Netflix is facing headwinds in its bid to acquire Warner Bros Studio and the HBO Max streaming service with senior White House officials homing in on antitrust concerns.

The New York Post reports that about 10 days ago the officials had discussed launching a broader investigation of Netflix’s market power.

“Basically everyone agreed that Netflix presents unique antitrust concerns and if it won the bidding war it would be one long slog and touch off an investigation along the lines of those of Google and Amazon,” the Post quoted a government official saying.

The antitrust concerns have surfaced as a second round of bidding intensifies between Comcast, Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Reuters reports that bankers for the three contenders had been working over the weekend to improve their offers.

It said Warner Bros Discovery had already received a second-round cash offer from Netflix.

Reuters also reported that Warner Bros Discovery’s board had rejected Paramount’s “mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion”.

Paramount Skydance is controlled by Hollywood producer David Ellison and his father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Cable giant Comcast, run by Brian Roberts, is given a low chance of success due to its anti-MAGA coverage.

Ellison, on the other hand, is regarded as a major Republican supporter and donor.

Netflix, a 28-year-old company, was founded by Reed Hastings and is led by its CEO Ted Sarandos. It is the world’s largest streaming service with 300 million subscribers. 

 A decision has been expected by mid December.