divisions from its cable networks.