How Does The Platform Want To Redistribute The Cards In 2026?

It was predictable, the year 2025 ends on a bittersweet note for Netflix. This Tuesday, January 20the firm presented its quarterly results in front of its shareholders. This conference was particularly anticipated since in addition to offering an assessment of an eventful year, it promised to be an opportunity for the Red N to address the subject that is currently in the news: the takeover of Warner Bros. Alongside its usual announcements, particularly concerning an overhaul of its interface, Ted Sarandos’ company addressed the issue of the slowdown in its growth.

The firm now claims 325 million subscribers around the worldor 23 million more than the same period last year. The last few months have thus been marked by a significant slowdown. In 2024, it had acquired more than 41 million new customers. Almost half as many, Netflix is facing the harsh reality of a saturated market that has reached its peak. The last major breakthrough for Netflix dates back to 2022 with the introduction of an advertising-supported formula. Since then, the company has stagnated and this is not to reassure investors.

The acquisition of Warner Bros to exceed the limits

What do you do when you have conquered everything there is to conquer? Obviously launching into a new segment! In 2021, this was already the challenge that Netflix had to overcome in the face of its slowing growth. The company had convinced everyone who needed to be convinced. She therefore launched into the advertising niche to reduce the bill while diversifying her sources of income. A strategy which has borne fruit and which has been adopted by its competitors, such as Disney+ and Prime Video. But three years after Netflix’s thunderous debut with advertising, the company must still reinvent itself to reassure investors and push its limits.

For the first time in its history, Netflix is banking on an acquisition to redistribute the cards. The firm wants to Buy Warner Bros and in particular the divisions dedicated to cinema and streaming. Until now, the platform had the reputation of being a builder rather than a buyer; it was a pioneer and leader in the SVoD sector. By purchasing Warner Bros, Netflix not only acquires the current world number 4 in subscription streaming… but also and above all a well-oiled machine installed in cinemas.

Objectif box-office

If Netflix’s involvement in the activities of Warner Bros – one of the studios most present in cinema in 2025 – is worrying, Ted Sarandos has several times reaffirmed his intention to continue to follow the classic film distribution pattern. In the United States, Warner Bros. films will continue to benefit from a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window. On January 16, he said: “I’ll give you a specific number. If we want to stay in the film exhibition business – and we do – it’s because we’re competitive: we want to win. I want to dominate the first weekend box office. I want to be a hit at the box office.”

This is a new way for Netflix to diversify its sources of revenue and mechanically gain market share. Its rivals have understood this well, rushing headlong into the subscription streaming sector to the detriment of the cinema. Disney, under the leadership of Bob Iger, has refocused its strategy around cinemas and box office revenues. From now on, Disney+ is no longer the priority when it comes to feature films. And the strategy pays off, Vaiana 2 having achieved records at the global box office before once again surpassing expectations on streaming. A virtuous circle that the Red N hopes to find by inviting Warner Bros.

If everything is far from over, Netflix is confident in its operation and its smooth running. “We believe that our proposed acquisition of Warner Bros will enable us to accelerate our business strategy.” It remains to be seen whether American and European regulators will weigh in and whether Paramount Skydance will drop the matter after having increased its offensives.