The Option

Congress Takes Aim at Streaming Mergers

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House Judiciary Committee examines streaming antitrust — Congress held a hearing called "Full Stream Ahead" on January 7th to scrutinize the Netflix-WBD merger. The title was cute. The implications are worth understanding.

In this episode of The Option, we examine:

  • What the House Judiciary Committee's "Full Stream Ahead" hearing actually accomplished
  • The three real functions of Congressional hearings on media mergers
  • Why there's no bipartisan consensus on streaming antitrust enforcement
  • How political pressure shapes DOJ and FTC regulatory priorities
  • What this means for Netflix-WBD deal timing and future streaming consolidation

    • Key takeaway: Congressional hearings are theater, not law. But the theater shapes what regulators prioritize—and right now, streaming is center stage.

    The Option is a daily podcast covering Hollywood business news, media regulation, streaming antitrust, and entertainment industry analysis. New episodes weekdays at 6 AM PT.

    Keywords: streaming antitrust, Netflix WBD antitrust, House Judiciary Committee, media regulation, DOJ entertainment, FTC streaming, Congress media merger, Hollywood antitrust 2026

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    The OptionBy Oil&Cattle