Alaska AG Joins Coalition Urging DOJ Scrutiny of Netflix-Warner Brothers Merger

AG: Alaska Press Releases

Filed February 25th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Alaska joined an 11-state coalition in urging the U.S. Department of Justice to scrutinize the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers. The coalition expressed concerns that the merger could lead to higher prices, reduced content quality, and less innovation for consumers.

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What changed

Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox, as part of an 11-state coalition, has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice urging a thorough review of the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers. The coalition's primary concern is that the consolidation of streaming services and content production could result in significant market share for Netflix, potentially leading to increased prices, diminished content quality, and stifled innovation for consumers. The letter also highlights potential negative impacts on movie theaters, which rely on Warner Brothers' film releases.

This action signals a heightened regulatory focus on large media mergers and their potential anti-competitive effects. While the letter itself is a request for scrutiny and not a direct enforcement action, it indicates a strong likelihood of increased oversight from antitrust regulators. Companies involved in similar consolidation activities, particularly in the media and technology sectors, should anticipate closer examination by the DOJ and state attorneys general. Regulated entities should monitor the DOJ's response and any subsequent actions or investigations stemming from this request.

What to do next

Monitor DOJ review of the Netflix-Warner Brothers merger
Assess potential competitive impacts of media consolidation

Source document (simplified)

Department of Law / Press Releases

Press Release

Alaska Attorney General Cox joins Coalition of Attorneys General Urging Scrutinization of Netflix’s Proposed Merger with Warner Brothers

February 25, 2026

(Anchorage, AK) – Alaska joined an 11-State coalition in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, asking it to thoroughly scrutinize Netflix’s proposed merger with Warner Bothers. The merger, if approved, would give Netflix a considerable market share over competitors. This could lead to higher prices, lower-quality content, and less innovation, all to the detriment of consumers.

“Streaming now dominates how consumers watch film, television, and sometimes the news,” said Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox. “When one company moves to consolidate streaming-platform control with studio production power, that risks vertical consolidation on a massive scale— and it could mean higher prices, fewer choices, and less innovation for Alaskans who already face limited options. The Department of Justice has the responsibility to review mergers like this, and we are insisting on a hard look.”

Netflix’s merger with Warner Brothers could be especially disastrous for movie theaters. Warner Brothers regularly distributes movies—especially blockbusters—to theaters. If Netflix gains control over Warner Brothers, it could strangle a key source of revenue from theaters. Money, usually spent in and kept within states, would no longer support small businesses and franchises but would instead go to a single California company. The impact on theaters would come just as they are beginning to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and Hollywood strikes.

Attorney General Cox joined Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers and Montana Attorney General Knudsen on the letter with attorneys general from the following States: Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.