A business move like this, instead of exciting people, has united nearly every major group in Hollywood, from the people who write the scripts to the ones who project the films, in furious opposition. They are convinced that this deal is an actual threat to how the entertainment industry operates, and they are demanding that regulators step in before it's too late.
Writers say it’s a nightmare
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is pointing straight at the law, arguing that when the largest streamer takes over one of its few big competitors, it breaks the core idea of fair competition. The WGA warns that this merger will immediately lead to massive layoffs. People who keep their jobs with lower wages because of fewer employers, this isn’t just bad business but an attempt to dominate the market that needs to be blocked to protect both the workers and the viewers who rely on diverse content.
Blue-collar jobs face the axe
The Teamsters’ Hollywood division is seriously concerned about the manual labour side of the industry. They see this corporate consolidation as "greed-fueled" and a direct hit against solid, unionised jobs. When only a couple of huge companies run the show, they feel less pressure to treat their workers fairly, putting thousands of hardworking grips, drivers, and other production crew members at risk. For them, this merger is a straight-up threat to good, stable union employment.
Theatre fears the end of movie night
Cinema United, the group representing movie theaters, is one of the most vocal components. They feel Netflix doesn’t believe in the traditional movie theater experience and worry that combining Netflix’s streaming-first mindset with Warner Bros.' massive library of theatrical blockbusters will be disastrous. The theatrical business and the magic of seeing a film on the big screen will be permanently destroyed if the new company decides to skip theatres altogether or only give films a token run. They see this deal as an "unprecedented threat."
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Creative people will lose their voice
A healthy and competitive market of ideas is trying to be maintained by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA). They argue that fewer major studios mean fewer people greenlighting new projects. This ultimately limits the opportunities for producers and directors to get their films and shows made. They believe a competitive environment sparks better ideas, and taking this away will reduce that creativity. The quality and variety of storytelling will suffer if there is less competition.
Netflix tries to do damage control
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has been trying to control the outrage. He insists that the company has intentions of keeping Warner Bros.' operations running and will continue to release films in theatres. He has promised to keep HBO Max separate and guaranteed that their release schedules would become more consumer-friendly. Netflix says that it can merge and grow without destroying the competition or sacrificing the quality and variety people expect.
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The fight over the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal is shaping up to be a defining moment for the modern entertainment industry. Nearly every major player in Hollywood is lobbying against it by pointing out the danger to jobs, artistic integrity, and the moviegoing experience. The government has a monumental decision to make. Approving this merger would signal that a massive merger is acceptable, whereas blocking it would be a huge win for the workers and creators who fear that Hollywood is becoming too concentrated and too powerful.
