As Netflix and Paramount try to buy Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), California lawmakers are pushing them to make strong promises about jobs. Senator Adam Schiff and Representative Laura Friedman wrote an open letter to Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, as well as Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, asking for “concrete commitments” to protect and grow good jobs in Los Angeles and beyond.
The politicians talked about how Hollywood affects the economy, creating 680,000 jobs and bringing in $115 billion a year for the U.S. They asked for more union jobs, cooperation with entertainment unions, and steps to keep California as the world’s center for storytelling and new ideas.
In December 2025, Netflix agreed to pay $72 billion (enterprise value $82.7 billion) for WBD’s studios and streaming. They planned to spin off Discovery Global networks. Paramount made a competing offer, which led to a proxy fight and worries about competition, theaters, and consumer choice. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, will save Netflix $2–3 billion a year, but it is being looked at by regulators and shareholders.
Schiff and Friedman want bidders to publicly promise to boost domestic production by using federal tax breaks. As Hollywood gets ready for the effects of consolidation on the workforce, critics like Cinema United warn of threats to theaters. This fight will determine the future of the industry, finding a balance between growth and job security.
