RT Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive)@warnerbros’ Co-Chair & CEO Pamela Abdy on the impact Ryan Cooglers' 'Sinners' movie had on communities."What this movie has meant to audiences and how it has ignited them in conversation - that's the power of storytelling." https://t.co/v4uDfGyG2U ...

Key Takeaways Studios' revenues surged 55% year over year in the second quarter of 2025 to $3.8 billion.WBD expects Studios' EBITDA to top $2.4 billion in 2025, advancing toward its $3 billion target.New DC titles and blockbuster releases are driving renewed franchise strength.Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) Studio segment, comprising Warner Bros. Motion Pictures, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television, is the creative backbone of the company’s entertainment ecosystem. The division develops, produces and dis ...

Core Insights - The summer blockbuster season is crucial for the movie industry, particularly for attracting younger audiences to cinemas [1][2] - AMC Entertainment's performance is heavily influenced by summer domestic box office sales, which can significantly impact the company's annual results [2][4] Box Office Performance - Total movie ticket sales in the U.S. during the summer season are just under $3.5 billion, nearing the previous year's total of $3.63 billion [4] - The summer of 2023 remains the highest-grossing summer period of the decade, exceeding $4 billion [5] - Major films contributing to box office success include "Barbie" with over $612 million, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" grossing more than $381 million, and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" earning $359 million [6][7] Film Variety and Audience Engagement - The current summer season features fewer franchise films, which may negatively impact box office revenue as established franchises typically attract larger audiences [7] - New and original films like "Sinners" and "F1: The Movie" have also performed well, indicating a mix of fresh content and familiar franchises is beneficial for theaters [8][10] Industry Outlook - The balance of new intellectual properties and reliable franchises suggests a solid foundation for AMC's business, with continued consumer preference for cinema experiences over streaming [10][11] - Despite not setting a record for the decade, the summer of 2025 shows that Hollywood's offerings still hold significant appeal [10]

‘Weapons’ Makes $5.7 Million In Thursday Previews—Beating Horror Hits ‘Sinners’ And ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’https://t.co/rqAJgTysui https://t.co/neRnE8C6Jf ...

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) aims to release 12-14 films annually across its key labels, including Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Animation, following a successful second quarter at the box office [1][4] Group 1: Financial Performance - WBD's Motion Picture Group has generated over $3 billion in global box office revenue year-to-date, with more than $2 billion coming from four films released in the second quarter [3] - The company anticipates $2.4 billion in total Studios profit for 2025, aiming for a $3 billion target [4] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The recent success is attributed to a deliberate rebuilding and transformation strategy executed over the last three years since Discovery acquired Warner Media, focusing on a more analytical green lighting process and systematic marketing strategies [5][6] - The film studio has reorganized its marketing and distribution teams into a globally integrated model to enhance coordination across territories, which has led to some layoffs [6] Group 3: Upcoming Releases and Management - Upcoming releases include 1-2 Warner Bros. Pictures tentpoles, 1-2 DC Studios films, 3-4 New Line Cinema releases, and 1-2 WB Animation titles, along with a select number of moderately budgeted original films [2] - The DC Studios film "Superman" opened to $220 million globally, marking the strongest opening for DC Studios since 2022, with James Gunn managing a more cohesive and strategic approach to the DC universe [7]

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery's earnings were positively impacted by successful film releases in Q2, generating $2 billion in global box office revenue [1] - The studios segment reported a 55% increase in total revenue to $3.8 billion, with theatrical revenue up 38% [2] - The company anticipates continued momentum, projecting at least $2.4 billion in adjusted EBITDA for the studios segment for the full year [3] Group 1: Financial Performance - The studios segment's adjusted EBITDA rose to $863 million, up from $210 million year-over-year [2] - Overall, WBD's total revenue increased by 1% to $9.81 billion in Q2, with adjusted EBITDA rising 9% to $1.95 billion [9] Group 2: Film Releases and Future Projections - The success of "Superman," which generated $220 million globally in its opening weekend, is expected to boost Q3 performance [4] - The company aims for two or three major tentpole releases annually to ensure stability, leveraging its franchise library [7] Group 3: Strategic Changes and Leadership - CEO David Zaslav emphasized the need to revitalize the studios following the merger in 2022, which faced challenges from the pandemic and labor strikes [5] - Key appointments, including James Gunn and Peter Safran for DC Comics, were made to strengthen the superhero film division [6] Group 4: Organizational Restructuring - The company plans to split into two units next year: Warner Bros. for studios and streaming, and Discovery Global for TV networks and sports [9] - Staff cuts of 10% were announced for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group as part of ongoing restructuring efforts [8]

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 7, with expected revenues of $9.83 billion, reflecting a 1.20% increase year-over-year, and a narrowed loss estimate of 14 cents per share, indicating a 96.56% increase from the previous year [1][8]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates that WBD has surpassed earnings expectations in one of the last four quarters but missed three times, resulting in a negative average surprise of 659.92% [2]. - The anticipated revenue of $9.83 billion for Q2 2025 is supported by strong performance in the streaming segment, which saw a subscriber growth of 5.3 million and an 8% increase in streaming revenues in Q1 2025 [3][8]. Streaming Segment - The streaming segment is expected to continue its momentum, bolstered by successful releases such as "The Last of Us" and "And Just Like That," along with international expansion and growth in ad-supported offerings [3]. - The Studios segment is projected to rebound due to a major licensing agreement with the streaming division and early success from new content like the Minecraft Movie and Sinners, with the release of Superman further enhancing performance [4]. Linear Networks and Advertising - The Linear Networks segment is facing challenges due to ongoing declines in traditional TV viewership and a tough advertising market, likely leading to a drop in network revenues for the upcoming quarter [5]. - Advertising performance is expected to decline by 2% year-over-year, influenced by the absence of major sports events like the Final Four, despite some offset from the Stanley Cup Finals [6]. Earnings Expectations - According to the Zacks model, WBD currently has an Earnings ESP of -47.89% and a Zacks Rank of 3, indicating a lower likelihood of an earnings beat [7].

(Photo by Amy T. Zielinski/Getty Images) Getty Images And the cuts keep comin' in Hollywood, this time, again, at Warner Bros. Discovery, which is shaving 10% of its motion picture group staff despite a string of recent hit films including The Minecraft Movie, Sinners and Superman, as the unit positions itself as a "fully global structure." Original horror film Sinners, with Michael B. Jackson in a dual role, was another big hit, generating $366 million. The latest take on one of Warner's most treasured fra ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shares have underperformed significantly in 2023, losing 5% year to date compared to the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's 25.1% growth and entertainment peers like Disney, Paramount Global, and Netflix [1] Streaming Segment Performance - WBD's streaming business added 5.3 million subscribers in Q1, reaching a total of 122.3 million globally, and generated $339 million in adjusted EBITDA, aiming for at least $1.3 billion in streaming EBITDA for 2025 [2] - Popular shows like The White Lotus and The Last of Us have contributed to the streaming segment's success, with The White Lotus averaging over 25 million viewers per episode and The Last of Us attracting over 90 million viewers since its first season [2] Operational Performance - The Studios segment showed resilience with a 63% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to $259 million, driven by the success of the Minecraft Movie, which grossed nearly $900 million globally [3] - The Global Linear Networks segment faced challenges, with revenues declining 6% year over year due to cord-cutting and domestic advertising issues [3] Content Pipeline - WBD has a strong content pipeline, with the highly anticipated Superman film set to release on July 11, following a successful trailer with over 250 million views [4] - Renewals and new orders for shows like The Pitt and the upcoming Harry Potter series are expected to enhance subscriber growth for Max [4] Product Innovations - Recent product launches, such as the Extra Member Add-On feature and Profile Transfer capabilities for Max, aim to address password sharing and enhance revenue [5] - The WBD Storyverse advertising initiative and new solutions like NEO and DemoDirect are designed to improve advertiser value propositions amid challenging linear advertising markets [5] Financial Position - WBD maintained a 3.8x net leverage ratio while repaying $2.2 billion in debt in Q1, with $4.0 billion cash on hand and $38.0 billion gross debt [6] - The company reported free cash flow of $302 million in Q1, indicating improving cash generation capabilities despite concerns over elevated debt levels [6] Investment Outlook - WBD is rated as a Hold, with streaming momentum and content quality improvements being positive signs, but challenges in linear television and high leverage remain [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WBD's 2025 revenues is $37.8 billion, reflecting a 3.88% year-over-year decline, with an expected loss of 16 cents per share, an improvement from a loss of $4.62 in the previous year [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery gained over 5 million subscribers, totaling more than 22 million subscribers over the last twelve months [8] - The company delivered $339 million in EBITDA for the first quarter and is on track to achieve at least $1.3 billion in EBITDA for 2025, representing an 85% increase compared to 2024 [9][10] - The goal is to surpass 150 million subscribers by the end of next year [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The streaming segment is experiencing significant growth, with a strong pipeline of content from HBO and local language offerings enhancing relevance in various regions [10] - Warner Bros. Television is noted as the world's leading independent TV studio, contributing to the company's cultural and commercial impact [11] - The film segment is seeing success with a mix of IP-based blockbusters and original content, highlighted by the success of the Minecraft movie and upcoming releases like Final Destination [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is expanding its global footprint, with almost half the world still untapped for its streaming services [10] - Latin America leads in engagement metrics, benefiting from a comprehensive film offering and local originals [41][42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a focus on high-quality storytelling and a commitment to leveraging its extensive IP library, including franchises like DC and Harry Potter, to drive long-term growth [10][30][74] - The restructuring into two divisions aims to enhance transparency and operational efficiency, allowing for quicker responses to market opportunities [18][20] - The strategy includes a shift from a volume-based approach to prioritizing quality content, which is expected to resonate with consumers and drive subscriber growth [79][81] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate the current macroeconomic environment, noting no material impact from recent economic conditions [48] - The leadership team is focused on maintaining a diversified portfolio and managing costs effectively to safeguard financial performance [50] - Future growth is anticipated from globalization, penetration growth in existing markets, and enhancements in product offerings [87][90] Other Important Information - The company is exploring various models for sports content, balancing costs with subscriber engagement and monetization opportunities [28] - There is a strong emphasis on bundling services to enhance consumer experience and reduce churn [92][94] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on capital structure and leverage ratio for global linear networks - Management refrained from speculating on capital structures but emphasized the successful reorganization to capitalize on future opportunities [17][18] Question: Potential for additional subscribers in the U.S. market - Management indicated that the rollout of password sharing initiatives will gradually increase subscriber numbers over the next 12 to 18 months [21][22] Question: Sports strategy on MAX and licensing new IPs - The company is experimenting with different models for sports content and sees opportunities to leverage sports rights while balancing costs [26][28] Question: HBO's ability to produce standout hits consistently - The strength of HBO's creative team and a focus on quality storytelling are key factors in producing successful content [35][36] Question: Engagement metrics across different demographics and markets - The U.S. market shows strong engagement among younger demographics, while Latin America leads in overall engagement metrics [40][41] Question: Impact of macroeconomic conditions on advertising channels - Management reported no significant impact on advertising revenue and remains optimistic about the upcoming upfronts [48][49] Question: Content spending strategy and licensing for third-party services - The company plans to moderately increase content spending while also leveraging its IP for external licensing opportunities [77][78]