넷플릭스 최고경영자 테드 사란도스가 최근 상원 청문회에서 질타를 받았습니다. 그는 콘텐츠 규제와 관련된 질문들에 대해 명확한 답변을 내놓지 못했던 것으로 알려졌습니다. 이번 청문회를 통해 넷플릭스의 정책과 경영 방식에 대한 논란이 더욱 증폭되었습니다.
Netflix Co-CEO Pledges to Maintain Theatrical Window for Warner Bros. Films
Netflix Inc. Co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos pledged during a Senate subcommittee hearing to maintain a 45-day theatrical window for Warner Bros. films. Sarandos said Netflix planned to increase its production spending this year, with much of that happening in the U.S.
When asked by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) whether senators should expect a “round of layoffs” or consumer price increases as a result of the deal, Warner Bros. Discovery executive Bruce Campbell said no. He pointed to Netflix’s lack of comparable film and TV studios, or the distribution infrastructure that Warner Bros. has.
Addressing Concerns about the Proposed Merger
During the two-hour hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, Sarandos told lawmakers the proposed merger would not run afoul of antitrust concerns and would, instead, “strengthen the American entertainment industry.”.
Sarandos also tried to dampen concerns about potential job losses and U.S. production declines related to the companies’ proposed multibillion-dollar deal. He said Netflix plans to increase its film and television production spending to $26 billion this year, with a majority of that happening in the U.S.
Maintaining Theatrical Distribution and Addressing Political Concerns
Sarandos also tried to assuage concerns about the deal’s potential effect on theatrical distribution, saying that Netflix now owns a “great” theatrical distributor and that the 45-day window would be “self-enforced” as an industry standard.
In a sign of the growing role politics has played in the perception of the deal, Sarandos tried to sidestep questions from Republican senators about perceived “woke” content on the streaming platform, as well as inquiries from Booker about President Trump’s involvement in the merger.
Ongoing Competition and Regulatory Scrutiny
The hearing comes just two months after Netflix prevailed in a hotly contested bidding war for Warner Bros. The $72-billion deal would dramatically reshape the Hollywood landscape and give the streamer control over Warner Bros.’ storied Burbank film and TV studios, its lot, HBO and HBO Max.
However, Paramount has continued to pursue the company, fighting to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its cable networks. Paramount has also filed proxy materials to ask Warner shareholders to reject the Netflix deal at an upcoming shareholders meeting.
