Netflix CEO made a visit to the White House before buying Warner Bros.
In November, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO made a trip to the White House for a lengthy meeting with Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg, the two discussed a number of topics, but chief among them was Netflix’s plan to bid on Warner Bros. At the end of their conversation, Sardonos felt that “Netflix wouldn’t face immediate opposition from the White House.”
This week, Netflix successfully won the bidding war for Warner, offering $82.7 billion. It’s well known that Paramount and its CEO David Ellison were eager to acquire the storied studio and its streaming assets. Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, have close ties to the White House, and as part of their pitch to Warner, suggested that only they were in a position to overcome the regulatory hurdles of further media consolidation.
Sarandos seems to have rightly believed that the Ellisons overestimated their political clout. And despite some public efforts to turn the White House against the deal, Netflix won out, for now. There is of course, still a chance that Paramount could launch a hostile takeover effort, or that the Justice Department could try and scuttle the deal — nothing is guaranteed yet.
Sarandos tried to acquire Paramount before David Ellison swooped in, so snatching Warner Bros. out from under his nose is likely something of a personal victory.
In November, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO made a trip to the White House for a lengthy meeting with Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg, the two discussed a number of topics, but chief among them was Netflix’s plan to bid on Warner Bros. At the end of their conversation, Sardonos felt…
Recent Posts
- You don’t need to spend a fortune on good audio — these 20 headphones under AU$100 have hundreds of 5-star user reviews
- Nintendo confirms it will sell a new Switch 2 with replaceable battery in the EU
- Apple begins requiring age verification for App Store use in Texas
- The co-creator of Scavengers Reign is working on a new show for Netflix
- Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023