Netflix’s $82.7 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Raises Questions About Show Cancellations

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Netflix has reached an agreement to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for a staggering $82.7 billion. Considering this deal, their previous statements about the cost of shows like Mindhunter seem questionable. Unless something intervenes – specifically from Paramount – Netflix is expected to own Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO within the next year to 18 months.

This purchase could signal the end of the intense competition between streaming services, potentially establishing Netflix as the dominant player and fundamentally changing how we watch movies and TV for the foreseeable future. However, the massive cost raises concerns about Netflix’s tendency to cancel shows, and whether this acquisition will impact that practice.

Netflix Has A History Of Canceling Shows For Being Too Expensive (Like Mindunter)

Netflix has a pattern of canceling its original TV series after only a season or two. This year, several shows have been cut, with the company often citing vague reasons like “scheduling issues” or low viewership numbers.

Often, the reason shows get cancelled comes down to finances. A prime example is David Fincher’s Mindhunter. Despite being a popular and critically acclaimed psychological crime thriller, it couldn’t get enough funding for a third season, meaning it likely won’t have a proper conclusion. Fincher has spoken about Netflix’s decision,

We continued with the project as we envisioned it until the network told us it wasn’t working. They explained that the show needed either a lower budget or a broader appeal to attract a larger audience. We weren’t willing to compromise our creative vision, and ultimately, they decided to cancel the series.

David Fincher is known for sticking to his artistic vision, but he’s not the only creator whose show Netflix has canceled due to budget concerns. Several other series, including Travelers, Lockwood & Co., GLOW, and The Dark Crystal, have also been cut by the streaming service.

The streamer almost never admits a show was canceled because of its cost, but claiming it didn’t get enough views or had problems during filming seems like a flimsy excuse. It feels like they’re just being overly technical to avoid the real reason.

Netflix’s Cost Concerns For Popular Shows Don’t Make Sense After The Warner Bros. Deal

It’s often disappointing to see how Netflix handles new series. They seem to only fully support shows that quickly become massive hits, like Stranger Things or Wednesday. It feels like Netflix takes a gamble with new content, and then blames the show itself if it doesn’t become popular.

Netflix is eager for immediate success and doesn’t appear willing to allow shows time to gain popularity, something that was traditionally expected in television. Considering their willingness to invest heavily in content from Warner Bros. Discovery, the argument that their cancellations are due to cost is increasingly unconvincing.

As a huge movie and TV fan, I have to say it worries me that Netflix seems more eager to spend big bucks on buying studios than on actually making original content. It feels backwards! If they really cared about their subscribers and supporting people who work in the industry, they could invest in their own productions – and it wouldn’t even have to be expensive to start.

The agreement isn’t complete yet, and challenges are expected. But if Netflix truly wants to deliver “more choice and greater value for consumers,” as they claim, they should immediately stop canceling popular shows like Mindhunter. This would be a quick way to improve things for viewers.

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2025-12-09 02:38