Netflix CEO Dismisses US Probe Reports, Says Company Faced ‘Narrative’ of Political Resistance

Amid reports that the United States Department of Justice conducted a sweeping review of Netflix’s business practices during its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, co-CEO Ted Sarandos has said the coverage was inaccurate and that the company is now “in the clear.”

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Sarandos said the scrutiny from regulators followed standard procedure and was not out of the ordinary. He stressed that Netflix had engaged not just with the DOJ but with dozens of regulatory authorities globally.

“This was completely normal. This story has been fed out to everybody, but it’s just not accurate. We were not only involved with the DOJ, we were involved with 50 regulatory bodies around the world. These things have been going exactly the way they should,” Sarandos said.

Addressing speculation about political pressure, he said US President Donald Trump remained neutral throughout the process. According to Sarandos, the review was handled through regular channels and was not influenced by bipartisan state attorneys general, as some reports suggested. He maintained that the DOJ carried out its due diligence in line with standard practice.

When asked whether Netflix anticipated political pushback over the acquisition attempt, Sarandos pushed back on that characterisation. “I don’t know that there was growing political resistance. It was a growing narrative of political resistance. But we were on a normal regulatory path,” he said, adding that his recent visit to Washington, DC, had been pre-scheduled and routine.

Last year, Netflix made an $83-billion offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, one of Hollywood’s largest studios. The proposal sparked debate across the entertainment industry and in government circles, prompting regulatory examination in the US.

However, the deal did not move forward. Netflix eventually withdrew from negotiations after rival studio Paramount Global tabled a higher $111-billion offer. The Warner Bros. Discovery board later approved Paramount’s bid, with the transaction expected to be finalised later this year.

The episode highlights the heightened regulatory scrutiny surrounding major media mergers, even as companies insist that reviews remain part of a routine oversight process rather than politically driven interventions.

Source: Hindustan Times