By Michaela Gordoni
In December, Netflix won the bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, and it could mean that the streamer is the next viewing hub for the Summer Olympics.
The 2026 Winter Games will air on Warner Bros. Discovery across 49 European territories next month. However, there are conversations about whether it will air future games, the next being in Los Angeles in 2028, Deadline reported.
In December, Netflix announced its deal with WBD. It said, “The transaction is expected to close after the previously announced separation of WBD’s Global Networks division, Discovery Global, into a new publicly traded company, which is now expected to be completed in Q3 2026.”
Related: Netflix Revisits Historic Olympic Win in Brand-New Documentary
WBD is currently splitting into two divisions: Discovery Global and a studios business. Discovery Global will be publicly traded, including CNN and free-to-air channels across Europe. It launches in July.
Netflix is acquiring its studios division for just under $83 billion, which gives it reign over the HARRY POTTER and SUPERMAN franchises.
WBD CEO David Zaslav has not yet decided whether future games will land. Netflix has been growing in the live sports arena, but it’s possible it could still choose to air the Olympics on a WB platform, like HBO Max.
Netflix has a stake in the UK’s TNT Sports as part of the WBD buyout, so it is possible Netflix would get a say in the UK Olympics streaming.
“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix on the announcement of the acquisition. “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies — from timeless classics like CASABLANCA and CITIZEN KANE to modern favorites like HARRY POTTER and FRIENDS — with our culture-defining titles like STRANGER THINGS, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS and SQUID GAME, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”
Tip Ranks reported Netflix’s stock went up by with news of it potentially airing future Olympic Games.
“This acquisition will improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come,” said Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix. “Warner Bros. has helped define entertainment for more than a century and continues to do so with phenomenal creative executives and production capabilities. With our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they create—giving our members more options, attracting more fans to our best-in-class streaming service, strengthening the entire entertainment industry and creating more value for shareholders.”
While the next games, the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Italy, starting tomorrow, won’t be streamed through Netflix, it’ll be exciting to see if the 2028 Summer Games will or not.
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