Warner Bros. Discovery News & Discussion Thread

[Insidus]

Discovery Global will be in major debt I doubt they'd license much content from Netflix's Warner Bros. as it could be deemed too expensive for a company that will prioritize on getting out of the red.

 

[zakawer2]

If Discovery Global owns the Cartoon Network linear channel but doesn't own the CN original programming, then the CN channels worldwide will undergo a massive downward spiral unless Discovery Global licenses the shows from Warner Bros. in perpetuity.

 

[Moe]

If Discovery Global owns the Cartoon Network linear channel but doesn't own the CN original programming, then the CN channels worldwide will undergo a massive downward spiral unless Discovery Global licenses the shows from Warner Bros. in perpetuity.

CN will continue to decline that is associated with decline of linear TV, even if they have access to WBD libraries.

Right now, the future of Global Networks is unknown and I have no idea about who would be a new buyer.

 

[themidnightlore]

I somehow expect Motor Trend-like sales of smaller Discovery units, honestly. (And I also await the Motor Trend Italy rename, if Hearst really gave only one year of license for the name or something)
(If you saw this in the CN International thread, you didn't)

 

[RegularCapital]

There is one problem though:

"The transaction values Warner Bros. Discovery at $27.75 per share, implying a total equity value of approximately $72.0 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion." In other words only $10.7 billion of debt.

The original plan was for the Discovery Global (WBD Global Networks) would own a part of Warner Bros (WBD Studios and Streaming) in exchange for debt. However, from what I read today, there is no mention of partial ownership of Netflix by Discovery Global (for dividend pay-outs), and Netflix has only assumed $10 billion of the debt, and not the other $20-30 billion. It seems that the networks have been setup to eventually fail (unless there's going to be a comprehensive content volume deal that is yet to be mentioned). This is effectively a "bad bank" spin-off.

 

[hobbyfan]

If this means getting rid of Zaslav, great.

 

[wonderfly]

Well, this is a bombshell.





The main things I'm interested in:

What does this mean for HBO Max as a streaming service?

What does this mean for DC Superhero films?

What does this mean for Cartoon Network?

What does this mean for Adult Swim?

What does this mean for Warner Bros. Video Game studios?

 

[awinger24]

Shorter theatrical windows and the official death of physical media. Any classic WB movie you want on Blu-Ray or DVD, buy now because Netflix would rather end and discontinue all of WB’s physical media including Warner Archive.

 

[cartoonnetworkpoke]

All I'm gonna say is this. Anytime a company has bought WB this century has gone on to have ALOT of trouble. Just look a AOL, AT&T, and Discovery. AOL was the biggest media company in the early 2000s, and now it's forgotten. I'm interested to see how this plays out.

 

[Moe]

All I'm gonna say is this. Anytime a company has bought WB this century has gone on to have ALOT of trouble. Just look a AOL, AT&T, and Discovery. AOL was the biggest media company in the early 2000s, and now it's forgotten. I'm interested to see how this plays out.

Yeah, dot-com bust decimated AOL and Turner lost almost all of wealth, so fixated the WB into curse.

There is a question - Do Netflix has purified water to clean the cursed WB, lol.

 

[cartoonnetworkpoke]

Yeah, dot-com bust decimated AOL and Turner lost almost all of wealth, so fixated the WB into curse.

There is a question - Do Netflix has purified water to clean the cursed WB, lol.

Yeah, I mean, let's see what happens. But as we've seen with History, anything can happen. We are in for a bumpy ride for at least the next 4 to 5 years, in my view.

 

[J10]

Well, this is a bombshell.





The main things I'm interested in:

What does this mean for HBO Max as a streaming service?

What does this mean for DC Superhero films?

What does this mean for Cartoon Network?

What does this mean for Adult Swim?

What does this mean for Warner Bros. Video Game studios?

We all know about this news where Paramount’s complaining that Netflix would win the bid before it was announced by Netflix. This isn’t interested and I don’t care about it, and antitrust should reject this deal.

To sum up, it doesn’t mean anything, and it’s nonsense, since it’ll focus only on taking over movie industry (the studio and its entertainment/films’ archive).

 

[zeebre12]

I presume the HBO linear channels will close then?

 

[J10]

Internationally, I guess yes, or maybe change their name after the spin-off (a la FOX/Star Channel/FX rebrand), with sub-licensing the Netflix’s newly-owned WB content as second run.

 

[Light Lucario]

Assuming that the deal goes through, I wouldn't be surprised if HBO Max is folded into Netflix. While HBO Max probably isn't one of the least successful streaming sites out there, it didn't seem like they really had a clear plan for their platform, even before the Discovery merger happened. Flip flopping on its name multiple times doesn't help with that impression either. The fact that they announced a price increase for their plans a couple of months ago with no warning also gives off a desperate to make money out of their platform.

Selfishly, I do like the idea of more Cartoon Network and WB landing on Netflix, especially since I didn't like the idea of subscribing to HBO Max again given their track record of removing shows. It would be especially nice to see them putting up shows and movies that were removed from HBO Max. Infinity Train getting more attention on Netflix would be wonderful. But the process would still result in more people losing their jobs and more than likely an increase in subscription plans for Netflix too. It does make more sense to put their focus and resources on one of the more popular streaming sites out there, the one that is most commonly used, instead of trying to keep HBO Max afloat.

If Discovery keeps the linear channels, Cartoon Network and other channels might be fine, but it's hard to say for sure partly because of the deal and partly because of the state of cable in general.

Ideally, they won't really change whatever plans WB has for their DC movies. I haven't seen any DC live action movie since the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, but I know the recent Batman and Superman movies were received well and more importantly, were financially successful. After they already rebooted their DC movie universe, I hope that Netflix won't throw a wretch into whatever plans they have. They might have shorter theater windows to put them on streaming sooner, but I don't know if that would really benefit them that much in the long run given how huge movie budgets typically are. They might make it more difficult for movies to be released on physical media, which would be a shame but I could see why they'd be more willing to do that than having shorter theater windows for new movies.

 

[awinger24]

Assuming that the deal goes through, I wouldn't be surprised if HBO Max is folded into Netflix. While HBO Max probably isn't one of the least successful streaming sites out there, it didn't seem like they really had a clear plan for their platform, even before the Discovery merger happened. Flip flopping on its name multiple times doesn't help with that impression either. The fact that they announced a price increase for their plans a couple of months ago with no warning also gives off a desperate to make money out of their platform.

Selfishly, I do like the idea of more Cartoon Network and WB landing on Netflix, especially since I didn't like the idea of subscribing to HBO Max again given their track record of removing shows. It would be especially nice to see them putting up shows and movies that were removed from HBO Max. Infinity Train getting more attention on Netflix would be wonderful. But the process would still result in more people losing their jobs and more than likely an increase in subscription plans for Netflix too. It does make more sense to put their focus and resources on one of the more popular streaming sites out there, the one that is most commonly used, instead of trying to keep HBO Max afloat.

If Discovery keeps the linear channels, Cartoon Network and other channels might be fine, but it's hard to say for sure partly because of the deal and partly because of the state of cable in general.

Ideally, they won't really change whatever plans WB has for their DC movies. I haven't seen any DC live action movie since the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, but I know the recent Batman and Superman movies were received well and more importantly, were financially successful. After they already rebooted their DC movie universe, I hope that Netflix won't throw a wretch into whatever plans they have. They might have shorter theater windows to put them on streaming sooner, but I don't know if that would really benefit them that much in the long run given how huge movie budgets typically are. They might make it more difficult for movies to be released on physical media, which would be a shame but I could see why they'd be more willing to do that than having shorter theater windows for new movies.

Netflix is also anti-physical media. They would absolutely do away with WB's home media business given their tendency to promote false promises. They won't be pro-consumer.

 

[Golden Geek]

It would be nice if HBO could still exist as a prestige brand, but the sheer amount of crap that they were shoving on Max, along with Sam Levinson's knob shop of horrors, have pretty much thrown that out the window. I don't think there's any coming back from it.

"It's not TV...it's HBO...wait, now it's Netflix. Wait a minute...what's the difference?"

 

[lynxeon]

Hey everyone, what are your bets on the future of these WBD properties?

• Will the Cartoon Network brand end up with Netflix? What happens to the linear channel—new name?
• Same question for Adult Swim and HBO?
• Could Netflix snag the premium HBO channels?
• What about the international Warner TV channels?

My prediction:

1. Brands sold to Netflix: Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Adult Swim, and HBO (including full brand rights).
2. Linear channels stay with WBD, but get rebranded: Cartoon Network linear → Boing Cartoonito linear → Boomerang Adult Swim linear → Toonami HBO linear stays under Netflix control.
3. International Warner TV channels → rebranded as TNT.
4. Studios: Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Animation + Cartoon Network Studios.

What do you think?

 

[TVArchive]

Why did Paramount want to buy Warner completely if they carried out massive channel closures in their own company?

 

[Checkerboard]

So if I understand this correctly, the split into a tv division and streaming/studios division is still happening, but the tv division (which includes all the linear channel+TNT Sports US+Discovery+) will be called Discovery Global instead of WBD GN and the other division will have WB Pictures/TV/Games+HBO/Max+NewLine+TNTSports+Olympics?

So basically, one part of the company has the streaming and studios producing content and the other has the tv channels to air it?

I presume that Warner Archive will be gone by 2027. So not many releases left. Also not sure about the fate of classic animation ie up to the 1990s.

I also presume that the most affected linear channels/brands will be CN, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, CNN, HGTV, WarnerTV.

For most of those, I'd expect a global rebrand and relaunch within 1-2 years. I can see CN getting a unified look globally. I could see a adultswim expansion globally somehow. Cartoonito could become just a section on streaming replacing or rather becoming part of Netflix Kids. Boomerang... if they have mercy will be a section on Max with classics. HGTV imo will either massively expand or die off. And WarnerTV... could either live on and get a boost or relaunch as TNT.

Also, HBO and HBO Max could be absorbed into Netflix. So maybe we will get a new app, new name, new look. Either just keep them both and control them or integrate them. I can see Netflix making a new premium tier called Max, ie. Netflix Max which will have everything Premium has + HBO Max/Eurosport/TNT Sports content. For maybe $29.99... With the Cartoonito/Kids integration mentioned above. Plus HBO linear proper could maybe rebrand as a tv channel called Netflix Showcase 1/2/3, similarly to SkyShowtime in EMEA. This one imo is very likely.

All in all, better than Paramount buying them. Maybe even better than the Saudis. But still, it's just weird man.