Strictly Business Daily Variety – Unions, Industry Groups Assemble to Fight Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal; Red Sea Film Festival and Saudi Arabia’s Changing Landscape
Dec 9, 2025
Gene Maddaus, a senior media writer at Variety, dives into the industry's opposition to Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros., discussing the potential regulatory and labor hurdles. Meanwhile, Alex Rittman, Variety's London bureau chief, provides vibrant insights from the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, highlighting local filmmaking ambitions and cultural investments under Vision 2030. The festival shines a spotlight on women filmmakers, emphasizing their rising role in a changing cinematic landscape.
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Unions Mobilize Fast Against Mega-Deal
- Labor groups quickly mobilized in strong opposition to Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO.
- Gene Maddaus says unions fear fewer buyers will erode talent leverage and bargaining power.
Streaming Reshaped Hollywood Economics
- Streaming's rise permanently reshaped compensation and distribution norms in Hollywood.
- Gene Maddaus argues streaming eliminated reruns and the old back-end annuity model for talent.
Use Political Pressure During Antitrust Review
- Create public pressure by mobilizing unions, guilds, and state attorneys general to influence regulatory review.
- Gene Maddaus warns louder opposition can create real headaches for Netflix during DOJ and FTC reviews.