IDA Statement Opposing A Merger Involving Warner Bros. Discovery
Update on December 5, 2025 –– International Documentary Association Statement on the Proposed Netflix Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
December 5, 2025
International Documentary Association Statement on the Proposed Netflix Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
This afternoon, as IDA begins the largest gathering of documentary filmmakers in Los Angeles on the eve of its awards, the organization has released the following statement:
Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery jeopardizes the future of documentary filmmaking.
Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would profoundly damage the future of documentary filmmaking. It represents the consolidation of two of the main distributors of documentaries: Netflix and HBO Max.
This mega-deal immediately threatens documentarians’ creative opportunities and their freedom to tell stories that need to be told. It will also drastically reduce the range and overall quality of documentaries available to audiences worldwide. Netflix’s overwhelming market dominance will inevitably stifle competition, inhibit free expression, and limit viewer choice.
We call on regulators to block this anticompetitive acquisition. IDA joins with others in building collective action to oppose a deal that would permanently harm documentary filmmaking.
IDA will present a Media Consolidation Teach-In, in collaboration with Future Film Coalition, on December 17 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT. At this virtual event, we will share information on how to build collective action to protect documentary and independent film broadly.
October 29, 2025
The merger of Warner Bros. Discovery with Paramount or any other major studio or large streamer would be devastating to US documentary filmmakers, the film industry, consumers, and free speech in the United States. Documentaries have been one of the resurgent American art forms of the 21st century, and play a vital role in getting real stories to audiences around the country. Previous similar mergers stifled competition, inhibited free expression, limited the films available to audiences, and hurt film workers throughout the industry. If Paramount does buy Warner Brothers, IDA will strongly oppose the merger and intends to work with others to block it.