Prior to Netflix officially emerging as the victor in its pursuit of Warner Bros., Ted Sarandos, the company’s co-chief executive officer, personally embarked on a strategic diplomatic effort to secure presidential support for the deal. In what appeared to be a highly calculated move, Sarandos reached out directly to President Donald Trump, engaging him in a detailed conversation about the advantages and broader economic implications of the proposed acquisition. According to Sarandos, their discussion led to a surprising alignment of priorities: both parties shared a mutual interest in strengthening the American workforce and safeguarding the stability of jobs across the entertainment and technology sectors. As Sarandos later recounted during a session at the UBS Media Conference on Monday afternoon, the president’s concerns mirrored Netflix’s own corporate objectives—both were focused on fostering employment and ensuring sustainable growth within one of the country’s most influential industries.
Sarandos elaborated that he and President Trump had exchanged views numerous times since the presidential election, exploring the difficulties confronting Hollywood and the entertainment ecosystem in the aftermath of global market shifts and changing consumption patterns. The Netflix co-CEO portrayed the president not as a distant observer but as an individual deeply invested in the cultural and economic vitality of film and television production. According to Sarandos, Trump’s enthusiasm for entertainment was not merely political spectacle; rather, it reflected a genuine appreciation for the industry’s creative spirit and its vital role in shaping American identity and economic potential.
Trump, for his part, publicly reciprocated this cordial tone. Over the preceding weekend, he praised Sarandos in strikingly complimentary terms, describing him as a person of remarkable talent and integrity who had accomplished, in Trump’s phrasing, one of the most extraordinary achievements in modern cinematic history. Yet, the president’s endorsement came with a note of cautious pragmatism. He expressed concern that Netflix’s significant market share within the streaming space could invite regulatory complications or competitive scrutiny as the company sought to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s extensive catalog of studio and streaming assets.
The details of the agreement, concluded the previous Friday, underscored the magnitude of Netflix’s ambitions. The deal was valued at approximately $82.7 billion, with $72 billion accounted for in equity—an enormous sum representing one of the largest entertainment mergers in recent memory. Crucially, the acquisition proposal specifically excluded Warner Bros. Discovery’s traditional television networks, such as CNN and HGTV, suggesting that Netflix’s interest lay primarily in the streaming and film divisions rather than in declining linear broadcast properties.
The competition for WBD did not subside with Netflix’s apparent success. On Monday, Paramount Skydance launched a counteroffensive through a hostile bid valued at $30 per share, a fully cash-backed offer that contrasted sharply with Netflix’s $27.75-per-share bid, which combined cash with a smaller portion of stock. Paramount’s proposition was comprehensive—it sought ownership of all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its struggling television networks, thereby taking on assets Netflix had deliberately left untouched. Industry analysts quickly began debating which offer presented the stronger long-term value. Opinions varied depending on how one assessed the underlying worth of WBD’s legacy broadcasting operations compared with its digital and cinematic divisions. In Sarandos’s assessment, Paramount’s move was entirely predictable—a tactical maneuver consistent with the company’s reputation for aggressive pursuit of market relevance.
David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount, appeared eager to frame his company’s bid as one grounded in public and creative benefit. In his televised interview with CNBC on Monday morning, Ellison characterized his proposal as simultaneously favoring consumers, nurturing artistic talent, and promoting fair competition within an increasingly consolidated industry. He emphasized that Paramount’s bid could achieve regulatory clearance more swiftly than Netflix’s, thereby reducing uncertainty for shareholders and employees alike. Ellison’s familial pedigree added political intrigue to the corporate contest—his father, Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle and a well-known ally of Donald Trump, lent additional public visibility and potential influence to the unfolding drama.
Even amid this competitive turbulence, Sarandos and his fellow Netflix co-CEO, Greg Peters, expressed steady confidence in both the integrity of their offer and its likelihood of receiving regulatory approval. Their optimism may in part reflect the goodwill Sarandos appeared to cultivate with Trump during their multiple conversations. Peters affirmed that Netflix believed U.S. regulators not only should but ultimately would endorse the agreement, interpreting it as consistent with national economic interests and antitrust fairness.
Sarandos further advanced the argument that the acquisition should be viewed as a significant boon to the American labor market. He sought to mitigate apprehension among Hollywood insiders who feared consolidation could lead to job reductions or creative homogenization. Reinforcing Netflix’s cultural commitments, Sarandos promised that Warner Bros.’ films would continue to receive proper theatrical releases, preserving the tradition and artistic integrity of the studio’s existing distribution practices. That pledge, emphasizing continuity rather than disruption, likely served to alleviate Trump’s apprehensions about potential employment displacement. Ultimately, Sarandos framed Netflix’s acquisition as a patriotic enterprise—one focused on job protection and economic expansion. As he summarized, the central question motivating the president’s interest was simple yet consequential: to what extent would this deal secure and generate employment opportunities for American workers? In Sarandos’s estimation, the answer was unequivocally positive, positioning Netflix not merely as a commercial powerhouse but as a dedicated steward of the nation’s creative and industrial future.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-warner-bros-bid-trump-wbd-sarandos-peters-paramount-ellison-2025-12
