Netflix, Warner Bros. Lobbying Surged While Fighting for Merger

Netflix Inc. shelled out record spending on federal lobbying during the first quarter of the year as the streaming giant worked to salvage its ultimately unsuccessful bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, according to disclosures filed this week.

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted on Thursday to approve what was initially a hostile takeover bid by Paramount Skydance, whose path was cleared after Netflix pulled out of the transaction in February amid pressure from Washington. The merger still requires approval from antitrust regulators, and skepticism that’s been building on Capitol Hill since the acquisition fight began shows no signs of abating. ...