Netflix has reached out to its worldwide customer base with an email teasing what’s coming next as the company moves ahead with its planned takeover of Warner Bros. The message went out shortly after the announcement of an $82.7 billion cash and stock agreement that will bring Warner Bros.’ film and TV operations, HBO, and HBO Max under the Netflix umbrella once the deal is finalized. The communication makes it clear that the process is in the early stages while still giving a general idea of how the combined catalog might look once the transaction closes.
In the email, Netflix told subscribers, “We 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.” The message stresses the ambitious nature of the merger, which pairs Netflix originals with Warner’s library that spans a century.
The company also made it clear that current subscribers won’t see any changes right away. “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,” the email noted.
The acquisition requires Warner Bros. Discovery to first spin off its Global Networks division into a new company called Discovery Global before the deal can move forward. Once finished, the transaction is expected to completely reshape the streaming landscape by combining Netflix’s massive global reach with Warner’s major franchises, which include Harry Potter, the DC Universe, and Game of Thrones. Netflix ended its message by confirming its ongoing commitment to providing a huge array of television, film, gaming, and live programming as the agreement goes through the necessary approval process.
