Netflix co-chief executives Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters have sought to reassure the film and television industry amid mounting debate over the company’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, insisting the deal would protect jobs and preserve the studio’s theatrical traditions.
Speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications conference on Monday, the executives said they were confident the proposed acquisition would be completed and argued that the merger would strengthen, rather than undermine, Warner Bros’ creative and commercial model. Their comments came as concerns grew within the film community over whether Netflix would scale back theatrical releases at one of Hollywood’s most historic studios.
Sarandos said Netflix was committed to Warner Bros’ existing approach to cinema releases and had no intention of shortening theatrical windows or shifting major titles directly to streaming. He stressed that the company valued Warner Bros’ global distribution strength and long-standing relationships with cinemas.
The Netflix leadership also addressed fears around job losses, describing the deal as an opportunity to safeguard employment across the entertainment sector. They argued that combining Netflix’s global reach with Warner Bros’ production infrastructure would create long-term stability for creative talent and technical workers alike.
On the television side, Peters confirmed that Warner Bros Television would continue to operate as a major supplier to the wider market, selling shows to rival broadcasters and streaming platforms alongside producing content for Netflix and HBO Max.
Sarandos said Netflix was acquiring Warner Bros for its proven ability to create and monetise premium film and television content across multiple platforms. He added that recent Warner Bros box office successes would have been released in exactly the same way under Netflix ownership, underlining the company’s intention to preserve the studio’s existing business practices.
The executives said they remained confident the deal would clear regulatory and shareholder hurdles, positioning the merger as a strategic move aimed at growth rather than disruption.
