I grew up in the era of streaming. For my generation, watching a movie or starting a new series never meant flipping through cable channels or waiting for a DVD in the mail. It meant logging on, clicking play and having the freedom to choose what we wanted, when we wanted it. This is still true for most of my peers and their families in Alabama, where they often live in rural, college and military communities. Affordable streaming has become a primary way people stay connected to entertainment, news and culture. Streaming is no longer a niche or emerging product; it is now the dominant way Americans consume entertainment and the largest segment of the media marketplace. That freedom is what made American entertainment the envy of the world and it’s exactly what’s at stake as policymakers weigh a proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery.
But today’s streaming landscape is no longer simple or affordable. Families and young professionals alike are forced to juggle a growing list of overlapping subscriptions just to access the shows and movies they enjoy. As the cost of living continues to rise, entertainment budgets are increasingly squeezed. Consumers shouldn’t have to choose between paying for gas, groceries or yet another monthly streaming bill. That’s not sustainable for young people or families and it’s not sustainable for the industry.
The Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery merger offers a commonsense solution. By combining two complementary platforms, the deal would give consumers access to more content on fewer, easier-to-navigate services without sacrificing competition. In fact, more than 75 percent of HBO Max subscribers already pay for Netflix today. That means millions of Americans are paying twice for overlapping content. A combined service could deliver more movies and shows at a lower overall cost, while keeping prices stable over the long term. This is exactly the kind of market-driven efficiency conservatives, especially young conservatives, should support.
Critics claim this deal would undermine competition, but that argument ignores reality. Even with a combined Netflix–Warner Bros., our generation of consumers has an abundance of choices: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+, YouTube, YouTube TV and fast-growing ad-supported platforms like Tubi. In fact, YouTube already dwarfs traditional streaming platforms in viewership, while social media giants like TikTok and Instagram increasingly compete for attention. The entertainment market is fiercely competitive and that competition isn’t going away.
In fact, this transaction makes the industry more competitive, strengthening American entertainment well into the 21st century, at a moment of real global pressure. Foreign-owned and state-backed platforms, including China’s Tencent and European media giants, are rapidly expanding their influence worldwide. Netflix has already invested over $100 billion in U.S. production infrastructure and has employed more than 140,000 cast and crew members between 2020 and 2024. If we want America to continue leading global storytelling, we need strong U.S.-based companies with the scale, technology and creative power to compete.
For those who are worried about culture, it is worth noting that Netflix has been clear to not police content on ideology and foster a marketplace of different ideas and beliefs. In fact, the company has recently expanded its faith-based and family-friendly content, from musical films like A Week Away to biblical dramas like Mary. A stronger American studio ecosystem allows for more diversity of voices, which is as American as apple pie.
Furthermore, from a regulatory perspective, there is no justification for blocking this deal for consumers. The Department of Justice has already approved larger and more vertically integrated mergers like Disney and FOX and Amazon and MGM. To single out Netflix and Warner Bros. would be arbitrary, inconsistent and risk appearing politically motivated. Young people are tired of politics being involved in every decision. This generation of conservatives wants the market to work without unjust interference.
For a generation that values choice, innovation and affordability, this merger is a no-brainer. It is the next logical step in the evolution of streaming. It will simplify our experience, strengthen U.S. jobs and help reinforce America’s cultural leadership far into the 21st century.
At a time when competition from abroad is intensifying and families are feeling stretched at home, policymakers should focus on outcomes and not optics. When the free market delivers lower costs, better products and stronger American companies, the government should get out of the way and let it work.
