Streaming and social costs: Our souls are at stake in the Warner Bros. Discovery-Netflix deal

Published January 2, 2026 3:30am ET



For the overwhelming majority of people whose families, jobs, and personal pursuits loom larger than the endless mergers and acquisitions in Hollywood, the hue and cry over Netflix’s plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery is likely to elicit not much more than a shrug. To most ordinary, well-adjusted people, the ownership of a movie studio is not much more consequential than the ownership of a baseball team or a chain of restaurants. As long as they still play ball, serve burgers, or, indeed, make movies, who cares?

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