Tennessee AG Joins States Urging Antitrust Review of Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger

AG: Tennessee News

Filed February 26th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of state attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an antitrust review of the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger. The states expressed concerns that the deal could harm competition, leading to higher prices and reduced content choices for consumers.

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What changed

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, has formally requested the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough antitrust review of the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. The letter, sent on February 24, 2026, expresses significant concerns that the merger would substantially lessen competition in the Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) market. Specific worries include potential negative impacts on consumers through higher prices and reduced content variety, as well as detrimental effects on theatrical movie exhibition and the creative professionals within the film and television industry.

Regulated entities, particularly those in the media and entertainment sectors, should be aware that this action signals increased scrutiny on large-scale mergers within the industry. While this is a request for review and not a direct enforcement action against a specific company at this stage, it highlights potential areas of concern for antitrust regulators. Companies considering significant mergers or acquisitions should anticipate heightened review processes and potential challenges based on competition, consumer impact, and industry-specific considerations. The coalition has offered assistance to federal regulators in their evaluation of the transaction.

What to do next

Monitor DOJ's antitrust review of the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.
Assess potential competitive impacts of similar industry consolidation.

Source document (simplified)

Tennessee Attorney General Joins Multi-State Letter Raising Antitrust Convers Over Proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger

Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 10:00am Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a coalition of state attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough antitrust review of the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros., warning that the deal could harm consumers, creators, and the broader film industry.

In a letter sent February 24 to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and senior officials in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, the bipartisan group of attorneys general expressed concerns that the merger would substantially lessen competition in the Subscription Video on Demand market, leading to higher prices, reduced content quality, and fewer choices for consumers.

The letter also highlights the potential impact on theatrical movie exhibition, noting that many filmmakers view theatrical releases as essential to their creative vision. The attorneys general warn that changes to Warner Bros.’ longstanding theatrical distribution model could undermine movie theaters that are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and industry labor strikes.

Attorney General Skrmetti emphasized the potential harm to creative professionals. “This merger threatens to devastate movie and television production and abandon America’s enduring legacy as the dominant force in global cinema,” said Attorney General Skrmetti. “The market power of a combined Netflix/Warner Brothers will lead to an inundation of cheap slop and the death of the movie theater industry. We are exploring options to protect Tennessee consumers and creators.”

The coalition urged the Department of Justice to apply close scrutiny under the Clayton Act and offered assistance as federal regulators evaluate the transaction.

In addition to Tennessee, the letter was signed by the attorneys general of Nebraska, Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Utah.

Read the Letter.