Overview
- California lawmakers sent letters to Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters and Paramount Skydance’s David Ellison seeking public, measurable commitments to protect and grow film and TV employment in Los Angeles.
- They asked the companies to bargain in good faith with Hollywood unions and to adopt AI practices that do not displace workers or undermine rightsholders.
- The letter cites projected cost cuts—about $6 billion at Paramount and $2–$3 billion at Netflix—as a key driver of job-loss concerns and requests written responses by Feb. 15.
- Netflix announced an approximately $82.7 billion deal to buy Warner Bros.’ film and TV studios and HBO Max, which remains under Justice Department review, while Paramount continues a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Schiff and Friedman said they are drafting bipartisan legislation for a federal film incentive to complement state tax credits and bring more production back to the United States, following testimony where Netflix touted plans for increased domestic production including a New Jersey studio.