Donald Trump Praises Ted Sarandos, Confirms Meeting But Says Netflix-WB Would Have “A Great Big Market Share”

Core Viewpoint - The merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to significantly increase market share for Netflix, with President Trump expressing strong support for Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and the potential impact of the merger on the industry [1][3]. Company Summary - Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. for $27.75 per share, consisting of cash and stock, surpassing competing bids from Paramount Skydance and Comcast [2][4]. - The deal has an enterprise value of $82.7 billion and a total equity value of $72 billion, with Netflix financing the cash portion through a commitment letter with Wells Fargo for up to $59 billion in senior unsecured bridge term loans [4][5]. - Netflix will pay a breakup fee of $5.8 billion if the merger fails to receive regulatory approval, emphasizing its position as a player in a vast global video market [5]. Industry Summary - The merger is anticipated to close within 12-18 months, pending regulatory approval and the separation of Warner Bros.' studio and streaming assets from its linear television businesses [4]. - Paramount accused Warner Bros. Discovery of an unfair sale process favoring Netflix and claimed it was the only bidder with a clear path to regulatory approval [6][7].