Warner Bros. Discovery News & Discussion Thread

[Peter Paltridge]

Wonder if this is just more fear mongering

Probably; none of the major entertainment news websites are posting this.

 

[Silverstar]

News, everyone.

According to The Media Mix (themediamix.co -- I can't link to it because it's behind a paywall), Warner Bros. Discovery is quietly telling some of their managers to hit pause on hiring, stating that there's a "start date pause" with no new employees coming on board before April.

This is notable because April 8th is the date that Warner can officially execute mergers and acquisitions activity as the tax provisions of the Reverse Morris Trust that created WBD expire; that's only 13 weeks away.

Rumor has it that they could be waiting to go forward with this proposed merger with Paramount and/or a possible selling of CNN. Sources say that the company met today in LA to discuss their 2024 strategy, with another round of catch-up meetings with senior divisional leaders.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

News, everyone.

According to The Media Mix (themediamix.co -- I can't link to it because it's behind a paywall), Warner Bros. Discovery is quietly telling some of their managers to hit pause on hiring, stating that there's a "start date pause" with no new employees coming on board before April.

This is notable because April 8th is the date that Warner can officially execute mergers and acquisitions activity as the tax provisions of the Reverse Morris Trust that created WBD expire; that's only 13 weeks away.

Rumor has it that they could be waiting to go forward with this proposed merger with Paramount and/or a possible selling of CNN. Sources say that the company met today in LA to discuss their 2024 strategy, with another round of catch-up meetings with senior divisional leaders.

Even after April 8th, there’s no way there will be a Paramount/WBD merger. Goldstar said it best. There is the opportunity, however, for Paramount and WBD (and most likely NBCUniversal too, so they aren’t left behind in the streaming era) to merge their streaming services into a joint-venture to compete with Netflix and Disney+.

 

[LinusFan303]

Tom Cruise has returned to Warner Bros.
Tom Cruise Returns To Warner Bros, Forms New Strategic Movie Partnership

 

[Daikun]

Zazzy is now selling his own company's shares.

David Zaslav Sells to Cover $9.5M in Warner Bros. Discovery Shares for Tax Purposes

The stock withholding is similar to a move the mogul made last year, again for tax reasons.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Zazzy is now selling his own company's shares.

David Zaslav Sells to Cover $9.5M in Warner Bros. Discovery Shares for Tax Purposes

The stock withholding is similar to a move the mogul made last year, again for tax reasons.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

What does that mean when he is selling his company's shares?

 

[Yojimbo]

What does that mean when he is selling his company's shares?

It isn't bad. More often than not, a CEO selling their company's shares is how they get their compensation. CEOs tend to be paid largely in shares for tax reasons (being paid in stocks and dividends lowers their tax burden) and they have scheduled selling dates planned out for months. Their stock market accounts are basically a savings account. The sale is never supposed to be based on things they learn about in a board meeting that isn’t public knowledge otherwise that delves into illegal insider trading.

 

[LinusFan303]

Ted Turner bros, we're winning
They are going by TNT Sports instead of WBD sports now. (Turner Sports was best name, but TNT sneaks in Turner's name so it works)

Warner Bros. Discovery Sports rebranding to TNT Sports in United States

The short-lived Warner Bros. Discovery Sports is no more, with WBD rebranding to TNT Sports, aligning with the UK and Latin America.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[Silverstar]

Warner Bros Discovery is planning a New York Upfront Event for May 15th.

Warner Bros. Discovery Plans New York Upfront Event for May 15

In an era when advertisers can buy digital inventory at any time they wish, does the media industry still need an “upfront” sales session? Warner Bros. Discovery believes it does. The media conglomerate said Thursday that it plans to hold a presentation for advertisers at 10 a.m. eastern on May...

ca.movies.yahoo.com

According to the article, WBD seems to be planning to plug their streaming platforms over their linear ones.

 

[LinusFan303]

1/19: They don't have much on their linear channels anyway. Would be nice to find out Hellicious on TBS, like any updates at least.

2/13:The Phone Company pretty much wiped out Tru TV but apparently it had a show still going but they've ended Tacoma FD. ‘Tacoma FD’ Canceled After Four Seasons at TruTV

 

[themidnightlore]

The Phone Company pretty much wiped out Tru TV but apparently it had a show still going but they've ended Tacoma FD. ‘Tacoma FD’ Canceled After Four Seasons at TruTV

Let's hope that WBD doesn't have the brilliant idea of selling it to another party that turns it into a true crime channel just for be closed at the end! (I'm totally not referring to truTV UK, nope :'))

 

[LinusFan303]

Let's hope that WBD doesn't have the brilliant idea of selling it to another party that turns it into a true crime channel just for be closed at the end! (I'm totally not referring to truTV UK, nope :'))

Heh Tru UK was something.... alright it never stood a chance.

 

[Moe]

2/13:The Phone Company pretty much wiped out Tru TV but apparently it had a show still going but they've ended Tacoma FD. ‘Tacoma FD’ Canceled After Four Seasons at TruTV

I missed TruTV when they aired towing shows, also they aired police and jail shows as well. If original TruTV was around, so there would be Denver Tow and whoa, Linus ran to protect his car while guy attempted to tow for parking violation. Tow bill is expensive as Comcast cable TV subscription.

Let's hope that WBD doesn't have the brilliant idea of selling it to another party that turns it into a true crime channel just for be closed at the end! (I'm totally not referring to truTV UK, nope :'))

I admitted that I was jealous of TruTV UK because they retained original with police and jail shows while TruTV US got revamped to become a comedy channel in 2014, so they cancelled all towing shows.

 

[LinusFan303]

I missed TruTV when they aired towing shows, also they aired police and jail shows as well. If original TruTV was around, so there would be Denver Tow and whoa, Linus ran to protect his car while guy attempted to tow for parking violation. Tow bill is expensive as Comcast cable TV subscription.

Lol.

I came in to watching the channel when they flipped to the stranger comedy stuff.

 

[Moe]

Lol.

I came in to watching the channel when they flipped to the stranger comedy stuff.

I started to watch Court TV in early 2000s with my dad when they aired police shows and TruTV transitioned to more comedy after 2008 and completely in 2014. I wasn't interested in court show when I had language deprivation and unable to understand the dialogues, so it didn't get better until I took remedial courses at college. Finally, I'm able to understand almost everything now.

I'm more of dramatic than sitcom, and as for sitcom, that depends on my mood.

 

[PF9]

A lot of old WB movies on DVD/BR have the "Warner Night at the Movies" program that allows the viewer to watch a bunch of shorts before the main feature.

TCM should air these on their network each night. It would be similar to the FX program DVD on TV.

 

[Silverstar]

It looks like that proposed Warner Discovery/Paramount merger is a no-go.

Warner Bros. Discovery halts merger talks with Paramount Global, sources say

Warner Bros. Discovery has paused merger discussions with Paramount Global as the company trades at a 52-week low, sources told CNBC.

www.cnbc.com

In other news, WB Pictures Animation is bringing in some new hires.

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation Hires Kim Mackey and Jessie Carbonaro, Elevates Susan Akinbola

Warner Bros. Animation has hired Kim Mackey and Jessie Carbonaro as EVP production and VP of production talent. Susan Akinbola was also elevated.

variety.com

 

[JMTV]

It looks like that proposed Warner Discovery/Paramount merger is a no-go.

Warner Bros. Discovery halts merger talks with Paramount Global, sources say

Warner Bros. Discovery has paused merger discussions with Paramount Global as the company trades at a 52-week low, sources told CNBC.

www.cnbc.com

Good! That will not work out for anybody if that were to happen...

 

[PF9]

If that live-action Jonny Quest movie gets off the ground it should be PG-13 to maximize revenue.

It can be followed by a TV series co-produced by Greg Berlanti for CBS that has a two-part episode serving as a reunion telefilm for the MacGyver reboot.

A PG-13 Quest would break new ground as the first mature-oriented Hanna-Barbera adaptation that isn't a parody or a crossover.

 

[LinusFan303]

In New Zeland , Warner Bros. Discovery has proposed wiping out all of Three's News Hub programming , this would also include the 5:30pm news on Sky Open.

MSN

3/26: They've made 3 more FAST channels, that have first premiered on Pluto TV interestingly,

• WBTV Home Crashers
• WBTV Ultimate Builds
• WBTV Rustic Retreats

Home Crashers mostly airs HGTV's House Crashers, which makes names confusing
Ultimate Builds airs old Destination America shows
Rustic Retreats airs old DIY Network, HGTV, Destination America shows

They actually added at 4th - Medical Incredible

Pluto TV Adds 4 New Free Live Channels From Warner Bros. Discovery | Cord Cutters News

Pluto TV is one of the older free ad-supported streaming services. Owned by Paramount, it offers a huge catalog of content from the media giant along with 200 other content partners. Now, Pluto TV is one of the most watched free ad-supported streaming services. Earlier this month, Pluto TV...

cordcuttersnews.com

6/7 :
NBC and Amazon might be taking their basketball, but they are taking NBC's Tennis instead

Warner Bros. Discovery Snares U.S. Rights to French Open (EXCLUSIVE)

Warner Bros. Discovery has snared U.S. rights to the French Open, adding a new sport to its media portfolio

variety.com