What might change for streamers under the proposed $72B Netflix-Warner Brothers Discovery deal

NEW YORK AP Two of the greater part popular streaming services have agreed to combine in a move that could change the streaming institution landscape Netflix reported Friday it will acquire the studio and streaming business of Warner Bros Discovery the legacy Hollywood giant behind Harry Potter and Friends for billion The transaction is expected to close in the next to months after Warner completes its previously-announced separation of its cable operations Not included in the deal are networks like CNN and Discovery Warner Bros Discovery announced in October it was open to selling all or parts of its business Here s a look at what the two streaming services offer and what might change if the deal completes regulatory hurdles and closes Netflix Netflix based in Los Gatos California is the world s biggest streaming amenity although its development has slowed from peak years It stopped giving specific subscriber numbers in but quarterly results in October signaled its worldwide subscriber count has increased from the roughly million it had at the end of Although it is best known for its scripted TV shows and movies such as Stranger Things Squid Match Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters Netflix has been expanding into other arenas It started offering a low-priced option of its provision with advertising three years ago and has introduced video games and live sports too In a announcement on Friday Netflix announced the acquisition will add shows and movies including The Big Bang Theory The Sopranos Meeting of Thrones The Wizard of Oz and the DC Universe comic book franchise to its library Warner Bros Discovery Warner Bros Discovery based in New York was formed just three years ago after when AT T spun off WarnerMedia and it was merged with Discovery Communications in a billion deal In June the company outlined plans to split its cable and streaming offerings with HBO HBO Max as well as Warner Bros Television Warner Bros Motion Picture Group DC Studios to become part of a new streaming and studios company while networks like CNN Discovery and TNT Sports and digital products such as the Discovery streaming function and Bleacher Description would make up a separate cable counterpart Warner expected the split to be complete by mid- and the Netflix acquisition is expected to close after that The deal would add classic movies to the Netflix library including Casablanca Citizen Kane and the Harry Potter franchise Source