International Documentary Association Fears Netflix-WBD Deal Will Hurt Opportunities
The International Documentary Association weighs in on the Netflix-Warner Bros. mega-deal. Discovery, calling the business decision “deeply damaging to the future of documentary filmmaking.”
The nonprofit organization, which supports nonfiction filmmakers and promotes the documentary genre across the world, released a statement after Netflix’s winning bid for Warner Bros. was announced. Discovery.
“Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery jeopardizes the future of documentary cinema,” the IDA said in a press release. “Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would profoundly damage the future of documentary filmmaking. It represents the consolidation of two of the leading distributors of documentaries: Netflix and HBO Max.”
In the IDA statement, the organization said the deal “immediately threatens documentarians’ creative opportunities and freedom to tell stories that need to be told.”
The post continues: “It will also significantly reduce the range and overall quality of documentaries available to audiences around the world. Netflix’s overwhelming dominance of the market will inevitably stifle competition, inhibit free expression, and limit viewer choice.”
Before signing its statement, the IDA called on regulators to block the acquisition, which it called “anti-competitive.”
“IDA joins others in building collective action to oppose a deal that would permanently harm documentary filmmaking,” the organization concluded.
The IDA statement follows similar sentiments expressed by the Producers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters and the WGA, all of which have raised concerns about the deal.
Jane Fonda, on behalf of the First Amendment Committee, even denounced the deal as a “constitutional crisis” that could destroy Hollywood.
However, in a joint statement between Netflix and WBD, the streamer said it expects to “maintain Warner Bros.” current operations and capitalize on its strengths,” including theatrical releases of films.
Warner Bros. CEO Discovery, David Zaslav, then assured town hall staff on Friday: “The intention is that they [Netflix] I want to keep most of the people, because they don’t have many; they don’t have a movie studio, they don’t have a big video game company. The fit is therefore very pleasant for our employees. »
