The Streaming Wars Are Officially Over – How Netflix Won

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If the current changes in the streaming industry go as planned, Netflix will likely be considered the winner of the competition. This ‘streaming war’ has been happening since the beginning of streaming services, and it’s been interesting to watch companies acquire content, compete for awards, and try to attract viewers – often as captivating as the shows themselves.

Netflix is the original streaming giant. Though a few services existed before it, they look very different today. Netflix essentially established how we now experience streaming, and its core format hasn’t changed significantly since 2007.

Although Netflix was the first major streaming service, it’s faced a lot of competition from companies like HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Hulu, Disney+, and Apple TV. However, Netflix has ultimately come out on top, surpassing all its rivals.

Netflix Has Won The Streaming Wars After Warner Bros. Bid

Netflix announced on December 5, 2025, that it plans to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal, which is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months (according to Netflix), will give Netflix ownership of all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s content, including titles from HBO and HBO Max. The purchase price is around $82.7 billion.

Once the deal is finalized, Netflix anticipates saving between $2 and $3 billion each year. Although many details are still unclear, including what will happen with HBO Max, this acquisition essentially means one of Netflix’s biggest rivals is giving up the fight.

The Streaming Market Will Never Be The Same Again

Credit: MovieStillsDB

With this purchase, Netflix is expanding beyond just a streaming service. According to their announcement, Netflix plans to continue running Warner Bros. as it currently does and will even keep releasing movies in theaters – something Netflix hasn’t traditionally done. This acquisition seems to be filling a significant gap in Netflix’s business model.

Currently, Disney+ and Paramount+ are the only major streaming services with strong connections to movie theaters, but Netflix is now joining them. This means the streaming landscape will likely change significantly within the next year and a half, as Netflix expands its reach into theatrical releases.

With the addition of a vast collection of movies and TV shows, plus content from HBO and HBO Max, Netflix subscribers will have even more great titles to enjoy. This also lets Netflix improve its subscription plans, giving viewers more choices and easier access to the shows and movies they love.

Netflix believes this change will ultimately benefit everyone involved – subscribers, people working in the TV industry, HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and investors.

What The Future Holds For Netflix After The Acquisition

Once the deal is complete, Netflix has a lot of exciting possibilities. They’ll gain access to popular franchises like Harry Potter, DC Comics, and Lord of the Rings, which could provide content for years to come. While Netflix hasn’t always been known for the same high-quality shows as HBO Max, that could be about to change.

Netflix seems likely to keep releasing some films in theaters. However, there’s doubt about whether they’ll continue this practice long-term. Michael O’Leary, head of Cinema United, points out that Netflix’s core business strategy doesn’t really align with showing movies in cinemas; in fact, it’s built on a model that works against theatrical releases (according to The Hollywood Reporter).

By 2026, we should have a much clearer idea of what the future holds for Netflix. No matter what changes happen, both Netflix and the world of streaming will be fundamentally different from now on.

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2025-12-05 22:21