Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria says the streamer has moved past its failed bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Instead, she insists Netflix will keep investing and growing on its own terms.
What We Know: Netflix previously bid $83 billion for Warner Bros. Discovery. However, David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance won the studio with a far larger $110 billion offer. At MIPCOM in Cannes, Bajaria backed her boss, co-CEO Ted Sarandos, on the outcome. Like him, she called WBD “always a nice to have at a certain price, not a must have at any price.”
What They Said: Bela Bajaria: “We were never going to [spend over the odds]. We are financially disciplined. We knew what we had and what the opportunity was.”
Bela Bajaria: “When others have scaled back at different times we have continued to be consistent and grow our investment and expand what we do. For me that is the most important thing.”
What Remains Unclear: Notably, Bajaria didn’t address reported layoffs at the streamer beginning this week. Instead, she said Netflix will continue to expand, as it always has. Still, it’s unclear how that growth squares with any staff cuts. Additionally, she didn’t say whether Netflix will pursue other major acquisitions after losing WBD.
What It Means: For now, Netflix is betting on its own pipeline rather than a blockbuster merger. Bajaria noted the streamer holds roughly 5% of global TV viewing time, leaving plenty of room to grow. As a result, Netflix appears content to keep growing while rivals consolidate with one another.
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