Reason First: Netflix has Every Right to Buy Warner Brothers

In this era where movie signs look dark and regular moviegoing experiences require making life decisions in regard to ticket, concessions, and upgrade prices, Netflix should easily snap up Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD).

For all the talk about anti-trust and its evils, there must be a discussion of the freedom for companies to do business unburdened by the Justice Department of any administration.

It is not the government’s role to oversee transactions. Like laws that protect individuals in the bedroom, there ought to be protections for what goes on in the boardroom, and for the same reasons.

An unknown producer in Hollywood feels that Netflix will ruin the filmmaking idea of rear ends in seats, taking big sounds and/or big screens.

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Brothers has been blamed as the scapegoat in this matter. But the real menace behind this is the system of anti-trust laws that disrupt and distort business deals.

What does Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) or Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have to do with this discussion? They should be more concerned with protecting the rights of media companies, not calling for them to be broken up or pay fines for their businesses.

This is like a page out of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The ministers of pull claw and grab at private businesses as they have no clue how to run them. And the private companies who seek to have anti-trust legislation against other stronger, competent firms show themselves to be just as wicked.

It is time for the CEOs to stand up and fight for the changing times.

The middle class is shrinking—and that’s a good thing. Those once under the upper class are now richer and can afford to buy luxuries like larger homes with wide screens and theater seats.

They can pause the show and go to get more snacks or take a bathroom break in the comfort of their own home.

The winds of change blow even harder now. With this purchase (given that it goes through) it will make the space for filmmakers that much richer and audiences will rejoice at the convenience of everything.

There exist some people who feel what their ancestors expressed about “talkies” ruining the film business. With this backward and ridiculous claim (obviously), it’s the same sentiment; hold tight to the comfortable and familiar while damning the new and dynamic.

Yes, Netflix will hold onto rights and intellectual property. This is apparent. What is more clear, however, is that a streaming service rose to the ranks of economic power to buy a storied and well-known company in the culture.

There will undoubtedly be new technologies which will challenge the movie making business. Movies like Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Sunset Boulevard (1950) explore the idea of the past gone Silent Era. So what? Are studios supposed to revert to that just because President Trump’s Justice Department doesn’t like the deal Netflix initiated?

The government ought to have zero to do with any businesses besides safeguarding from force and fraud. It is a sham and a shame that the State should have any say in whether this deal goes through or not.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Serandos is poised to grab the reins of WBD and fashion it into an even greater company. Its absorption into Netflix will mean a better ideal because the streaming behemoth has been winning for some time now.

When Serandos became top executive along with Greg Peters of Netflix, it was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The streaming service became an even greater financial darling as people stayed in to watch shows like Tiger King (2020-2021).

Cinema hasn’t been the same since. As theaters seek new ways of innovating and making more money, they are losing a hold on behaviors that lean towards enjoying films and TV from the comforts of home.