Netflix Explores Warner Bros Discovery Takeover in Major Streaming Industry Shake-Up
Netflix hires U.S. bank Moelis & Co. to explore a potential bid for Warner Bros Discovery, aiming to expand its streaming empire with top franchises.
Raja Awais Ali
10/31/20252 min read


Netflix Hires Bank to Explore Possible Bid for Warner Bros Discovery
Global streaming giant Netflix has reportedly begun exploring a potential bid for Warner Bros Discovery, seeking to expand its entertainment empire beyond organic growth. The company has hired U.S. investment bank Moelis & Co. to advise on a possible acquisition strategy — marking one of Netflix’s most ambitious moves in recent years.
According to reports, Netflix has been granted access to Warner Bros Discovery’s financial data to evaluate a potential bid for the company’s studio and streaming divisions. If successful, the deal could give Netflix control over some of the world’s most valuable entertainment franchises, including Harry Potter, DC Comics, and Game of Thrones. It would also provide access to HBO’s vast content library and Warner’s powerful television production arm, significantly strengthening Netflix’s global streaming position.
However, Netflix’s interest reportedly does not include Warner Bros Discovery’s traditional cable networks, such as CNN, TNT, and Discovery Channel. The company remains focused on expanding its digital streaming and content production capabilities, rather than legacy media assets.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros Discovery has initiated a strategic review of its operations, exploring options that could include the sale or separation of its studio and streaming units following recent financial challenges.
Industry analysts say this development signals a new chapter for Netflix, which has traditionally relied on internal growth and original content production. By moving into mergers and acquisitions, Netflix aims to accelerate its expansion and gain a stronger edge over rivals such as Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently commented that “we are usually builders, not buyers, but we always look at opportunities that could give us a significant advantage.” His statement reflects the company’s growing openness to large-scale acquisitions that could reshape its future and redefine the balance of power in the global streaming industry.
For Warner Bros Discovery, this potential deal comes amid increasing financial strain and mounting debt. The company has struggled with declining cable revenues and the costly transition to digital streaming. Selling or merging its entertainment assets with a global leader like Netflix could help stabilize its business and unlock shareholder value.
If this deal materializes, it could become one of the biggest entertainment mergers of the decade, dramatically reshaping the global streaming landscape. It would allow Netflix to consolidate premium content, expand its audience base, and further strengthen its dominance in digital entertainment.
In conclusion, Netflix’s potential bid for Warner Bros Discovery represents a major strategic evolution — shifting from organic growth to bold acquisitions. This move could redefine the future of the streaming industry, intensify the global “content war,” and mark a turning point in the battle for digital entertainment supremacy.