Netflix Faces Consumer Class Action Over $72 Billion Warner Bros Deal (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0180349239
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/12/09/2243222/netflix-faces-consumer-class-action-over-72-billion-warner-bros-deal
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/netflix-faces-consumer-class-action-over-72-billion-warner-bros-deal-2025-12-09/
> The [3]proposed class action (PDF) was filed on Monday by a subscriber to Warner Bros-owned HBO Max who said the proposed deal threatened to reduce competition in the U.S. subscription video-on-demand market. "Netflix has demonstrated repeated willingness to raise subscription prices even while facing competition from full-scale rivals such as WBD," the lawsuit said. [...] The lawsuit said the Warner Bros deal would eliminate one of Netflix's closest rivals, HBO Max, and give Netflix control over Warner Bros marquee franchises including Harry Potter, DC Comics and Game of Thrones.
On Monday, Paramount Skydance [4]launched a $108 billion hostile bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery with an all-cash, $30-per-share offer.
[1] https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/12/05/1728256/netflix-to-buy-warner-bros-in-72-billion-cash-stock-deal
[2] https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/netflix-faces-consumer-class-action-over-72-billion-warner-bros-deal-2025-12-09/
[3] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.460967/gov.uscourts.cand.460967.1.0.pdf
[4] https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/12/08/1429227/paramount-skydance-launches-hostile-bid-for-wbd-after-netflix-wins-bidding-war
Isn't this what we wanted? (Score:2)
I keep hearing people complain that they need 4 streaming services to get everything they want to watch. So now it's 3...
Re: (Score:2)
It's been 10-15 years, and people still don't really understand streaming. "There are too many services" - too many compared to what? I'd rather pay $30 a month to three of five providers for an ad-free service, each of which providing way more content than HBO or Cinemax ever did, than $100 a month to one monopoly. "It now costs more than cable did", no, you can subscribe to just what you want, and supplement it with free services like Tubi or Pluto. Also basic cable may have cost $40 in the 1990s, but it
Re: Isn't this what we wanted? (Score:2)
It's exactly what I wanted. I expect this to be positive for me.
I've already discovered some HBO shows on Netflix that Max failed to properly push. HBO has the best catalog but a terrible app.
Re: (Score:2)
yes it is definitely a positive. But you will always get fucktards looking to sue or potentially they are just tools of Paramount looking to block. The reality is it is a fucking mess at the moment with too many streaming providers and all of them lacking content because of it. Warner Bros discovery is in the financial shitter so blocking this successfully would only mean even worse content or someone else merging there content (i.e. paramount).
Michelle Fendelander? (Score:3)
So some nobody who lives in Las Vegas files this claim within days after the announcement and no one questions it? This is 100% the Ellisons finding some rube to file the claim for them.
Re: (Score:2)
Sure. Gotta have standing. They found somebody out standing in their field.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah this person was just sitting around waiting for this to happen. Like most people that do this they aren't the brightest.
No...HBO Max is not a competitor. They're in the same market, but they're not a real rival.
Good idea (Score:2)
Tie it up in court for a few years, til Trump is out of office.
I don't subscribe to Netflix, and I hope others that do, cancel their subs.
idiots (Score:2)
one way or the other Warner Bros is going to be sold, whether it is to netflix/paramount or some other party is the only thing questionable. They are in serious financial distress and if you block the sales you will be far worse off as a consumer than if they are sold.
Just cancel (Score:2)
Why do people feel entitled to sue businesses to make them do what they want? Just cancel your sub. A class action will fail and only enrich lawyers.
Re: Just cancel (Score:2)
That might be more difficult. In order to sue, you have to have standing. If you're not a customer, you might have difficulty clearing this hurdle.
Re: (Score:1)
not being their customer is the point, they're going to fuck over everyone else in the market for short term gains.
Re: (Score:2)
Look, all of you in this thread should read TFS. The person who filed the suit is a subscriber to HBO Max -- not Netflix. It wouldn't make much sense for the subscriber to cancel their subscription to protest something another provider is doing.
Re: Just cancel (Score:1)
Entitlement.
They don't have money, but like telling people that have some what to do with it.
Personally, I am pro-merger.
I'd also like to see Apple buy it instead of Netflix. It would be a real coup for Apple and it could easily outbid Netflix by anything it takes.