Today consumers face the growing challenge of a fragmented media landscape, with subscription fatigue across apps being a prevalent concern. On the other side media companies face tightening budgets for creators and legacy studios struggle to compete with tech-driven platforms. That’s why the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery deserves consumer support, not the political interference some in Washington are threatening.
Utah Senator Mike Lee, now Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, has long championed these free market principles at work that built our economy. He has signaled an upcoming review hearing and regulatory scrutiny is appropriate to protect consumers and workers. However, regulation and antitrust scrutiny must be grounded in present-day realities, not antiquated assumptions about how media markets should function.
The larger threats today around competition are not traditional studios joining forces but growing dominance of a few tech platforms controlling data, distribution, and advertising across entire sectors of the economy. For example, the argument that this deal would hurt competition seems blind to the might of Disney, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Apple TV and others. These companies can afford losses in entertainment because their profits come from hardware, cloud computing, or advertising ecosystems. A stronger combined streaming entity could better compete with these conglomerates, preserving competition rather than weakening it.
Further, many Utah families juggle an average of four to five streaming subscriptions with rising costs and shrinking content libraries. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery are responding to a systemic problem they did not create but every one of us feels; streaming has become too fragmented, expensive, and complicated for the average consumer.
The advantages of this merger continue. Consider more than 75% of HBO Max subscribers (part of Warner Bros.) already pay for Netflix separately, hence this deal would be a two for one. As Utah families deal with rising costs around kitchen table issues, removing redundant streaming costs equals a win for affordability.
A combined platform would also unlock creative efficiencies. Rather than Netflix licensing Warner Bros. content at premium rates, the merged company could invest those resources directly into new productions. Iconic franchises like the Looney Tunes, DC superheroes, and Harry Potter could receive sustained investment and development, giving families higher-quality entertainment without constantly switching between apps or managing multiple bills. Additionally, the Deseret News reported in 2024, Netflix had made clear it is willing to invest in faith-based films and content a staple for Utah families.
This isn’t consolidation that limits choices. It’s consolidation that eliminates waste and redirects value back to consumers and content creation.
This deal represents a market-driven solution that could ease the burden on consumers while supporting American media companies against growing foreign competition. In fact, the nature of competition has changed with State-backed media companies, particularly those linked to China, expanding their reach into our homes and shaping the content on our screens.
Congress and federal regulators have approved similar large-scale mergers in recent years. Disney’s acquisition of Fox and Amazon’s purchase of MGM both moved forward after review by the Department of Justice. Both deals combined major content libraries under single corporate umbrellas, yet neither triggered the political outcry we’re seeing now.
Singling out the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery merger for special scrutiny would look less like principled antitrust enforcement and more like selective political intervention.
This is the backdrop of our large media companies and this potential merger deserves an honest and open minded evaluation not reflexive backlash. This merger would create a stronger U.S.-based media company capable of competing globally while keeping control of American storytelling in American hands. That matters for both our economy and our culture.
I know Senator Lee is principled and trust he will lead congressional review on this issue with a balanced hand. The question policymakers and the public should ask is whether this merger creates a healthier ecosystem for audiences, creators, and competition. If structured responsibly, with commitments to consumer choice, creative investment, and fair labor practices, this deal could represent a forward-looking adaptation to a rapidly changing industry.
Washington should let the free market work by allowing this proposed merger to proceed.
David Hursey is a policy analyst who served on Utah’s COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force and as Special Assistant to the president of the Salt Lake Chamber. He has worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and several presidential and congressional campaigns. He holds a Master’s degree in Middle East Studies and Political Science from The University of Utah.
