Netflix boss Ted Sarandos is now saying that Warner Bros Discovery films will remain in cinemas for 45 days, if the planned merger happens. Netflix’s Ted Sarandos insists on 45 day theatrical window for Warner Bros films, barely anyone believes him Just before Christmas, this all looked pretty much locked. Netflix was going to buy ... Netflix’s Ted Sarandos insists on 45 day theatrical window for Warner Bros films, barely anyone believes him
Netflix boss Ted Sarandos is now saying that Warner Bros Discovery films will remain in cinemas for 45 days, if the planned merger happens.
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos insists on 45 day theatrical window for Warner Bros films, barely anyone believes him
Just before Christmas, this all looked pretty much locked. Netflix was going to buy Warner Bros, and had sent an email to its subscriber base announcing the news. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos was vaguely gesticulating that he’d be honouring theatrical release windows, but even the most loyal acolyte of his will have been firmly aware that he’s said pretty much the opposite with regards cinema distribution in the past.
However, Paramount Skydance, bankrolled by Trump ring kisser Larry Ellison, has not taken the hint that the deal may be done. It’s continually upped its offers, and now Warner Bros Discovery shareholders are rumoured to be switching allegiances.
Which means Ted Sarandos has had to go on something of a charm offensive again, and reiterate his support – to a very suspicious Hollywood – for theatrical distribution.
tThis time, he ended up on The Town podcast, and the question about Netflix’s commitment to actual cinemas came in. From his early vague responses to this question last year, Sarandos appears to be digging in on his new love for theatrical distribution. Asked what’ll happen with a Warner Bros release, he insisted – and absolutely everybody believes him, of course – that a film will “go from theaters, 45 days, to PVOD [premium video on demand] to HBO Max.”
Sarandos added that “we’re buying a business model and not looking to kill it.”
Quite why anybody would ever have the temerity to suggest Ted Sarandos might want to kill the theatrical business model is utterly scandalous, clearly. Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia.
The fact that Ted Sarandos is putting himself through all of this does suggest that he may feel his Warner Bros Discovery deal is under some degree of threat, and maybe by the end of this cycle of interviews, he’ll be basically setting up his local Odeon with a Netflix account. What does seem clear is what once looked like a done deal isn’t quite as done as it first appeared…
