Marketplace Morning Report Netflix is buying Warner Bros. Discovery
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Dec 5, 2025 Mary Jane Rubenstein, Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of Religion and Science and Technology Studies at Wesleyan University, dives into the ethics and governance of a potential lunar economy. She explores the Outer Space Treaty and the challenges of ownership claims on the moon. The conversation highlights the risks of unregulated mining, the influence of first movers, and cultural objections from Indigenous groups. Rubenstein also warns about the implications of secrecy in governance, especially in the context of rivalry with China.
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Big-Scale Streaming Consolidation
- Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly in exclusive talks to sell studios and HBO Max to Netflix while spinning off cable channels.
- Lawmakers warn a combined Netflix and Warner Bros. could control over 30% of streaming, raising antitrust concerns.
Expect Regulatory Scrutiny
- Any deal between Warner Bros. and Netflix would require regulatory approval before it can close.
- Watch for antitrust reviews and possible legal challenges from rivals like Paramount and lawmakers.
Who Owns The Moon?
- Mary-Jane Rubenstein explains that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans ownership of celestial bodies but U.S. law allows owning recovered lunar materials.
- She recounts disputes where private companies clashed with groups like the Navajo Nation and NASA over lunar activities.