Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Variety/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman have questions for the CEOs of Netflix and Paramount. In a letter sent on Friday, the Southern California legislators call on Netflix leaders Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters and Paramount head David Ellison to get specific about how their companies will "preserve and expand good-paying film and television jobs in Los Angeles" in their attempted mergers with Warner Bros. Schiff and Friedman point out that Sarandos and Ellison have both claimed that their warring bids for the century-old studio will benefit the consumer and enhance competition. Sarandos went further, stating that Netflix's proposed merger with Warner Bros. is "a great way to create and protect jobs in the entertainment industry." Related Stories Business Ted Sarandos Goes to Washington: What Matters as Netflix's Chief Spars With Skeptical Lawmakers Business Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters Says Paramount's Bid for Warner Bros. "Doesn't Pass the Sniff Test" Now, the politicians want to see some language that will commit the corporate leaders if either merger is consummated. "While we appreciate these statements, we must see concrete commitments to Californian and American workers," the legislators wrote. "Furthermore, given the importance of the outcome of a WBD acquisition, said concrete commitments should be accompanied by measurable actions so that California and Hollywood continue to serve as the global center of storytelling, innovation, and creative employment." The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Netflix and Paramount for comment. Netflix announced an $82.7 billion deal in early December to acquire Warner Bros. Paramount, meanwhile, has been pursuing a $108.7 billion hostile bid for the studio, pushing the narrative that its merger would not be so "monopolistic." The news landed like a five-alarm fire for Hollywood workers and their representatives, who have already been battered in recent years by the outsourcing of production work, the 2023 labor strikes and studios' and streamers' push to decrease spending. Unions quickly expressed concerns, with the Writers Guild of America going so far as calling on legislators to block the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. deal. Schiff and Friedman have a vested interest in bringing more production work back to the country, not only because residents in their L.A.-area jurisdictions are impacted but also because they are currently at work penning legislation to create a federal film and television tax incentive. Beyond employment commitments, the legislators asked how CEOs would prioritize production in the U.S. and California specifically. They called for the companies to work with entertainment unions and commit to boosting union jobs. They had questions about AI, asking how the leaders would use the technology while honoring rightsholders and creatives and without supplanting their workforce in the process. They asked for their plan to "deliver on your commitments to promote competition and opportunity for consumers while maintaining competitive pricing without sacrificing quality content." Schiff and Friedman asked for answers to their questions in writing by Feb. 15. They wrote, "We are committed to working with this industry, as we all share the values of protecting Hollywood, strengthening its workforce, and ensuring that America continues to lead the world in the creative economy." THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up THR, Esq Who Owns the 'Ghostface' Mask? Paramount and Spyglass Sue Ahead of 'Scream 7' Release nbcuniversal Why Universal Orlando Didn't Use Stars for Its Super Bowl Ad Campaign Roku How Roku's New Head of Content Thinks About Originals, the Growth of FAST international Streamers, Networks Call New German Investment Requirements "A Bitter Disappointment" News Corp 'Heated Rivalry' Book Sales Boost HarperCollins to Quarterly Revenue Record The Housemaid Lionsgate Quarterly Losses Widen After Starz Spinoff THR, Esq Who Owns the 'Ghostface' Mask? Paramount and Spyglass Sue Ahead of 'Scream 7' Release nbcuniversal Why Universal Orlando Didn't Use Stars for Its Super Bowl Ad Campaign Roku How Roku's New Head of Content Thinks About Originals, the Growth of FAST international Streamers, Networks Call New German Investment Requirements "A Bitter Disappointment" News Corp 'Heated Rivalry' Book Sales Boost HarperCollins to Quarterly Revenue Record The Housemaid Lionsgate Quarterly Losses Widen After Starz Spinoff