Netflix has taken a decisive and unprecedented step in the world of streaming: it finalized the signing of a definitive agreement by which it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, for a figure that amounts to $72 billion dollars.

According to a statement released by the platform, this acquisition has a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion (a net worth of $72 billion). The transaction is expected to close following the previously announced separation of Discovery Global, WBD's Global Networks division, which is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2026 (in 12-18 months). For viewers, this merger means that franchises, shows, and movies such as "The Big Bang Theory," "The Sopranos," "Game of Thrones," "The Wizard of Oz," and the DC Universe will join Netflix's extensive portfolio, creating an extraordinary entertainment offering for users worldwide. "Our mission has always been to entertain the world," said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. 'By combining Warner Bros.' incredible collection of series and films, from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern classics like Harry Potter and Friends, with culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Squid Game, we can do even better. Together, we can offer audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” he added. For his part, the president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted the great achievement that uniting these two giants of audiovisual creation and distribution represents, both in business and artistic terms. “Today's announcement unites two of the world's leading storytelling companies to bring even more people the entertainment they enjoy most,” stated David Zaslav. global attention and shaped our culture. By joining forces with Netflix, we will ensure that people around the world continue to enjoy the world's most impactful stories for generations to come," he reiterated in the statement. This acquisition further solidifies the streaming platform's efforts to remain at the forefront of entertainment content production and distribution. Last October, it finalized an alliance with Spotify to compete directly with YouTube, focusing on video podcasts and multiplatform content. Now, Spotify's most successful video podcasts will debut exclusively within the Netflix catalog, allowing users to enjoy formats like The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Ringer F1 Show, and Serial Killers, previously available on Spotify and Netflix, while YouTube will have to wait a pre-agreed period to offer the same episodes.