Famous film producers have reached out to the US Congress with an open letter opposing the potential merger of "Netflix" and "Warner Bros. Discovery". In the letter, they express concern that such a merger could lead to the destruction of the theatrical film market.
An anonymous group of leading industry representatives who signed the letter emphasizes that the deal could seriously threaten not only independent films but also the economic stability of Hollywood as a whole. The document states that "Netflix" will have the ability to reduce the time that "Warner Bros." films are shown in theaters before appearing on the shared "Netflix-HBO Max" platform. It is expected that, if the deal goes through, this theatrical window will be shortened to just two weeks.
The warning about the merger is also supported by arguments that "Netflix" could significantly lower the rental fees for film rights, which would create an additional burden for the theatrical industry. One of the key points in the letter is a call to Senators and Representatives to express their protest against the deal and support it with "maximum antitrust scrutiny".
In this context, "Netflix" competitors such as "Comcast" and "Paramount" are actively offering alternatives, highlighting their willingness to support the theatrical distribution of "Warner Bros." films and adhere to principles of independent operation. In particular, "Paramount" has committed to releasing no fewer than 14 films per year for theaters.
This letter demonstrates the deep concern of influential film industry representatives who have long advocated for the importance of the traditional theatrical space as the foundation of cinematic aesthetics.
