Maybe Netflix Will Be Good for HBO

by

The movie industry is buzzing about the possibility of Netflix acquiring Warner Bros., and television executives are now wondering what that means for HBO. HBO, known for its high-quality programming and HBO Max streaming service, could soon be managed by Netflix, a company with a very different approach. While HBO focuses on carefully selected content and weekly episode releases, Netflix is known for offering a vast library of shows available for immediate binge-watching, and making choices based on data rather than instinct. However, those currently running Warner Bros. Discovery probably don’t need to worry too much – at least not yet.

As a huge fan, I’m cautiously optimistic about this deal. Even though the company has a ton of money, it’s still a long way from being finalized. They need approval from regulators in the US and Europe, and there’s a real chance David Ellison and Paramount might try to block it altogether. Honestly, someone at Warner Bros. Discovery told me on Friday they think there’s only a 50/50 chance it actually goes through! And even if it does get approved, it could take a year and a half, or even longer, to actually happen. It’s definitely not a done deal yet.

HBO and its parent company have gone through a lot of changes in a short time, with multiple owners in the last decade: Time Warner, WarnerMedia, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and now potentially Netflix. Because of this constant shifting of ownership, many employees aren’t surprised by the latest deal – they’ve seen this happen before. One long-time WBD staff member explained that the usual anxiety about such takeovers is low because people already anticipate the outcome.

It’s a familiar situation. At Warner Bros. Discovery, and really at most traditional media companies since the streaming boom slowed down, there’s always worry about job cuts and reporting structure changes. People working on the HBO Max app or adding shows have likely been watching for job openings elsewhere for years. One WBD employee said that if you work in tech, you’re probably feeling anxious right now.

The news about Netflix potentially taking over Warner Bros., including HBO and HBO Max, isn’t necessarily bad for those in programming and marketing, especially leaders like Casey Bloys and Francesca Orsi. One Warner Bros. Discovery insider even suggested it might be the best of the available options. Employees are finding some reassurance in comments made by Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, who indicated they plan to run HBO and Warner Bros. Television as largely independent divisions. They suggested the TV studio would continue selling shows to other networks, and HBO (and potentially HBO Max) would maintain its current operations as a separate part of Netflix. According to the insider, Netflix is “saying all the right things,” offering a glimmer of hope.

Sarandos has long admired HBO and its reputation. Back in the early 2010s, he famously stated his goal was for Netflix to become like HBO, before HBO could become more like Netflix. Although Netflix quickly expanded its ambitions to become a broad entertainment leader, rather than a niche brand, Sarandos always considered HBO the benchmark for high-quality television. He told New York magazine in 2017 that he viewed HBO as “the gold standard of original programming.”

Despite concerns within Hollywood about Netflix’s data-driven approach and global reach, a source familiar with both companies believes Netflix won’t drastically change HBO. This person stated that Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, is a huge fan of HBO and wouldn’t risk damaging its reputation. They expect him to keep HBO as a distinct brand within Netflix. Another industry insider agreed, noting that viewers are very loyal to HBO and wouldn’t want to see it absorbed into Netflix and lose its identity.

As a movie and TV lover, I’ve been following the news about HBO Max and Netflix, and it sounds like they’re figuring out how to bring all that content together for us. During a recent discussion, the heads of both companies talked about a few options. One idea is to add HBO as a premium upgrade to your existing Netflix subscription. Another is a combined subscription, like the deal you get with Hulu and Disney+, where you pay less for both. Apparently, a lot of us are already paying for both services separately, so combining them could save us money and keep us subscribed to both! It just makes sense to offer a better deal when so many of us are already fans of both platforms.

Netflix’s large reach and strong platform could help shows like HBO’s Succession—which wins many Emmys and gets great reviews—reach a wider audience. While critically acclaimed, these HBO shows often don’t get as many viewers as similar popular shows on Netflix, such as Adolescence. According to one industry source, HBO simply hasn’t had the same resources or technology as Netflix. This explains why Warner Bros.’ attempt to grow a broader streaming service, HBO Max, wasn’t as successful as hoped. It’s challenging to transform the HBO brand, known for its specific type of programming, into a service with general entertainment.

I’ve been thinking about what could happen with HBO on Netflix, and it’s actually really exciting. It feels like it could bring back the ‘old days’ for HBO – when it was known for quality shows, not just endless scrolling. Instead of relying only on what the algorithm thinks I’ll like, Netflix could actually showcase great content from HBO. One person at Warner Bros. Discovery put it perfectly: offering HBO as a premium option on Netflix is essentially the same model as cable TV used to be, and honestly, I think HBO could thrive in that environment again, just like it did for years.

Read More

2025-12-06 01:55