While the Warner Bros. Discovery sale battle drags on between Netflix and Paramount, something else is happening in plain sight.
Netflix is already testing Warner Bros. and DC content on its platform.
According to Puck News, the latest Nielsen streaming chart shows four Warner Bros. series landing in the top 10 most-watched “acquired” shows: The Closer, Southland, Rizzoli & Isles, and Teen Titans Go! These weren’t topping charts on HBO Max. They’re now performing on Netflix.
Warner Series Climb Netflix Charts
Per Puck, these Warner titles are ranking highly because WBD has been licensing them to Netflix. The move comes as CEO David Zaslav focuses on generating short-term cash instead of building exclusivity around Max.
At the same time, Warner Bros. didn’t release a single movie in theaters in Q4 2025, cutting tens of millions in marketing costs.
In other words, WBD is monetizing its library while the company sits in what Puck calls Netflix vs. Paramount “purgatory.”
And Netflix isn’t just cutting checks. It’s collecting data.
Netflix Is Getting Real Performance Data on the WBD Library
Every Warner series that hits Netflix gives the streamer valuable insight into how that content performs with its global audience.
That includes genre trends, rewatch value, completion rates, demographics, and regional performance.
If Netflix is seriously pursuing WBD, this is due diligence in real time. Instead of guessing how the DC or Warner catalog might perform, Netflix is watching the numbers roll in.
And the early signals look strong.
DC Has a Track Record of Success on Netflix
DC content has historically done well on Netflix.
One example is Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, which topped the Netflix charts after landing on the platform. Despite its theatrical controversy, the film found a second life in streaming and pulled significant viewership numbers.
If you’re Netflix, that matters. It tells you the DC brand still carries global value, even when box office results don’t always match expectations (i.e. James Gunn’s Superman).
What This Means for the WBD Sale
If Paramount is still in the race, Netflix isn’t sitting idle.
It’s actively testing how Warner Bros. TV and DC content performs on its platform. It’s learning what drives engagement. It’s analyzing the value of the library in real-world conditions.
That gives Netflix leverage.
By the time any final bid decision lands, Netflix may already know exactly what the WBD catalog is worth to its ecosystem.
And if DC keeps performing the way it historically has on Netflix, that only strengthens the case that the Warner library remains one of the most valuable assets in Hollywood.
