Senate Hears Case for Netflix-WBD Merger Amid Antitrust Concerns: SVOD Dominance at Stake

U.S. Senators convened the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust and Competition on February 07, 2026, to review the proposed merger of Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery. Concerns center on Netflix’s already dominant position in subscription video-on-demand; approval would create a streaming giant with about 325 million global subscribers, roughly one-third of the SVOD market, and add HBO Max’s 125 million subscribers, potentially pushing the combined entity to nearly half of all SVOD subscribers. Supporters broadened the relevant market to include YouTube and TikTok, but analysis using the hypothetical monopolist SSNIP test suggests Netflix enjoys pricing power, evidenced by 29% and 39% price increases for standard and premium tiers since 2020, respectively, while subscriber growth continued. Critics warn of reduced competition, higher prices, and concentrated influence over content. The hearing underscores whether enforcement under the current administration will approve the deal and what options the Warner Bros board will pursue if not.