Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining traditional theatrical windows for films produced by Warner Bros. Discovery, should Netflix’s proposed acquisition of the company, valued at $82.7 billion, be finalized. Speaking at an event in Paris organized by Canal+ Group, Sarandos emphasized that Netflix intends to continue releasing Warner Bros. movies in theaters, a significant shift for the streaming giant.
During the event, which aimed to showcase Canal+ and its StudioCanal lineup for 2026, Sarandos stated, “Our intentions when we buy Warner Bros. will be to continue to release Warner Bros. studio movies in theaters with the traditional windows.” This commitment comes amid industry concerns that a merger could undermine the theatrical business, which has faced challenges in recent years.
Sarandos highlighted Netflix’s previous lack of a theatrical distribution mechanism, explaining, “We never got into it before because we never owned a theatrical distribution mechanism.” Instead, the company focused on monetizing films through its subscription model, which has driven rapid growth. He remarked, “We were monetizing movies through our own subscription because that’s how we were growing the business the fastest.”
The Netflix co-CEO also noted the difference in the historical breadth of their film libraries. He pointed out that while Netflix has been producing original content for only 12 years, Warner Bros. has a rich history that spans over a century. “They know a lot about things we haven’t ever done, like theatrical distribution,” he added, underscoring the potential benefits of the acquisition.
In response to questions about Netflix’s future relationship with Canal+ following the Warner deal, Sarandos indicated that Netflix would focus on competing for event programming and specialized sports content, such as major boxing matches. He concluded, “Our primary mission is film and television.”
Canal+ Group chairman and CEO Maxime Saada expressed gratitude to Netflix for its influence on the French television market. Before Netflix entered the scene, only about 30 percent of French viewers were willing to pay for television. “Netflix showed up in France with your proposition and user experience, and you convinced the French to pay, and now the penetration of paid television is 75 percent,” he stated.
The event also featured StudioCanal CEO Anna Marsh, who reiterated the company’s dedication to theatrical releases and unveiled a new film project titled Elsinore, featuring actors Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman. This demonstrates that, despite the shifting landscape of media consumption, there remains a strong commitment to traditional film distribution methods among major industry players.
Overall, Sarandos’ statements reflect a pivotal moment in the streaming and theatrical landscape, where the balance between digital and traditional media continues to evolve.
