Netflix Acquires Warner Bros. in Major Streaming Merger

On December 5th, Netflix announced that they would be acquiring Warner Bros., which includes its film, television studios, HBO MAX and HBO. This acquisition highlights the ongoing consolidation within the streaming industry, affecting popular platforms, and entertainment production as a whole. The public reception of this was not great because this deal would have an impact on consumers and their workers. A lot of people were bringing up that when these big mergers happen, mass layoffs soon follow at the company that was bought out. Mergers like this often raise concerns about monopolistic control over media content and subscription pricing.

Paramount Enters with a Hostile Takeover Bid

It was a lot of buzz but it was nothing compared to when Paramount then launched what is known as “a hostile takeover bid” for the Warner Bros company. The bid is valued at over $107 billion. When this information hit the news outlet the conversation changed to consumers praying that Netflix’s deals will go through with Warner Bros instead of Paramount. Confusion started to settle in because I was not understanding the sudden change in the argument. Then I discovered that the company that owns and backs Paramount is affiliated with the The Trump family more specifically, Jared Kusner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. This move represents another chapter in the ongoing streaming wars, where major media companies compete for market dominance and content ownership.

Why People Are Worried About Paramount

I can understand the uproar and opinions that everyone was sharing. A lot of people were saying the entertainment industry is over, as we know it, because of the intention Paramount has for Warner Bros. There are assumptions that this will end badly because of who owns Paramount. Since streaming was introduced years ago, the entertainment industry has already been on a slow decline with movie theaters shutting down and people choosing to keep their attention towards social media, that is the “new” form of entertainment. So are really upset that this is happening? No, because the shift in the quality of movies that we are consuming has severely went down.

What Is YouTube Doing While Everyone Panics?

While everyone is reacting emotionally to this corporation nightmare I couldn’t help to think what is Youtube up to? YouTube has evolved into a powerful platform for streaming, online video content, offering an alternative to traditional streaming. If the entertainment industry flops, Youtube will be there to fill in the gap. There’s so much variety in content if you can get your algorithm right. And if you are on the creator side then you have the full freedom to create and produce anything you want.

YouTube and the Power of Free-Range Creativity

For me, free range creativity draws me in to Youtube. Creators have become millionaires ( and billionaires) from Youtube and it has opened doors for them that catapulted them into a new life. They have the freedom to monetize content and reach global audiences without the constraints imposed by corporate streaming platforms. Youtube lands in the middle of cable and streaming, they also have a movie section on their platform that features classic movies that we all love to re-watch. Youtube has pivoted themselves to be a one stop shop in the entertainment industry and their creators are 100% the reason.

Creators: This Is Your Moment

To all creators, now is your time to create if you have ever had an interest in visual media. Everyone is fed up with increasing streaming subscriptions and a lack of entertaining movies to watch and us humans need to be entertained in order for us to survive. In the days of curated social media content people are also looking for raw and authentic content to consume, we are quite literally tired of the fake non relatable mess. We want to see what makes a human; human.

Don’t stop at YouTube if, you decide to create there, build on the platform and expand to platforms that you have full control of. You could start a website, write a book, open magazines, you could do anything! The point is we have been let down the entertainment industry because of greedy corporations taking over. They are rooted in money, not creativity, so anything they put their hands on will eventually fail. This is why we are seeing so many mergers and shifts among streaming platforms. 

Don’t Spiral — Adapt

Don’t get caught up in the emotional rift raft of corporation drama. Instead focus on what you can control and how you can adapt to what is happening. If these streaming networks are hiking up prices, cancel them and go outside to experience the real world. Need something to watch when you get back? Youtube or catch up on your reading list. There’s so much to do but television (or streaming) is keeping us distracted.

We have and will always maintain control in our lives, this big corporations have just got so good that they almost made us forget. But it is only when they pull moves like this is when we wake up and realize that we have the final say in their business. None of these streaming platforms would survive without us as consumers and the hard workers that bring these stories together.

Imagine If the Industry Went Independent

Can you imagine if all the writers, editors, actors, production crews, actors, and actresses took their talents to Youtube? We would have an endless amount of content to consume and we would no longer need the middle man that we know as the entertainment industry. Now I understand that concept is not that simple but imagine if it was done right how awesome that would be. Youtube can be intimidating and time consuming if you are starting from scratch but once you figure out what works you can be successful.

Final Thoughts

The entertainment industry was once outdated and then streaming came in and shook things up. Everyone thought A.I. would take over the entertainment industry but that will not be enough to satisfy humanity. We need that human touch when it comes to creativity! Now is the time to start your Youtube channel, dust off that notebook with all of your creative ideas and figure out how you can manifest them and share them with the world. We need art in order to survive life, it is our escape and fantasy all in one. Share your story because someone in this world needs to hear it.

If you don’t have the resources-use what you have until you have what you need. But most of the time what you need is already right there with you. Get outside and live life, that is the only way you will be able to create art!