The high-stakes tug-of-war over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) remains the focal point of Hollywood, as Paramount Skydance continues to challenge Netflix’s massive acquisition proposal. In an effort to mitigate industry-wide anxiety regarding the potential merger, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has begun a charm offensive aimed at reassuring theatre owners and traditionalists about the streaming giant’s cinematic intentions.
Read: Google Gemini will power Apple’s new Siri
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Sarandos addressed fears that Netflix might abandon traditional theatrical releases if it gains control of WBD’s vast library. He explicitly committed to a 45-day theatrical window, a significant departure from the company’s historical “day-and-date” streaming strategy. Sarandos emphasized that Netflix is entering the theatrical space to compete at the highest level, stating a desire to “win opening weekend” and dominate the box office.
This firm commitment comes in the wake of conflicting reports. Earlier, Deadline suggested that Netflix was weighing a much shorter 17-day window, which would likely have drawn fierce opposition from major cinema chains. The theatrical viability of Netflix content was recently underscored by the Stranger Things finale, which reportedly grossed over $25 million during a limited two-day run over the New Year’s holiday.
Sarandos also took the opportunity to clarify previous remarks where he characterized the traditional theatrical business as an “outmoded” concept. He argued that the term was intended to describe geographic accessibility rather than the medium itself. Using his daughter’s life in Manhattan as a counterpoint, he noted that for urban dwellers with theatres in walking distance, the model is thriving.
However, his attempt to illustrate this point using the film Sinners, set in the 1930s, was somewhat awkward, as he suggested people in rural settings wouldn’t drive to the next town for a movie. Critics noted the irony, given that motion pictures were the cutting-edge technology of the era the film depicts.
See also
Despite Sarandos’s reassurances, the proposed acquisition faces a steep uphill battle with theatre advocacy groups and regulators. Cinema United, a prominent trade organization, has already issued a statement to Congress expressing grave concerns over the consolidation of production and distribution. They argue that placing WBD under the control of a “dominant, global streaming platform” would further stifle competition in an already highly concentrated market.
As the bidding war with Paramount Skydance intensifies, Netflix’s ability to prove it can be a “good steward” of the theatrical experience may be the deciding factor in whether the WBD deal receives the green light from federal regulators.
