Statement from the National Consumers League on the Proposed Netflix–Warner Brothers Merger

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League is deeply concerned about the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, and its potential impacts on competition, consumer choice, and subscription prices. 

By combining the nation’s largest streaming service with one of its most significant competitors — including HBO Max — this transaction would substantially reduce competition in the digital entertainment marketplace. The long history of consolidation in the media industry shows that mergers of this scale tend to diminish competitive pressure and give dominant firms greater leverage to raise prices rather than pass savings on to consumers. A Netflix-Warner combination, or an alternative merger between Paramount and Warner, could mean that consumers’ monthly subscription bills — already on the rise — are likely to increase again without meaningful improvements in choice or content quality. 

The following statement is attributable to Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League: 

“Today’s streaming environment benefits from significant competition among multiple platforms. Losing HBO Max as a standalone competitor risks narrowing consumer options and weakening incentives for innovation in programming and pricing. Rather than delivering better value to households, this merger could lead to higher costs for viewers who already pay multiple streaming subscriptions. We urge antitrust enforcers and lawmakers to carefully scrutinize this deal to protect consumers, preserve competitive choice, and prevent undue price increases in the streaming market.” 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.