16 Jan Ted Sarandos: Netflix Committed to Warner Bros.’ 45-Day Theatrical Window [Media Play News]
By Erik Gruenwedel
January 16, 2026| Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is continuing his PR campaign to reassure Hollywood and regulators that the subscription streaming video behemoth is committed to the exhibition industry when it closes the $82.7 billion acquisition of select Warner Bros. Discovery assets — despite a history of opposing theaters’ exclusive access to new-release feature films in a 45- to 90-day theatrical window.
In an interview with the New York Times, the 61-year-old Sarandos says his historical aversion to the theatrical window is misunderstood. The executive contends that Netflix has never been against the theatrical business model, arguing instead that until the WBD acquisition, theatrical exhibition has not been part of streamer’s business plan.
“When this deal closes, we will own a theatrical distribution engine that is phenomenal and produces billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don’t want to put at risk,” Sarandos said. “We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows. I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.”
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