Aside from Warner Bros.‘ studios, which will strengthen Netflix’s production capabilities, a key component of the streaming giant’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. is the latter’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property. By getting control over TV and movie franchises such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Friends and the DC Universe, Netflix will not only be able to offer more content to its subscribers from day one after completion of the deal, but it will also enable the company to work with the IP it acquired and create new stories based on well-known and beloved characters.
“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix said in the announcement of the deal. “By combining Warner Bros.' incredible library of shows and movies with our culture-defining titles, we'll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”
For Netflix subscribers, the added content will likely come a price. To fully take advantage of its supercharged library, it seems likely that Netflix will abandon its current all-you-can stream format and offer different packages instead. This could add another layer to an increasingly fragmented streaming landscape, in which an HBO-infused Netflix will be the undisputed top dog.
