More than a dozen current and former UK policymakers have formally requested that the country’s competition authority carry out a full review of Netflix’s proposed purchase of Warner Bros Discovery’s film and television studios. The group urged the regulator to consider whether the transaction would strengthen an existing market leader in ways that could reduce rivalry in the TV streaming sector.
In a letter addressed to the head of the competition body, the signatories warned the proposed takeover risks "cement[ing] an already dominant player" in video streaming. The letter further cautioned that the deal could result "in a substantial lessening of competition with damaging consequences for consumers, the UK’s world-leading creative industries and the UK cinema industry."
Under the terms disclosed by the companies, Netflix has agreed to an $82.7 billion cash offer to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s film and television studios. The bid has drawn attention not only for its size but also for the competitive dynamics it would create across streaming and content ownership.
The proposed transaction faces competing interest from a U.S. rival, Paramount, which has submitted a hostile offer for the same business. Observers and critics have flagged antitrust questions around Netflix’s pursuit of Warner Bros, given Netflix’s position as the largest streamer by subscriber numbers. These concerns form the basis of the UK group’s request that the competition regulator perform a comprehensive assessment of the likely effects on market competition.
Those calling for review emphasize potential implications for viewers, creators and cinema operators in the UK, asserting that reduced competition could translate into worse outcomes for these stakeholders. The signatories asked the regulator to scrutinize whether the combination of a major streaming platform with extensive studio assets would materially alter competitive incentives and market structure.
The letter and the companies’ competing offers have elevated scrutiny of how consolidation among major media owners and streamers could reshape access to content, investment in creative production and the economics of theatrical distribution within the UK market.