Republican Rep. Darrell Issa Raises Concerns Over Netflix’s Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
A recent bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery has caught the attention of prominent Republican U.S. representative, Darrell Issa, who has expressed concerns over Netflix’s potential acquisition of WBD’s HBO Max and entertainment studios. Issa has warned Trump administration officials about potential antitrust issues that could harm consumers, according to a letter reviewed by Variety.
Last month, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it was reviewing acquisition offers from multiple parties, including bids from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance, Netflix, and Comcast. With a Nov. 20 deadline for nonbinding first-round bids, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to finalize the process by year-end, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In his letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and others, Issa expressed concerns about Netflix’s dominance in the streaming market and the potential impact of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. He highlighted the risk of consolidating market power and diminishing incentives for new content production, citing Netflix’s dismissive remarks about traditional movie theaters.
Netflix, with over 300 million global subscribers, has positioned itself as a leading entertainment service, while Warner Bros. Discovery ended Q3 of 2025 with 128.0 million streaming subscribers. Issa emphasized the importance of protecting the American industry, promoting competition, and safeguarding jobs in his letter to administration officials.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ comments about movie theaters being outdated were also referenced in Issa’s letter, pointing to a shift in the industry’s approach to content distribution. Sarandos had previously stated that the traditional moviegoing experience was becoming obsolete, favoring streaming platforms over theaters.
In conclusion, Issa urged the administration to prioritize competitive markets, consumer choice, and job protection in light of the ongoing bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. Both Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery have been contacted for comment by Variety.
