Senator Chris Murphy Criticizes Potential Netflix Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery as 'A Classic Antitrust Violation'

On Saturday, Senator Chris Murphy expressed strong opposition to reports suggesting that Netflix may seek to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that would bring HBO under Netflixs control. Murphy described the potential deal as a disaster for consumers, workers, and the broader media ecosystem, labeling it clearly illegal under U.S. antitrust regulations.

The Connecticut Democrat, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has become increasingly vocal about concerns surrounding media consolidation. On social media, he criticized a growing perspective in Washington that a Netflix acquisition might be a lesser evil compared to a possible Warner Bros. purchase by a group aligned with former President Trump.

Murphy stated, The Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. would be catastrophic. Its plainly illegal. Yet some quietly support it because a Paramount deal, which includes CNN, could be even worse.

While Netflix has not confirmed any plans for such a transaction, any major purchase of Warner Bros. Discoverywhich owns HBO, CNN, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC, and various cable channelswould require approval from the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. Murphy emphasized that the proposed merger exemplifies the types of vertical and horizontal media consolidation that federal regulators are prepared to block.

He elaborated, This deal represents a textbook antitrust violation. It will lead to higher pricesHBO Max is one of the few services keeping Netflix in check. Numerous movie theaters could close, and writers and production crews would face diminished bargaining power and wages.

Murphy also criticized arguments that a Netflix acquisition might be acceptable due to fears of a Paramount-led bid involving what he described as a Trump-affiliated group. He warned that such a scenario would place control of much of the mainstream mediafrom CBS to CNNeffectively in Trumps hands, which he argued would be a far greater threat than Netflix owning Warner Bros.

He added, Those in power sometimes want us to accept blurred moral boundaries, tolerating one level of illegality because a worse alternative exists. But this mindset erodes democracy, replacing clear rules with constant relativism.

The Justice Department has not commented on whether it would review the potential transaction. Neither Warner Bros. Discovery nor Netflix has issued statements regarding Murphys remarks.

Author: Jackson Miller