Netflix’s move to acquire Warner Bros., HBO, and HBO Max in an $82.7 billion deal signals a major shift in the global entertainment landscape, and its implications will be felt well beyond Hollywood. While the transaction is still subject to regulatory review and won’t fully close until 2026, the Middle East is already facing a period of uncertainty—particularly because OSN+ currently holds the exclusive regional streaming rights to HBO content.
Under the planned restructuring, Warner Bros. Discovery will separate into two businesses: Netflix will take over the studios and streaming division, while cable networks will form a standalone public company. For the Middle East, the most pressing question is what happens to HBO programming, long anchored on OSN+ and positioned as one of the platform’s core draws. OSN+ has spent years building its brand around premium titles such as Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and a rotating library of HBO documentaries and films. With Netflix poised to take ownership of HBO’s parent studio, the licensing landscape becomes far less predictable.
Regional rights agreements typically run on multi-year cycles, and their fate during corporate transitions often depends on pre-existing renewal windows and contractual outs. For now, none of those details have been shared publicly. What is clear is that Netflix’s acquisition gives it long-term control over where HBO and Warner Bros. content ultimately resides—even if immediate changes in the Middle East are unlikely. The company has already stated its intention to consolidate more content under one umbrella, though it has not addressed how that interacts with territories that have entrenched licensing relationships.
OSN has not yet released a statement on how the acquisition may affect its HBO library, leaving viewers and industry observers waiting for clarification. Until the network outlines its position, it is impossible to determine whether HBO titles will remain on OSN+, migrate gradually to Netflix, or shift into a hybrid arrangement during the transition. The region could be entering a rare moment where longstanding distribution norms are redefined.
Beyond rights issues, the acquisition raises broader questions for Middle Eastern audiences. If Netflix eventually becomes the primary home for major Warner Bros. and HBO properties, the platform’s catalog would expand significantly—something that often accompanies subscription price changes. Meanwhile, regional distributors and cinemas will be watching closely to see how Netflix handles theatrical releases for high-profile Warner Bros. films, a domain in which local exhibition markets remain active and culturally significant.
For now, the practical impact on viewers remains minimal, but the Middle East sits at an inflection point. As global consolidation reshapes how content moves across borders, regional platforms and audiences will rely on clearer guidance from OSN+ and Netflix to understand what comes next. Until then, the future of HBO programming in the region remains open-ended.
