CNN boss Mark Thompson said he plans to roll out a slew of long-awaited digital subscription services to offset viewership declines at the struggling cable news outlet — but he continued to be vague on details.The digital strategy, which has been in the making since Thompson joined CNN as CEO 18 months ago, is expected to begin materializing with one streaming product debuting this year, and another in 2026, Thompson told The Financial Times Tuesday.“I don’t think this stuff is easy,” Thompson said of trans ...

Warner Bros Discovery will not be selling its Polish network TVN. Following a strategic review, WBD management has decided to keep the broadcaster in its ranks, according to a note sent today to staff from Kasia Kieli, Head of WBD Poland and CEO at TVN, and Gerhard Zeiler, President of International at WBD. “That review has been completed, and WBD has concluded that the best path forward is retaining ownership of TVN, continuing to support our business, our strategy and the incredible journalistic work of ...

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav saw his total compensation tick up to $51.9 million in 2024, from $49.7 million in 2023. The company released the figures in its annual proxy statement. Zaslav is by far the best-compensated of any of the company’s top execs. For years, especially when he led Discovery, he was among the highest paid CEOs in corporate America. J-B Perrette, head of streaming and games, saw his total pay decline slightly in 2024, to $19,7 million from $20.1 million. The other senior c ...

Core Points - Dr. John C. Malone will not seek re-election to the Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Discovery and will transition to the role of Chair Emeritus effective after the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders [1] - As Chair Emeritus, Dr. Malone will continue to attend Board meetings and provide strategic counsel to the Board and management team [2] - David Zaslav, President and CEO, praised Dr. Malone's strategic insights and contributions to the company's growth and transformation [3] - The Board will nominate Anton Levy for election at the Annual Meeting, maintaining a total of 13 directors, with 12 being independent [3] Company Overview - Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company, creating and distributing a diverse portfolio of branded content across various platforms including television, film, streaming, and gaming [4] - The company operates in over 220 countries and territories, offering content in 50 languages through iconic brands such as Discovery Channel, Max, CNN, HBO, and many others [4]

Core Viewpoint - Hollywood has evolved from a geographical location to a global symbol of the film industry, facing significant challenges in recent years due to the pandemic and labor strikes, prompting major studios to seek new revenue streams and adapt their business models [1][5]. Group 1: Historical Context - Hollywood became the center of the American film industry by 1918, producing 80% of U.S. films [1]. - The consolidation of film studios led to the creation of the "Big Five" and "Little Three" production companies, which together produced 60% of the U.S. film output [2][3]. Group 2: Current Challenges - The pandemic severely impacted the film industry, and the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes have resulted in a shortage of new films for 2024 [5]. - Global box office revenue fell to $30 billion in 2022, a 7% decline from 2023, with U.S. and international markets down about 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels [5]. Group 3: Cost-Cutting Measures - Major studios are reducing production quantities and content spending, with U.S. TV production hours down 30% in 2022 [6]. - Disney plans to cut its content budget by $3.6 billion in fiscal 2024, while other studios like Universal and Warner Bros. are also reducing spending [6]. Group 4: Location Shifts - Rising production costs in California have led studios to relocate filming to states offering tax incentives, with usage of local studios dropping from 90% to 63% [6][7]. - Studios are also moving productions overseas to take advantage of lower costs and incentives, with Canada and the Czech Republic being popular choices [7]. Group 5: Diversification Strategies - Disney is significantly increasing investment in its experiential business, planning to spend $60 billion over the next decade on theme parks and cruises [9]. - Warner Bros. and Paramount are expanding their global experience divisions, including theme parks and hotels [10]. Group 6: Focus on Sports Content - The decline in film production has led studios to invest more in live sports, which attract large audiences and generate substantial advertising revenue [13][15]. - Disney allocates 40% of its content budget to sports programming, while Netflix has begun live streaming sports events [15].

Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Sebastian Hansen as seen in Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment's "A Minecraft Movie."Warner Bros.' struck gold over the weekend."A Minecraft Movie," the studio's co-production with Legendary Entertainment, snapped up $163 million at the domestic box office during its debut.The movie not only set a record for the highest-opening video game adaption, surpassing Universal's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," but it also gave a much needed jolt to the domestic box office."Generati ...

In the latest market close, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) reached $8.08, with a +0.12% movement compared to the previous day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.23%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.91%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 0.1%.Coming into today, shares of the operator of cable TV channels such as TLC and Animal Planet had lost 27.1% in the past month. In that same time, the Consumer Discretionary sector lost 19.11%, while the S ...

Core Points - Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. will report its first-quarter 2025 results on May 8, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day [1] - The company provides access to a telephone replay of the call and an audio webcast for twelve months [2] Company Overview - Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company with a diverse portfolio of branded content across various platforms [3] - The company operates in over 220 countries and territories, offering content in 50 languages [3] - Key brands under Warner Bros. Discovery include Discovery Channel, Max, CNN, HBO, and many others [3]

Watch on Deadline The planned addition of Levy to the board follows the arrival earlier this year of Anthony Noto and Joey Levin as independent directors. "We are making meaningful progress to achieve our vision for Warner Bros. Discovery and harness the power of our unique, world-class assets to drive profitable growth," CEO David Zaslav said. "We continue to move forward with urgency to improve performance and position our businesses for success over the near- and long- term amid the evolving industry lan ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. plans to appoint Anton Levy as an independent director to its Board of Directors in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, following a thorough search process led by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee [1][3]. Group 1: Appointment Details - Anton Levy is currently an Advisory Director at General Atlantic and has previously held senior leadership roles, including Co-President and Chairman of Global Technology [2][4]. - Levy has a strong investment background, having led significant investments in major technology companies such as Airbnb, Alibaba Group, and Uber, contributing to his reputation for value creation [2][4]. Group 2: Corporate Governance and Strategy - The addition of Levy aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery's commitment to enhancing its board with industry experts who have proven track records in value creation [3]. - The company is focused on improving performance and positioning its businesses for success in a changing industry landscape, with confidence that Levy will provide valuable insights [3]. Group 3: Company Background - Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company, creating and distributing a diverse portfolio of branded content across various platforms, including television, film, and streaming [5]. - The company operates in over 220 countries and territories, offering content in 50 languages through iconic brands such as CNN, HBO, and Discovery Channel [5].