NEW DELHI: Netflix has a letter for its 300 million subscribers: don’t panic. Late last night, the streaming giant sent out a carefully crafted email reassuring fans that “nothing is changing today” following its jaw-dropping $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. This blockbuster deal, announced just a day earlier, brings Warner Bros.’ film and TV studios, HBO Max, and HBO under Netflix’s control.
The email, addressed personally to each subscriber, made it clear that both Netflix and Warner Bros. will continue to operate separately until the merger is officially complete.
“We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals,” Netflix wrote. “You’ll hear from us when we have more to share.”
Netflix’s Help Center reinforced the message confirming that current membership plans remain unchanged and Warner Bros.’ content won’t immediately appear on Netflix. Fans hoping to stream Harry Potter alongside ‘Stranger Things’ right away will have to wait.
The subscriber email even highlighted the perks in a friendly tone: “In the meantime, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy watching as much as you want, whenever you want, all on your current membership plan.” Netflix also encouraged users to reach out to the Help Center if they had questions, emphasising continuity and reassurance.
A deal under fire
While Netflix seeks calm, the acquisition has already triggered controversy. Politicians across the spectrum have voiced concerns about the potential monopolistic impact of merging two entertainment giants.
Senator Elizabeth Warren called it an “anti-monopoly nightmare,” while Representative Pramila Jayapal warned it could mean “more price hikes, ads, and cookie-cutter content.”
Industry groups aren’t staying quiet either. The Producers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, and the Writers Guild have all raised worries about potential job losses and reduced creative freedom.
Netflix’s optimistic take
Despite the backlash, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos struck a confident tone during a recent investor call. He described the acquisition as “pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, pro-creator, and pro-growth.”
Sarandos expressed trust in the regulatory review process and insisted that combining Netflix with Warner Bros. would produce a “stronger organisation than either of us could have achieved alone.”
What’s in letter by Netflix to its 300 million subscribers
Welcoming Warner Bros. to Netflix
Hi [subscriber],
We’ve recently announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. This unites our leading entertainment service with Warner Bros.’ iconic stories, bringing some of the world’s most beloved franchises like Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters.
What’s changing? Nothing is changing today. Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share. In the meantime, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy watching as much as you want, whenever you want – all on your current membership plan. We know you might have questions. Check out our Help Centre for more information or contact us at any time. Thank you for choosing Netflix. We’re committed to bringing you more great series, films, games and live programming.
The Netflix team
Agencies