by Judson Phillips
Netflix’s deal to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, which President Trump drummed up concern about on Sunday, is sending shockwaves through legal, ethical, political, cultural, and business circles. Far from being a simple merger of two entities with similar business lines, this black-swan event will have ramifications far beyond the entertainment industry.
In Tennessee, where film, television, and music production sustain local jobs and boost the economy, the merger could be a catastrophe, concentrating economic power and threatening to sideline local voices, businesses, and independent creators, all of which give the Volunteer State its unique appeal.
Antitrust scholars are concerned that combining the world’s dominant subscription service with the largest movie libraries will reduce competition, tilting Hollywood’s production power into the hands of a single company.
This matters for Tennessee because our entertainment industry is not just about music anymore. Our entertainment sector has been growing steadily, fueled by economic incentives that have drawn projects to Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and beyond. In 2024, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission says it assisted 223 film, TV, music video, and commercial projects across 42 counties, generating a $147 million direct impact and more than 3,600 production jobs. Efforts to entice entertainment jobs to the Volunteer State landed 67 new projects and created nearly 10,000 jobs.
The popular television show Nashville 911 alone created over 600 jobs and is generating tens of millions in statewide economic impact. Bob Raines, Executive Director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, says the show could generate $75 to $90 million in economic impact alone, bringing big paychecks for crew members, overtime for carpenters, rides for Uber drivers, hotel stays for visiting cast, and revenue for small businesses and restaurants that don’t necessarily show up in red carpet photos.
As in any industry, consumers and businesses benefit from greater competition. For writers, it means fewer companies to pitch their scripts to; for actors and directors, fewer projects competing for their talent; and for local workers— from electricians and carpenters to caterers, drivers, hotel staff, and small business owners — it means fewer productions choosing to film in their communities and fewer paychecks circulating through the local economy.
Let’s not forget that music, too, is a critical part of the equation. Songs written and performed in Nashville end up in films, series, and streaming content worldwide. If one company controls production, distribution, and music supervision, it’s far more likely to favor its own music and partners. That leaves independent songwriters and publishers with fewer chances to break in.
That’s why Congress and President Trump, who said he is concerned about Warner Bros. going with Netflix, have this merger on their radar.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros merger. The Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is a member, has also committed to aggressive oversight and scrutiny. That is a good first step. Sen. Blackburn and the rest of the committee should ensure the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission aggressively protect consumers and competition in the marketplace.
Tennessee has become home to many talented creators. A Netflix–Warner consolidation will concentrate power, narrow opportunity, and make it harder for emerging markets like ours to compete on equal footing.
Regulators and lawmakers should approach this Netflix deal with skepticism, not because Tennessee fears innovation, but because it relies on competition to thrive. If Washington allows yet another media megamerger to proceed unchecked, the cost will not be borne in boardrooms. It will be borne in fewer jobs, fewer productions, fewer music placements, and fewer opportunities for local voices to be heard. Preserving Tennessee’s access to the entertainment industry means ensuring that no single company becomes powerful enough to decide whose stories get told—and whose communities get left behind.
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Judson Phillips is the founder of Tea Party Nation
