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Casey Bloys, chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, has renewed his deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for five more years, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Bloys became HBO programming chief in May 2016 and in August 2020 took over original content duties for HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming platform. His new deal follows WarnerMedia merging with Discovery to create Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav.
Significantly, Bloys reupping his contract stands in contrast to a slew of WarnerMedia execs who departed ahead of or after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger being completed. That exodus includes Ann Sarnoff, the chair and CEO of Warner Bros., and Jason Kilar, the CEO of WarnerMedia, in addition to HBO Max chief Andy Forssell, chief revenue officer Tony Goncalves, chief technology officer Richard Tom and chief financial officer Jennifer Biry.
Other top executives to have left include Jim Cummings,...
Casey Bloys, chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, has renewed his deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for five more years, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Bloys became HBO programming chief in May 2016 and in August 2020 took over original content duties for HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming platform. His new deal follows WarnerMedia merging with Discovery to create Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav.
Significantly, Bloys reupping his contract stands in contrast to a slew of WarnerMedia execs who departed ahead of or after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger being completed. That exodus includes Ann Sarnoff, the chair and CEO of Warner Bros., and Jason Kilar, the CEO of WarnerMedia, in addition to HBO Max chief Andy Forssell, chief revenue officer Tony Goncalves, chief technology officer Richard Tom and chief financial officer Jennifer Biry.
Other top executives to have left include Jim Cummings,...
- 7/18/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kristin Brown, Jennifer Driscoll, Larry Laque and Doug Seybert are also out have joined the growing list of executives leaving Warner Bros Discovery as part of the company’s post-merger streamlining, TheWrap has learned.
Their ouster comes less than 2 hours after it was made public that executive vice president Corie Henson and Food Network executive Todd Weiser have left.
Brown was a senior vice president of communications at Investigation Discovery and Travel Channel. Driscoll was a senior vice president of communications at the company, and first joined Discovery in 2015. Laque joined Discovery in 2003 and at the time of his exit was co-chief information officer and executive vice president in facilities and real estate. And Seybert, senior vice president of marketing, joined Discovery in 2009.
Also Read:
Warner Bros. Discovery Exec Corie Henson to Depart
WarnerMedia and Discovery completed a 43 billion merger in April; The closure announcement followed several executive exits at WarnerMedia,...
Their ouster comes less than 2 hours after it was made public that executive vice president Corie Henson and Food Network executive Todd Weiser have left.
Brown was a senior vice president of communications at Investigation Discovery and Travel Channel. Driscoll was a senior vice president of communications at the company, and first joined Discovery in 2015. Laque joined Discovery in 2003 and at the time of his exit was co-chief information officer and executive vice president in facilities and real estate. And Seybert, senior vice president of marketing, joined Discovery in 2009.
Also Read:
Warner Bros. Discovery Exec Corie Henson to Depart
WarnerMedia and Discovery completed a 43 billion merger in April; The closure announcement followed several executive exits at WarnerMedia,...
- 6/17/2022
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
TV executive Corie Henson is leaving Warner Bros. Discovery amid the company’s general restructuring under CEO David Zaslav, which stems from the completion of the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger.
Henson’s post was executive vice president, head of unscripted programming for TBS, TNT and truTV. In the role, she oversaw and spearheaded unscripted creative development and production for all three cable brands. Prior to joining WarnerMedia in December 2019, Henson was the EVP of Alternative Entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company, where she shepherded all development and franchises such as “The Masked Singer,” “MasterChef,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” in addition to the Teen Choice Awards, Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey and all live event specials.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Todd Weiser is also departing the company. Weiser led Food Network and Cooking Channel’s programming and development departments beginning in 2019. He...
Henson’s post was executive vice president, head of unscripted programming for TBS, TNT and truTV. In the role, she oversaw and spearheaded unscripted creative development and production for all three cable brands. Prior to joining WarnerMedia in December 2019, Henson was the EVP of Alternative Entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company, where she shepherded all development and franchises such as “The Masked Singer,” “MasterChef,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” in addition to the Teen Choice Awards, Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey and all live event specials.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Todd Weiser is also departing the company. Weiser led Food Network and Cooking Channel’s programming and development departments beginning in 2019. He...
- 6/17/2022
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Wrap
Brett Weitz is exiting as general manager of TBS, TNT and truTV, Variety has learned.
Weitz, who was appointed to the role in January 2019, was among the group of WarnerMedia execs that came over under the new David Zaslav-selected regime at Warner Bros. Discovery, following the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in early April.
Weitz was moved under Discovery lifestyle channels chief Kathleen Finch, who assumed a newly created role of chairman and chief content officer of U.S. Networks Group, a new, consolidated organization comprising the company’s more than 40 U.S. networks. His role has now been eliminated, with Finch taking oversight of TBS, TNT and truTV.
While WarnerMedia was run by former parent company AT&T, Weitz reported to Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, who exited just before the transaction closed, along with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and Andy Forssell,...
Weitz, who was appointed to the role in January 2019, was among the group of WarnerMedia execs that came over under the new David Zaslav-selected regime at Warner Bros. Discovery, following the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in early April.
Weitz was moved under Discovery lifestyle channels chief Kathleen Finch, who assumed a newly created role of chairman and chief content officer of U.S. Networks Group, a new, consolidated organization comprising the company’s more than 40 U.S. networks. His role has now been eliminated, with Finch taking oversight of TBS, TNT and truTV.
While WarnerMedia was run by former parent company AT&T, Weitz reported to Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, who exited just before the transaction closed, along with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and Andy Forssell,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Another top Warner exec, John Rogovin, is heading for the exits amid a major corporate shakeout following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery last month.
The longtime EVP, general counsel for WarnerMedia Studios and Networks, who previously served at the FCC and DOJ, said, “It’s been an incredible run for 14 years. Serving as the General Counsel of Warner Bros. has been one of the all-time great legal jobs. But now is the right time for me to move on. And I wish the new leadership and everyone all the best for continued success.”
Cases he spearheaded included the studio’s landmark Superman termination rights case.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has rejiggered the top echelons of the combined company that was created in a 43-billion deal between the former WarnerMedia’s former parent AT&T and Discovery. Rogovin’s boss, Ann Sarnoff, left, as did former Warner Media CEO...
The longtime EVP, general counsel for WarnerMedia Studios and Networks, who previously served at the FCC and DOJ, said, “It’s been an incredible run for 14 years. Serving as the General Counsel of Warner Bros. has been one of the all-time great legal jobs. But now is the right time for me to move on. And I wish the new leadership and everyone all the best for continued success.”
Cases he spearheaded included the studio’s landmark Superman termination rights case.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has rejiggered the top echelons of the combined company that was created in a 43-billion deal between the former WarnerMedia’s former parent AT&T and Discovery. Rogovin’s boss, Ann Sarnoff, left, as did former Warner Media CEO...
- 5/4/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery Inc. CEO David Zaslav, who will lead the merged entity Warner Bros. Discovery, is slated begin making his rounds to WarnerMedia company offices around the country to address employees this week, an individual with knowledge of WarnerMedia told TheWrap.
The merger, announced in May, closed on Friday.
Zaslav’s travel agenda will take him to WarnerMedia’s global headquarters in New York on Monday, Warner Bros. offices in Atlanta on Tuesday, WarnerMedia/HBO offices in Culver City on Wednesday, and concluding with a town hall at WarnerMedia offices on the iconic Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, according to the individual. Another source who asked not to be named said the tour will also include Washington D.C.
An expected topic will be layoffs, as reports by Insider and other sources reported that the merger of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery would include at least 3 billion of annual “cost synergies,...
The merger, announced in May, closed on Friday.
Zaslav’s travel agenda will take him to WarnerMedia’s global headquarters in New York on Monday, Warner Bros. offices in Atlanta on Tuesday, WarnerMedia/HBO offices in Culver City on Wednesday, and concluding with a town hall at WarnerMedia offices on the iconic Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, according to the individual. Another source who asked not to be named said the tour will also include Washington D.C.
An expected topic will be layoffs, as reports by Insider and other sources reported that the merger of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery would include at least 3 billion of annual “cost synergies,...
- 4/10/2022
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
The final bow has been placed atop the 40 billion merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, forming one of the largest pure content players in the media business.
The AT&T spinoff maneuver formally closed late Friday, and Monday will see Warner Bros Discovery stock begin trading, under the ticker symbol “Wbd.”
Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been set as the new leader of Warner Bros Discovery since the time the deal was first proposed last May. Questions swirled for months, though, about the leadership team he would put in place. Earlier this week, he wound up favoring Discovery brass across the board (something Deadline’s reporting had predicted a month ago).
Jb Perrette, who had been head of streaming and international for Discovery, was installed as CEO and president of global streaming and interactive entertainment. Gunnar Wiedenfels, former CFO at Discovery and one of the architects of the merger, will hold the...
The AT&T spinoff maneuver formally closed late Friday, and Monday will see Warner Bros Discovery stock begin trading, under the ticker symbol “Wbd.”
Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been set as the new leader of Warner Bros Discovery since the time the deal was first proposed last May. Questions swirled for months, though, about the leadership team he would put in place. Earlier this week, he wound up favoring Discovery brass across the board (something Deadline’s reporting had predicted a month ago).
Jb Perrette, who had been head of streaming and international for Discovery, was installed as CEO and president of global streaming and interactive entertainment. Gunnar Wiedenfels, former CFO at Discovery and one of the architects of the merger, will hold the...
- 4/9/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. have closed their high-profile 43 million merger into new entity Warner Bros. Discovery, the companies announced on Friday.
“Today’s announcement marks an exciting milestone not just for Warner Bros. Discovery but for our shareholders, our distributors, our advertisers, our creative partners and, most importantly, consumers globally,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in a statement.
“With our collective assets and diversified business model, Warner Bros. Discovery offers the most differentiated and complete portfolio of content across film, television and streaming,” he continued. “We are confident that we can bring more choice to consumers around the globe while fostering creativity and creating value for shareholders. I can’t wait for both teams to come together to make Warner Bros. Discovery the best place for impactful storytelling.”
Discovery stakeholders had approved the deal in mid-March.
The merger will place AT&T’s Warner Bros., CNN,...
“Today’s announcement marks an exciting milestone not just for Warner Bros. Discovery but for our shareholders, our distributors, our advertisers, our creative partners and, most importantly, consumers globally,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in a statement.
“With our collective assets and diversified business model, Warner Bros. Discovery offers the most differentiated and complete portfolio of content across film, television and streaming,” he continued. “We are confident that we can bring more choice to consumers around the globe while fostering creativity and creating value for shareholders. I can’t wait for both teams to come together to make Warner Bros. Discovery the best place for impactful storytelling.”
Discovery stakeholders had approved the deal in mid-March.
The merger will place AT&T’s Warner Bros., CNN,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
It’s the dawning of a new day in Hollywood, as the now officially merged WarnerMedia and Discovery will open for business as Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday.
While little is known about the future of the new company, it’s clear what valuable brands, IP, executives and customers they will each be bringing to the table on their first day as a combined entity.
Founded in 1985, Discovery, Inc. has approximately 11,000 staffers at time of publication. WarnerMedia, first established as Warner Bros. in 1923, has roughly 25,000 employees.
For a detailed rundown of the Discovery side’s top leadership and org chart as it stands on Day 1, including CEO David Zaslav and his lieutenants, as well as its current development deals and talent partnerships, readers can consult this data, compiled via Variety Insight platform.
And here is the same for the WarnerMedia side, which accounts for several recent departures in top leadership,...
While little is known about the future of the new company, it’s clear what valuable brands, IP, executives and customers they will each be bringing to the table on their first day as a combined entity.
Founded in 1985, Discovery, Inc. has approximately 11,000 staffers at time of publication. WarnerMedia, first established as Warner Bros. in 1923, has roughly 25,000 employees.
For a detailed rundown of the Discovery side’s top leadership and org chart as it stands on Day 1, including CEO David Zaslav and his lieutenants, as well as its current development deals and talent partnerships, readers can consult this data, compiled via Variety Insight platform.
And here is the same for the WarnerMedia side, which accounts for several recent departures in top leadership,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Discovery completed its 43 billion acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T on Friday to form new company Warner Bros. Discovery.
WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Warner Bros., DC Films, New Line Cinema, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Sports and Rooster Teeth, among other brands, and is part owner of the CW Network along with Paramount.
Discovery is the parent of Discovery Plus, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, Science Channel and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).
Here is the new leadership structure for Warner Bros. Discovery, as announced by CEO David Zaslav on Thursday.
Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer, having held the same role at Discovery, Inc. Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max. Bruce Campbell will assume the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, with responsibility for US advertising sales,...
WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Warner Bros., DC Films, New Line Cinema, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Sports and Rooster Teeth, among other brands, and is part owner of the CW Network along with Paramount.
Discovery is the parent of Discovery Plus, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, Science Channel and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).
Here is the new leadership structure for Warner Bros. Discovery, as announced by CEO David Zaslav on Thursday.
Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer, having held the same role at Discovery, Inc. Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max. Bruce Campbell will assume the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, with responsibility for US advertising sales,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Toby Emmerich, Casey Bloys will report directly to David Zaslav.
Updated Report: The 43bn merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery has closed, resulting in entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery which begins trading on the Nasdaq on Monday (April 11).
CEO David Zaslav has announced his executive suite including Warner Bros Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich and HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys (see below). Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar and WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff, among others, have departed.
The company’s goal will be to scale up and take on the might of streaming giants Netflix,...
Updated Report: The 43bn merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery has closed, resulting in entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery which begins trading on the Nasdaq on Monday (April 11).
CEO David Zaslav has announced his executive suite including Warner Bros Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich and HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys (see below). Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar and WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff, among others, have departed.
The company’s goal will be to scale up and take on the might of streaming giants Netflix,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
WarnerMedia and Discovery are on the cusp of officially closing their deal. With the change in leadership at the new Warner Bros. Discovery, will there be pricing changes for the new conglomerate’s flagship HBO Max streaming service?
Insiders say there aren’t any immediate plans to alter HBO Max’s pricing scheme — in the U.S., it currently costs 14.99/month without ads, the same as it did when the service debuted in May 2020, and 9.99/month with ads.
Similarly, it’s likely that Discovery Plus will remain at 6.99/month without ads and 4.99/month with ads for the time being. “I don’t think [pricing] is going to be sorted right out of the gate,” says a source familiar with the companies.
But Warner Bros. Discovery wants to pool its streaming properties together, on the theory that a bigger, broader content offering will reel in more new subscribers. When the deal closes,...
Insiders say there aren’t any immediate plans to alter HBO Max’s pricing scheme — in the U.S., it currently costs 14.99/month without ads, the same as it did when the service debuted in May 2020, and 9.99/month with ads.
Similarly, it’s likely that Discovery Plus will remain at 6.99/month without ads and 4.99/month with ads for the time being. “I don’t think [pricing] is going to be sorted right out of the gate,” says a source familiar with the companies.
But Warner Bros. Discovery wants to pool its streaming properties together, on the theory that a bigger, broader content offering will reel in more new subscribers. When the deal closes,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
“We wish [a launch] could be earlier, but we will get there.”
WarnerMedia has a “pretty clear idea” of the content line-up, strategy and shape of HBO Max UK as it begins to plan for its arrival, according to head of HBO Max Global Johannes Larcher.
“We have plans on the shelf for when we get to the UK,” said Larcher, speaking to Screen’s sister publication Broadcast at this week’s Mip TV.
“The end of 2025 is still some way away but we certainly know what our content strategy will be. We know what the service and the product will look like.
WarnerMedia has a “pretty clear idea” of the content line-up, strategy and shape of HBO Max UK as it begins to plan for its arrival, according to head of HBO Max Global Johannes Larcher.
“We have plans on the shelf for when we get to the UK,” said Larcher, speaking to Screen’s sister publication Broadcast at this week’s Mip TV.
“The end of 2025 is still some way away but we certainly know what our content strategy will be. We know what the service and the product will look like.
- 4/7/2022
- by John Elmes Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced its new leadership team, which will see some key executives at Warner Bros. continue in their roles after the departure of studio leadership.
Among the leadership announcements, Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich, HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, and Warner Television chairman Channing Dungey will continue in their respective roles, reporting to Warner Discovery CEO David Zaslav. WarnerMedia’s international president Gerhard Zeiler will also continue in the same role.
The announcement comes a day after Warner chairman/CEO Ann Sarnoff, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, and HBO Max general manager Andy Forssell exited the company. The merger is expected to be completed as early as this Friday.
“We are so excited to bring the heritage and legacies of these two great companies together by creating Warner Bros. Discovery, and I am proud that our new executive management team blends world-class leaders...
Among the leadership announcements, Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich, HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, and Warner Television chairman Channing Dungey will continue in their respective roles, reporting to Warner Discovery CEO David Zaslav. WarnerMedia’s international president Gerhard Zeiler will also continue in the same role.
The announcement comes a day after Warner chairman/CEO Ann Sarnoff, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, and HBO Max general manager Andy Forssell exited the company. The merger is expected to be completed as early as this Friday.
“We are so excited to bring the heritage and legacies of these two great companies together by creating Warner Bros. Discovery, and I am proud that our new executive management team blends world-class leaders...
- 4/7/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Ahead of tomorrow’s expected close of the 43 billion WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, the executive leadership structure of the new company has been set.
David Zaslav, CEO of Discovery since 2007, will hold the same title at the combined entity. He has installed J-b Perrette to oversee streaming (in a larger version of the role he had at Discovery), while veteran unscripted programming exec Kathleen Finch will supervise all linear networks. Toby Emmerich, Casey Bloys and Channing Dungey, heads of Warner Bros Pictures, HBO and Warner Bros TV, respectively are all remaining in place. Bruce Campbell, the top distribution exec at Discovery (a crucial function given the billions in carriage fees and complex streaming deals in his purview) has been given a similar job at the new company.
The elevation of Finch, a Scripps Networks Interactive veteran and former network news producer who joined Discovery after the company bought Scripps in 2018, had been widely anticipated.
David Zaslav, CEO of Discovery since 2007, will hold the same title at the combined entity. He has installed J-b Perrette to oversee streaming (in a larger version of the role he had at Discovery), while veteran unscripted programming exec Kathleen Finch will supervise all linear networks. Toby Emmerich, Casey Bloys and Channing Dungey, heads of Warner Bros Pictures, HBO and Warner Bros TV, respectively are all remaining in place. Bruce Campbell, the top distribution exec at Discovery (a crucial function given the billions in carriage fees and complex streaming deals in his purview) has been given a similar job at the new company.
The elevation of Finch, a Scripps Networks Interactive veteran and former network news producer who joined Discovery after the company bought Scripps in 2018, had been widely anticipated.
- 4/7/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
David Zaslav will have a tight grip on the operations of Warner Bros. Discovery under the management structure unveiled for the new company that is set to emerge on Monday, Variety has learned.
Zaslav, as longtime observers predicted, has opted to have a direct-report relationship with the leaders of the businesses he doesn’t know as well as he does cable channels and advertising sales, per individuals close to the situation. Those include Casey Bloys, president of HBO/HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich and Warner Bros. TV Group chief Channing Dungey.
To help manage his large number of direct reports, it’s no surprise that Zaslav has tapped trusted Discovery lieutenants for key operational roles, notably Bruce Campbell and Jb Perrette.
Campbell, who had served as Discovery’s chief development, distribution and legal officer for Discovery, will oversee all sales and revenue-generating operations for the company with...
Zaslav, as longtime observers predicted, has opted to have a direct-report relationship with the leaders of the businesses he doesn’t know as well as he does cable channels and advertising sales, per individuals close to the situation. Those include Casey Bloys, president of HBO/HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich and Warner Bros. TV Group chief Channing Dungey.
To help manage his large number of direct reports, it’s no surprise that Zaslav has tapped trusted Discovery lieutenants for key operational roles, notably Bruce Campbell and Jb Perrette.
Campbell, who had served as Discovery’s chief development, distribution and legal officer for Discovery, will oversee all sales and revenue-generating operations for the company with...
- 4/7/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton and Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Toby Emmerich, Casey Bloys will report directly to David Zaslav.
David Zaslav has unveiled several members of his key executive suite, fuelling speculation that the 43bn Warner Bros Discovery merger will conclude very soon, possibly by tomorrow (April 8).
According to reports Warner Bros Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich is staying and will report directly to Zaslav, as will HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, and Warner Bros TV Group head Channing Dungey.
Key Discovery executives include Bruce Campbell, the chief development, distribution and legal officer who becomes Discovery Warner Bros chief revenue and strategy officer. Savalle Sims remains as...
David Zaslav has unveiled several members of his key executive suite, fuelling speculation that the 43bn Warner Bros Discovery merger will conclude very soon, possibly by tomorrow (April 8).
According to reports Warner Bros Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich is staying and will report directly to Zaslav, as will HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, and Warner Bros TV Group head Channing Dungey.
Key Discovery executives include Bruce Campbell, the chief development, distribution and legal officer who becomes Discovery Warner Bros chief revenue and strategy officer. Savalle Sims remains as...
- 4/7/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
As WarnerMedia executives continue to march out the door in Burbank ahead of the completion of its merger with Discovery, some longtime employees are anxious and stressed about future layoffs. “I’ve never seen such paranoia. It’s bad, it’s crazy,” one former senior Warner Bros. staff member who remains in contact with her former colleagues told TheWrap. “These people are palpably nervous.” She added that pandemic isolation has only made things worse: “These people have been working at home for two years. They can’t even talk to each other [in person].” On Tuesday, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar announced that he would be leaving the post once the merger with Discovery closes, which an insider told TheWrap is expected to occur as early as Friday. Kilar’s departure had been expected since the merger was announced last May, and was followed Tuesday and Wednesday by a small avalanche of departures from his team,...
- 4/7/2022
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
Total of nine senior executives to leave.
More senior WarnerMedia executives are to depart the company as the 43bn Discovery merger closes, which according to reports could be as early as this Friday (April 8).
On Wednesday a WarnerMedia spokesperson confirmed that EVP and chief human resources officer Jim Cummings is on the way out as are: CFO Jennifer Biry; the outgoing Jason Kilar’s corporate communications executive and chief inclusion officer Christy Haubegger; EVP chief revenue officer Tony Goncalves; EVP general counsel Jim Meza; and chief technology officer Richard Tom.
This follows Tuesday’s revelations that WarnerMedia CEO Kilar tendered...
More senior WarnerMedia executives are to depart the company as the 43bn Discovery merger closes, which according to reports could be as early as this Friday (April 8).
On Wednesday a WarnerMedia spokesperson confirmed that EVP and chief human resources officer Jim Cummings is on the way out as are: CFO Jennifer Biry; the outgoing Jason Kilar’s corporate communications executive and chief inclusion officer Christy Haubegger; EVP chief revenue officer Tony Goncalves; EVP general counsel Jim Meza; and chief technology officer Richard Tom.
This follows Tuesday’s revelations that WarnerMedia CEO Kilar tendered...
- 4/6/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Discovery is cleaning house among the top ranks at WarnerMedia ahead of the close of the two companies’ merger, which is expected to occur on Friday, with six more executives exiting on Wednesday, Variety has learned.
According to a WarnerMedia spokesperson, the newly cut WarnerMedia players include: Jennifer Biry — chief financial officer; Jim Cummings — exec VP, chief human resources officer; Tony Goncalves — exec VP, chief revenue officer; Christy Haubegger — exec VP, communications and chief inclusion officer; Jim Meza — exec VP, general counsel, WarnerMedia; and Richard Tom — chief technology officer. In some cases, executives declined offers to stay in different capacities.
Notably remaining with the soon-to-be-combined company, which will be renamed Warner Bros. Discovery and run by current Discovery CEO David Zaslav, is Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, a source close to the internal leadership changes confirmed to Variety. The holdover of Zeiler is shocking, given that international space at...
According to a WarnerMedia spokesperson, the newly cut WarnerMedia players include: Jennifer Biry — chief financial officer; Jim Cummings — exec VP, chief human resources officer; Tony Goncalves — exec VP, chief revenue officer; Christy Haubegger — exec VP, communications and chief inclusion officer; Jim Meza — exec VP, general counsel, WarnerMedia; and Richard Tom — chief technology officer. In some cases, executives declined offers to stay in different capacities.
Notably remaining with the soon-to-be-combined company, which will be renamed Warner Bros. Discovery and run by current Discovery CEO David Zaslav, is Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, a source close to the internal leadership changes confirmed to Variety. The holdover of Zeiler is shocking, given that international space at...
- 4/6/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Six more WarnerMedia executives are leaving the company upon the completion of its merger with Discovery, which could take place as early as next week, if not Friday.
In addition to the Tuesday news that CEO Jason Kilar, studios and networks group CEO and chair Ann Sarnoff and HBO Max head Andy Forssell would be exiting, a WarnerMedia spokesperson announced a complete list of other executives exiting, including:
Jennifer Biry – Chief Financial OfficerJim Cummings – EVP, Chief Human Resources OfficerTony Goncalves – EVP, Chief Revenue OfficerChristy Haubegger – EVP, Communications and Chief Inclusion OfficerJim Meza – EVP, General Counsel, WarnerMediaRichard Tom – Chief Technology Officer
Despite the spring cleaning, an individual with knowledge confirms to TheWrap that Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, will remain with the new company.
Warner Bros. Discovery will be led by Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who TheWrap previously reported would be expected to kick off his tenure with a clean sweep of the top executives,...
In addition to the Tuesday news that CEO Jason Kilar, studios and networks group CEO and chair Ann Sarnoff and HBO Max head Andy Forssell would be exiting, a WarnerMedia spokesperson announced a complete list of other executives exiting, including:
Jennifer Biry – Chief Financial OfficerJim Cummings – EVP, Chief Human Resources OfficerTony Goncalves – EVP, Chief Revenue OfficerChristy Haubegger – EVP, Communications and Chief Inclusion OfficerJim Meza – EVP, General Counsel, WarnerMediaRichard Tom – Chief Technology Officer
Despite the spring cleaning, an individual with knowledge confirms to TheWrap that Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, will remain with the new company.
Warner Bros. Discovery will be led by Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who TheWrap previously reported would be expected to kick off his tenure with a clean sweep of the top executives,...
- 4/6/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: (Updated With More Details) Less than 24 hours after CEO Jason Kilar, HBO Max boss Andy Forssell and Studio chief Ann Sarnoff were pink slipped from the about to disappear WarnerMedia, more executives were shown the door today.
This includes: CFO Jennifer Biry, Jason Kilar’s right hand corp comm person Christy Haubegger who is also the Chief Inclusion Officer, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Cummings, EVP Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves, EVP General Counsel Jim Meza, and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tom.
This latest series of exits comes about 48 hours before the newly minted Discovery-WarnerMedia merger with Discovery Boss David Zaslav as CEO. Zaslav is a guy who doesn’t like a lot of fat in his corporate structure, and this morning’s massive firing underscores that. The newly merged company looks to debut on Monday on Wall Street, sources tell us.
Staying on for the short-term...
This includes: CFO Jennifer Biry, Jason Kilar’s right hand corp comm person Christy Haubegger who is also the Chief Inclusion Officer, EVP Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Cummings, EVP Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves, EVP General Counsel Jim Meza, and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tom.
This latest series of exits comes about 48 hours before the newly minted Discovery-WarnerMedia merger with Discovery Boss David Zaslav as CEO. Zaslav is a guy who doesn’t like a lot of fat in his corporate structure, and this morning’s massive firing underscores that. The newly merged company looks to debut on Monday on Wall Street, sources tell us.
Staying on for the short-term...
- 4/6/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
In a bloodbath Tuesday at WarnerMedia ahead of the closing of the Discovery merger, add HBO Max head Andy Forssell to the list of exiting executives. Deadline has confirmed that he joins WarnerMedia studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff and WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar who will also depart.
It’s been buzzed that Discovery CEO David Zaslav does not like layers. Well, three layers just got depleted. Indications are that the 43 billion merger is likely to officially close Friday.
Jb Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Streaming & International, had been widely speculated to be taking over the newly merged company’s combined direct-to-consumer streaming operation even before Forssell’s exit became official.
HBO Max and HBO programming chief Casey Bloys is expected to continue in a key role, likely similar to his current position, in Zaslav’s post-merger plans. We’re hearing that Warner Bros Motion Picture...
It’s been buzzed that Discovery CEO David Zaslav does not like layers. Well, three layers just got depleted. Indications are that the 43 billion merger is likely to officially close Friday.
Jb Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Streaming & International, had been widely speculated to be taking over the newly merged company’s combined direct-to-consumer streaming operation even before Forssell’s exit became official.
HBO Max and HBO programming chief Casey Bloys is expected to continue in a key role, likely similar to his current position, in Zaslav’s post-merger plans. We’re hearing that Warner Bros Motion Picture...
- 4/5/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max executive vice president and general manager Andy Forssell is leaving WarnerMedia ahead of the close of the company’s merger with Discovery, which is now eyed as early as Friday, Variety has learned.
News of Forssell’s exit follows two of his notable colleagues: WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff.
As Variety previously reported, insiders first thought the transaction between Discovery and WarnerMedia’s current owner AT&T would be formally completed on April 11, leading to the creation of new company Warner Bros. Discovery. Two sources with knowledge of the situation, however, say the merger is now expected to finalize by the end of the week. Current Discovery CEO David Zaslav will serve as president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Named to the position in May 2019, Forssell led the HBO Max operating business unit at WarnerMedia, reporting directly to Kilar.
News of Forssell’s exit follows two of his notable colleagues: WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff.
As Variety previously reported, insiders first thought the transaction between Discovery and WarnerMedia’s current owner AT&T would be formally completed on April 11, leading to the creation of new company Warner Bros. Discovery. Two sources with knowledge of the situation, however, say the merger is now expected to finalize by the end of the week. Current Discovery CEO David Zaslav will serve as president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Named to the position in May 2019, Forssell led the HBO Max operating business unit at WarnerMedia, reporting directly to Kilar.
- 4/5/2022
- by Matt Donnelly and Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Ann Sarnoff, who has held a top film and TV studio role at WarnerMedia for nearly three years, is departing the company as it gets set to merge with Discovery.
News of her exit spread quickly Tuesday and then was confirmed in a press release. It will take effect upon the close of the 43 billion merger, which is something of a moving target but getting closer to becoming reality. Regulators will determine the exact timeline of when the transaction can be officially consummated, but indications are that it will happen Friday.
News of her exit follows that about WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who told employees that Friday would be his final day. Also exiting is HBO Max head Andy Forssell.
Sarnoff joined the company in mid-2019 and was promoted to Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group the following year. She was the first woman to serve as chairman...
News of her exit spread quickly Tuesday and then was confirmed in a press release. It will take effect upon the close of the 43 billion merger, which is something of a moving target but getting closer to becoming reality. Regulators will determine the exact timeline of when the transaction can be officially consummated, but indications are that it will happen Friday.
News of her exit follows that about WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who told employees that Friday would be his final day. Also exiting is HBO Max head Andy Forssell.
Sarnoff joined the company in mid-2019 and was promoted to Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group the following year. She was the first woman to serve as chairman...
- 4/5/2022
- by Dade Hayes and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Ann Sarnoff, chairman and CEO at WarnerMedia’s studios and networks, and Andy Forssell, HBO Max executive vice president and general manager, are both exiting their posts.
Sarnoff will be departing her current role effective at the closing of the proposed combination of Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia, forming the combined company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Her role will not be duplicated in the new organizational structure of the combined company. The Discovery deal is expected to close as early as early next week.
“I want to thank Ann for all of her leadership during a transformational period for the company and our industry. She has been a passionate and committed steward of the world’s most formidable creative engine and has led with integrity, focus and hard work in bringing WarnerMedia’s businesses, brands and workforce closer together. There is a lot of exciting momentum at the company and I...
Sarnoff will be departing her current role effective at the closing of the proposed combination of Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia, forming the combined company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Her role will not be duplicated in the new organizational structure of the combined company. The Discovery deal is expected to close as early as early next week.
“I want to thank Ann for all of her leadership during a transformational period for the company and our industry. She has been a passionate and committed steward of the world’s most formidable creative engine and has led with integrity, focus and hard work in bringing WarnerMedia’s businesses, brands and workforce closer together. There is a lot of exciting momentum at the company and I...
- 4/5/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Discovery shareholders are set to Ok the $43 billion merger with WarnerMedia on Friday, the last big step before AT&T completes the spinoff. Ahead of the deal’s expected close next month, a who’s-in/who’s-out parlor game is gaining intensity as CEO David Zaslav finalizes the leadership team.
Top managers who have been with the exec for years will be sticking around, working with a few battle-tested Warner execs, though likely without others. Kevin Mayer, the former Disney exec known for leading the launch of Disney+ and a string of M&a deals, is helping to shape the new org chart as a high-level consultant to Zaslav. The structure will be leaner and less top-heavy than what Warner vets are accustomed to as they settle into a third corporate ownership group in four years.
“Zas doesn’t do layers,” pronounced a former colleague.
Discovery and AT&T have promised...
Top managers who have been with the exec for years will be sticking around, working with a few battle-tested Warner execs, though likely without others. Kevin Mayer, the former Disney exec known for leading the launch of Disney+ and a string of M&a deals, is helping to shape the new org chart as a high-level consultant to Zaslav. The structure will be leaner and less top-heavy than what Warner vets are accustomed to as they settle into a third corporate ownership group in four years.
“Zas doesn’t do layers,” pronounced a former colleague.
Discovery and AT&T have promised...
- 3/11/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
While Samba TV reported today that 707K U.S. households watched the Will Smith drama King Richard over the weekend, an even more interesting detail was how HBO Max subscribers tuned in: The Ott service tells us that a majority of subs watched the biopic about Serena and Venus Williams’ coach father from start-to-finish without pausing. Translation, King Richard had a view completion rate of 100%.
That’s intriguing for a film that has a 2 hour and 24 minute running-time. While movies with lengthy running-times might be keeping older audiences away at the pandemic box office, for HBO Max, subscribers were fully engaged.
“There are a lot of reasons in an on-demand world you’d have interruptions, and that clearly didn’t happen with this movie,” HBO Max Head Andy Forssell tells Deadline about the viewing habits with King Richard.
“There’s a strong output here with this movie that’s distinctive versus other day-and-date event titles,...
That’s intriguing for a film that has a 2 hour and 24 minute running-time. While movies with lengthy running-times might be keeping older audiences away at the pandemic box office, for HBO Max, subscribers were fully engaged.
“There are a lot of reasons in an on-demand world you’d have interruptions, and that clearly didn’t happen with this movie,” HBO Max Head Andy Forssell tells Deadline about the viewing habits with King Richard.
“There’s a strong output here with this movie that’s distinctive versus other day-and-date event titles,...
- 11/23/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In a significant uptick in self-reported streaming data, Netflix says it plans to publish weekly top 10 lists spanning films and series in the English- and non-English-speaking world.
The charts will reflect total viewing time, rather than the company’s previous metric of at least two minutes of watch time counting as a view. Viewing of both original and licensed fare will be captured from Monday to Sunday the previous week for both original and licensed titles. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos first outlined the change of metrics at the Code Conference last September, releasing new charts of top titles. In addition to the four top 10 lists of films and series in English and not, the company will publish weekly rankings of top titles in more than 90 countries.
“This is an important step forward for Netflix, the creators we work with and our members,” Pablo Perez De Rosso, VP of content strategy, planning & analysis,...
The charts will reflect total viewing time, rather than the company’s previous metric of at least two minutes of watch time counting as a view. Viewing of both original and licensed fare will be captured from Monday to Sunday the previous week for both original and licensed titles. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos first outlined the change of metrics at the Code Conference last September, releasing new charts of top titles. In addition to the four top 10 lists of films and series in English and not, the company will publish weekly rankings of top titles in more than 90 countries.
“This is an important step forward for Netflix, the creators we work with and our members,” Pablo Perez De Rosso, VP of content strategy, planning & analysis,...
- 11/16/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with conference call comments: Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the company has hired Kevin Mayer to help guide its streaming strategy as the merger with Warner Media looks set to close mid next year. Execs on a post-earnings conference are still working out what a combined offering will look like and said they expect to announce details fairly soon.
Zaslav called the former longtime Disney executive, who helped launch Disney+, “an old friend” with a “good brain” and a lot knowledge. Mayer was previously CEO of TikTok and has been rolling up media assets through a new venture with Tom Staggs backed by Apollo Global Management. Mayer is also chairman of sports streaming service Dazn.
Asked if Mayer might come on as a full-time executive, Zaslav said no, that Mayer remains committed to Dazn. “He’s a great entrepreneur and there are a lot of really exciting things he’s working on.
Zaslav called the former longtime Disney executive, who helped launch Disney+, “an old friend” with a “good brain” and a lot knowledge. Mayer was previously CEO of TikTok and has been rolling up media assets through a new venture with Tom Staggs backed by Apollo Global Management. Mayer is also chairman of sports streaming service Dazn.
Asked if Mayer might come on as a full-time executive, Zaslav said no, that Mayer remains committed to Dazn. “He’s a great entrepreneur and there are a lot of really exciting things he’s working on.
- 11/3/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
On the eve of AT&T’s third-quarter earnings report, WarnerMedia’s top leadership invited Variety to the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank for an open-ended conversation about where the company is headed as regulators scrutinize its planned merger with Discovery Inc. That deal will see the entertainment division spun off from the telecom giant a mere three years after AT&T finalized its purchase of HBO, Warner Bros. and Turner networks for $85.4 billion.
WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studio and Networks Group, and Andy Forssell, executive vice president and general manager of WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer, were all present for the conversation. The trio stressed that despite the fact that the company is operating in the shadow of yet another disruptive merger, they are focused on positioning WarnerMedia (soon to be rechristened Warner Bros. Discovery) as one of the victors in the streaming wars.
No topic...
WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studio and Networks Group, and Andy Forssell, executive vice president and general manager of WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer, were all present for the conversation. The trio stressed that despite the fact that the company is operating in the shadow of yet another disruptive merger, they are focused on positioning WarnerMedia (soon to be rechristened Warner Bros. Discovery) as one of the victors in the streaming wars.
No topic...
- 10/21/2021
- by Matt Donnelly and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
WarnerMedia has been rolling out HBO Max around the world over the last few months and has been ramping up the number of international originals that it orders.
The company has now revealed that it is launching its first international original day-and-date in the U.S. and globally and has plans for more.
Danish drama series Kamikaze will be the first show, commissioned and produced out of Europe, that will bow on the service everywhere HBO Max is available at the same time.
It brings the streamer in line with rivals such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple in terms of launching shows in all of its markets at the same time, giving series the opportunity to create a global buzz on social media and replicate the success of breakout local-language hits such as Netflix’s Squid Game.
Kamikaze, which is based on the novel Muleum by Erlend Loe, follows the fierce and charming 18-year-old Julie,...
The company has now revealed that it is launching its first international original day-and-date in the U.S. and globally and has plans for more.
Danish drama series Kamikaze will be the first show, commissioned and produced out of Europe, that will bow on the service everywhere HBO Max is available at the same time.
It brings the streamer in line with rivals such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple in terms of launching shows in all of its markets at the same time, giving series the opportunity to create a global buzz on social media and replicate the success of breakout local-language hits such as Netflix’s Squid Game.
Kamikaze, which is based on the novel Muleum by Erlend Loe, follows the fierce and charming 18-year-old Julie,...
- 10/21/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
On the eve of AT&T’s earnings, outgoing WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and two of his top lieutenants, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group chair-ceo Ann Sarnoff and HBO Max executive vp and general manager Andy Forssell, met with The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets Oct. 20 at the Warner Bros. lot to discuss the company’s strategy in broad strokes.
One topic was Netflix, which revealed Oct. 19 that it added 4.4 million subscribers in its third quarter for a total of 214 million paid global subscribers. As the fight for subscribers escalates among top streaming services, viewership data remains a key marker in determining ...
One topic was Netflix, which revealed Oct. 19 that it added 4.4 million subscribers in its third quarter for a total of 214 million paid global subscribers. As the fight for subscribers escalates among top streaming services, viewership data remains a key marker in determining ...
- 10/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Streaming viewership for David Chase’s “The Many Saints of Newark” is coming into focus, as is the massive bump it gave the series that inspired it, “The Sopranos,” according to WarnerMedia’s metrics.
While the film’s theatrical rollout last weekend earned $4.6 million at the domestic box office, its performance on HBO Max underscores an important advantage the WarnerMedia platform has against its competitors — the ability to resuscitate its deep bench of adult-skewing, culture-defining series.
An origin story behind a young Tony Soprano and his father figure Dickie Moltisanti, “Many Saints” finished last weekend as the top performing film title on HBO Max — netting more than triple the audience of the next most viewed title, the streamer said. The movie has also outperformed other comparable films in its budget range, including recent releases like Hugh Jackman’s “Reminiscence” and Clint Eastwood’s “Cry Macho” (both underperformers at the pandemic-stricken box office).
More interestingly,...
While the film’s theatrical rollout last weekend earned $4.6 million at the domestic box office, its performance on HBO Max underscores an important advantage the WarnerMedia platform has against its competitors — the ability to resuscitate its deep bench of adult-skewing, culture-defining series.
An origin story behind a young Tony Soprano and his father figure Dickie Moltisanti, “Many Saints” finished last weekend as the top performing film title on HBO Max — netting more than triple the audience of the next most viewed title, the streamer said. The movie has also outperformed other comparable films in its budget range, including recent releases like Hugh Jackman’s “Reminiscence” and Clint Eastwood’s “Cry Macho” (both underperformers at the pandemic-stricken box office).
More interestingly,...
- 10/8/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
There are many ways to look at the box office returns for The Suicide Squad from this past weekend. Perhaps the most rose-tinted one is to note that it earned more than any other R-rated film since the Covid-19 pandemic first shut down movie theaters in 2020. But then, there’ve been few R-rated wide releases since then, and those that did open weren’t starring Margot Robbie in her most popular role, nor were they perceived as a semi-sequel to a movie which opened to $133 million in 2016. They didn’t even have to be compared to the anemic debut of Birds of Prey, which also underperformed when it opened to $33 million in February 2020.
There is no kind way of saying that The Suicide Squad fell way below expectations, pre or post-pandemic, when it opened at an estimated $26.5 million this weekend. This comes in lower than even the $30 million floor the...
There is no kind way of saying that The Suicide Squad fell way below expectations, pre or post-pandemic, when it opened at an estimated $26.5 million this weekend. This comes in lower than even the $30 million floor the...
- 8/9/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Despite the best-laid plans of Hollywood studio and cinema operators, the movie theater business is still struggling to mount a recovery from Covid-19.
For a while, the box office looked poised for a comeback, with a string of pandemic-era record opening weekends, including “A Quiet Place Part II” ($48 million), “F9” ($70 million) and “Black Widow” ($80 million) in June and July. Despite a few well-timed theatrical hits, multiplexes aren’t home free yet.
The persistent uphill battle that faces the film industry was illuminated last weekend with the release of “The Suicide Squad.” The R-rated comic book adaptation had all the makings of a box office hit: stellar reviews, charismatic super-villains and the cinematic anomaly of Sylvester Stallone as a digitized shark. However, the Warner Bros. movie fell short of expectations, earning $26.5 million in its first three days of release in North America. “The Suicide Squad” generated another $35 million internationally, taking its overall tally to $72.2 million.
For a while, the box office looked poised for a comeback, with a string of pandemic-era record opening weekends, including “A Quiet Place Part II” ($48 million), “F9” ($70 million) and “Black Widow” ($80 million) in June and July. Despite a few well-timed theatrical hits, multiplexes aren’t home free yet.
The persistent uphill battle that faces the film industry was illuminated last weekend with the release of “The Suicide Squad.” The R-rated comic book adaptation had all the makings of a box office hit: stellar reviews, charismatic super-villains and the cinematic anomaly of Sylvester Stallone as a digitized shark. However, the Warner Bros. movie fell short of expectations, earning $26.5 million in its first three days of release in North America. “The Suicide Squad” generated another $35 million internationally, taking its overall tally to $72.2 million.
- 8/9/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” underwhelmed at the box office this weekend, but HBO Max chief Andy Forssell told The Hollywood Reporter that the R-rated DC Comics tentpole became “the second most viewed film over an opening weekend on HBO Max since we began day-and-date releases with theaters.” Like all of Warner Bros.’ films released in 2021, “The Suicide Squad” launched in theaters the same day it became available to stream on HBO Max for 31 days. How does Gunn feel about his film debuting on a streaming service? “I don’t really care that much,” the director recently told Variety.
“I really just care about whatever the project is in front of me,” Gunn said. “‘The Suicide Squad’ is made to be seen first and foremost on a big screen. I think it’s gonna work just fine on television. Listen, movies don’t last because they’re seen on the big screen.
“I really just care about whatever the project is in front of me,” Gunn said. “‘The Suicide Squad’ is made to be seen first and foremost on a big screen. I think it’s gonna work just fine on television. Listen, movies don’t last because they’re seen on the big screen.
- 8/9/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The movies have done their job for HBO Max.
The steady stream of new Warner Bros. theatrical releases landing on HBO Max this year as day-and-date theatrical and streaming premieres has delivered a big boost of buzz and, most importantly, subscribers to the fledgling streaming streaming service that launched in late May 2020.
But with this year half over, HBO Max leaders are looking ahead to 2022 when the service will not have high-wattage titles to help attract new paying customers and to encourage existing subscribers to sample original series content. New Warner Bros. such as “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Godzilla Vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat” “In the Heights” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” have been workhorses that definitely helped bring viewers to HBO Max and HBO’s recent breakouts “Hacks,” “Mare of Easttown” and the “Friends” reunion special.
“There’s been great interplay between those titles and the day-and-date films,” said Andy Forssell,...
The steady stream of new Warner Bros. theatrical releases landing on HBO Max this year as day-and-date theatrical and streaming premieres has delivered a big boost of buzz and, most importantly, subscribers to the fledgling streaming streaming service that launched in late May 2020.
But with this year half over, HBO Max leaders are looking ahead to 2022 when the service will not have high-wattage titles to help attract new paying customers and to encourage existing subscribers to sample original series content. New Warner Bros. such as “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Godzilla Vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat” “In the Heights” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” have been workhorses that definitely helped bring viewers to HBO Max and HBO’s recent breakouts “Hacks,” “Mare of Easttown” and the “Friends” reunion special.
“There’s been great interplay between those titles and the day-and-date films,” said Andy Forssell,...
- 7/22/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Max chief Andy Forssell insists that the disappointing box office returns for last month's Warner Bros. musical "In the Heights" had nothing to do with its simultaneous release on his streaming platform. "It's so hard to gauge how much did Covid have to do with it, especially with the Covid situation changing week by week, people's willingness to go to a theater," Forssell told TheWrap after WarnerMedia parent AT&T reported its second quarter earnings (which you can read about here). "I just know 'In the Heights' did really well on HBO Max -- it did sort of lower end of the range of our expectations at the box office." For the record, director Jon M. Chu's adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical opened to a modest $11.5 million in theaters in early June -- and has grossed a total of $29 million since opening. Forssell defended the company's overall strategy of making Warner Bros.
- 7/22/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Asked during this morning’s AT&T quarterly earnings call about his current view of movie release strategy, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar declared, “The motion picture format absolutely matters.”
The entertainment unit posted strong second-quarter numbers, with revenue rising 31%, helping the parent company easily beat Wall Street estimates. A key area of focus, streaming service HBO Max, added 2.8 million subscribers along with regular HBO in the quarter. Together, they have 47 million subscribers in the U.S.
One major driver of subscriptions has been a subject of controversy and consternation in Hollywood: Warner Bros releasing its entire 2021 slate on HBO Max at the same time it arrives in theaters. As time has passed, the landmark decision has appeared to be less radical than it initially seemed, but the ultimate impact on the box office and windowing is still coming into focus.
“I certainly don’t see us going back to the way...
The entertainment unit posted strong second-quarter numbers, with revenue rising 31%, helping the parent company easily beat Wall Street estimates. A key area of focus, streaming service HBO Max, added 2.8 million subscribers along with regular HBO in the quarter. Together, they have 47 million subscribers in the U.S.
One major driver of subscriptions has been a subject of controversy and consternation in Hollywood: Warner Bros releasing its entire 2021 slate on HBO Max at the same time it arrives in theaters. As time has passed, the landmark decision has appeared to be less radical than it initially seemed, but the ultimate impact on the box office and windowing is still coming into focus.
“I certainly don’t see us going back to the way...
- 7/22/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Over its nearly five-decade history, HBO has never run commercials. Now WarnerMedia, in a bid to maximize its streaming base, has rolled out a cheaper version of HBO Max with ads — $9.99 monthly, 33% less than the regular $14.99 no-ads plan. The company promises that it will feel as deluxe as any advertising can be, representing the lowest-clutter service pushing onto the streaming battlefield. Here are five key takeaways from its latest streaming play.
Is WarnerMedia at risk of tainting the HBO brand with advertising?
The company says it’s limiting commercial time to four minutes per hour of content (even lower than Peacock’s five-minute cap). Moreover, it’s not running ads in core HBO programming to remain consistent with the premium cabler’s heritage. Jp Colaco, an ex-Hulu exec who is WarnerMedia’s head of advertising sales, says with a minimal ad load, consumers may actually watch more content and ads.
Is WarnerMedia at risk of tainting the HBO brand with advertising?
The company says it’s limiting commercial time to four minutes per hour of content (even lower than Peacock’s five-minute cap). Moreover, it’s not running ads in core HBO programming to remain consistent with the premium cabler’s heritage. Jp Colaco, an ex-Hulu exec who is WarnerMedia’s head of advertising sales, says with a minimal ad load, consumers may actually watch more content and ads.
- 6/11/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
News and sports will definitely have a place in the world of streaming, but may require new formats and programming concepts to make them fit the needs of modern audiences, according to the executive who oversees WarnerMedia’s HBO Max.
News and sports programming are a significant factor in keeping consumers tethered to cable and satellite subscriptions in an era rife with cord-cutting, said Andy Forssell, general manager of HBO Max, while speaking Thursday at an investor conference hosted by Barclays. But the way those formats are presented will likely have to change for streaming viewers, he said.
“It’s not just how do we present those games,” he said of streaming sports included in rights deals with the company’s Turner Sports. “What shoulder content goes around it? Should the talent that’s connected to it be different in the digital world?” As for news, Forssell said WarnerMedia was...
News and sports programming are a significant factor in keeping consumers tethered to cable and satellite subscriptions in an era rife with cord-cutting, said Andy Forssell, general manager of HBO Max, while speaking Thursday at an investor conference hosted by Barclays. But the way those formats are presented will likely have to change for streaming viewers, he said.
“It’s not just how do we present those games,” he said of streaming sports included in rights deals with the company’s Turner Sports. “What shoulder content goes around it? Should the talent that’s connected to it be different in the digital world?” As for news, Forssell said WarnerMedia was...
- 6/3/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
WarnerMedia’s long-awaited, ad-supported tier of HBO Max is officially launching today, promising the “lowest commercial ad load in the streaming industry.”
The company said the $10-a-month tier (a notable discount from the ad-free version’s sector-high $15 price) will be “rolling out throughout the day.” At its upfront presentation to media buyers last month, WarnerMedia said HBO Max with Ads would go live in early June, but it did not specify a date.
With a maximum of four minutes per hour of ads — and none during HBO programming — the cheaper tier has been viewed internally as a key stimulus for subscriptions. NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Discovery+ are also in the same neighborhood. Discovery said it ended up at 4 minutes per hour of ads after initially planning for five.
One carve-out for subscribers to the cheaper tier is access to the day-and-date releases of Warner Bros films like the upcoming Space Jam and Matrix sequels.
The company said the $10-a-month tier (a notable discount from the ad-free version’s sector-high $15 price) will be “rolling out throughout the day.” At its upfront presentation to media buyers last month, WarnerMedia said HBO Max with Ads would go live in early June, but it did not specify a date.
With a maximum of four minutes per hour of ads — and none during HBO programming — the cheaper tier has been viewed internally as a key stimulus for subscriptions. NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Discovery+ are also in the same neighborhood. Discovery said it ended up at 4 minutes per hour of ads after initially planning for five.
One carve-out for subscribers to the cheaper tier is access to the day-and-date releases of Warner Bros films like the upcoming Space Jam and Matrix sequels.
- 6/2/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max is now there for those of you who were not previously willing to pay $14.99/month for the streaming service, as the ad-supported tier that costs $9.99 per month launched Wednesday.
Currently, the WarnerMedia-owned platform is offering new and returning subscribers the option to pre-pay for a year of service and receive a 15% discount, making the ad-supported tier of HBO Max’s price tag $99.99/year and the ad-free version $149.99/year.
Now, there are a few things that the ad-supported-tier customers will miss out on, and it’s not just a commercial-free viewing experience.
Per HBO Max, “The ad-supported tier will not include the ability to download content for offline viewing, and streaming video quality will be capped at 1080p. Warner Bros. same-day premiere films debuting in theaters and on HBO Max throughout 2021 are not included in the HBO Max ad-supported tier, but will become available on both tier options...
Currently, the WarnerMedia-owned platform is offering new and returning subscribers the option to pre-pay for a year of service and receive a 15% discount, making the ad-supported tier of HBO Max’s price tag $99.99/year and the ad-free version $149.99/year.
Now, there are a few things that the ad-supported-tier customers will miss out on, and it’s not just a commercial-free viewing experience.
Per HBO Max, “The ad-supported tier will not include the ability to download content for offline viewing, and streaming video quality will be capped at 1080p. Warner Bros. same-day premiere films debuting in theaters and on HBO Max throughout 2021 are not included in the HBO Max ad-supported tier, but will become available on both tier options...
- 6/2/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
The merger between AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. instantly set off speculation in Hollywood over who will run WarnerMedia after the expected exit of CEO Jason Kilar, with candidates ranging from tech veteran Andy Forssell to HBO chief Casey Bloys to former HBO leader Richard Plepler. Given the magnitude of the deal, its complexities and the swiftness by which the deal was announced, it’s unclear who has the leadership skills to lead should the exit of Kilar become official, which is likely. Two insiders say the clear choice would be a team of Kilar’s top lieutenants, which could include HBO Max General Manager and longtime ally of Kilar’s Forssell; WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group CEO and Chair Ann Sarnoff; and chief content officer of HBO and HBO Max Casey Bloys, who reports to Sarnoff. They could share the work, similar to WarnerMedia’s decision in 2019 to...
- 5/18/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Even in a business well-acquainted with comebacks, HBO Max has become a fairly remarkable turnaround story.
While still a work in progress, the streaming service has recovered from an inauspicious launch last May to find itself a central part of the overall streaming conversation. Combined with linear HBO, HBO Max added 2.7 million subscribers in the quarter ending March 31, reaching 44.2 million. That is substantially ahead of targets initially set out by its corporate parents, WarnerMedia and AT&T. (Customers already paying for HBO through their pay-tv provider can access the $15-a-month HBO Max at no extra charge.) In June, an ad-supported tier will be introduced, reportedly for $10 a month. HBO Max will also launch in June outside the U.S., another way it hopes to hit its goal of 120 million to 150 million global subscribers by the end of 2025.
The gains in the most recent quarter came as a bold experiment...
While still a work in progress, the streaming service has recovered from an inauspicious launch last May to find itself a central part of the overall streaming conversation. Combined with linear HBO, HBO Max added 2.7 million subscribers in the quarter ending March 31, reaching 44.2 million. That is substantially ahead of targets initially set out by its corporate parents, WarnerMedia and AT&T. (Customers already paying for HBO through their pay-tv provider can access the $15-a-month HBO Max at no extra charge.) In June, an ad-supported tier will be introduced, reportedly for $10 a month. HBO Max will also launch in June outside the U.S., another way it hopes to hit its goal of 120 million to 150 million global subscribers by the end of 2025.
The gains in the most recent quarter came as a bold experiment...
- 5/3/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Third-party streaming ratings firm Samba TV reported Monday that 3.6 million households watched at least five minutes of Warner Bros/Legendary’s Godzilla vs. Kong on HBO Max in the pic’s first five days on the site from March 31-April 4.
While HBO Max didn’t provide any official viewership figures on Godzilla vs. Kong, previous data from Samba shows that the fourthquel’s audience was larger than previous HBO Max movies for the first four days: the Christmas weekend launch of Wonder Woman 1984 with 2.2M U.S. households (for at least five minutes) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League which clocked 1.8M U.S. HBO Max households (for at least five minutes).
Note that Samba TV only polls viewers from terrestrial smart TVs. Nonetheless, its data on Godzilla vs. Kong supports the claim made Sunday by WarnerMedia Direct-to-Consumer EVP and General Manager Andy Forssell that the movie “had a...
While HBO Max didn’t provide any official viewership figures on Godzilla vs. Kong, previous data from Samba shows that the fourthquel’s audience was larger than previous HBO Max movies for the first four days: the Christmas weekend launch of Wonder Woman 1984 with 2.2M U.S. households (for at least five minutes) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League which clocked 1.8M U.S. HBO Max households (for at least five minutes).
Note that Samba TV only polls viewers from terrestrial smart TVs. Nonetheless, its data on Godzilla vs. Kong supports the claim made Sunday by WarnerMedia Direct-to-Consumer EVP and General Manager Andy Forssell that the movie “had a...
- 4/5/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ Propels Domestic Box Office Out Of Pandemic Depression With $48.5M 5-Day Opening
Sunday Am Final: Whoever said moviegoing was bound to stay dead, or that streaming has won, needs to go back to business school. Because a big event movie plus a holiday weekend, along with LA & NYC reopened exhibition markets equaled big bucks. At the box office, Warner Bros./Legendary’s Godzilla vs. Kong decimated all industry projections with a 5-day box office of $48.5M after a $12.5M Saturday, +8%. Godzilla vs. Kong‘s 3-day was $32.2M and that’s the high-end of the 5-day projection which was being made before its Wednesday opening. There has to be a lot of WarnerMedia executives who are glad that Godzilla vs. Kong was never sold to Netflix.
“Monstrous results all across the United States. Audiences are excited to see movies in theaters on the big screen with big sound,” exclaimed Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution Boss Jeff Goldstein this morning.
Warner Bros. was the first...
“Monstrous results all across the United States. Audiences are excited to see movies in theaters on the big screen with big sound,” exclaimed Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution Boss Jeff Goldstein this morning.
Warner Bros. was the first...
- 4/4/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In his first year as WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar earned $52.1 million, according to an SEC filing, though there is a pretty big asterisk on that value.
Kilar took home more than $49 million in stock swards, on top of his base pay of $1.67 million. However, that $49 million will vest over the next four years. Kilar took over as WarnerMedia CEO on May 1 and John Stankey assumed the top job at AT&T in July. Going forward, Kilar’s yearly compensation package will be around $17 million.
Stankey’s base pay was just over $2 million with his stock awards totaling $13.4 million. In total, he took home just over $21 million. That was down slightly from the $22.5 million he earned in 2019, his last full year as WarnerMedia CEO.
Kilar’s first year atop WarnerMedia has been filled with numerous changes, and the launch of one pretty major streaming service in HBO Max. Kilar reorganized the business,...
Kilar took home more than $49 million in stock swards, on top of his base pay of $1.67 million. However, that $49 million will vest over the next four years. Kilar took over as WarnerMedia CEO on May 1 and John Stankey assumed the top job at AT&T in July. Going forward, Kilar’s yearly compensation package will be around $17 million.
Stankey’s base pay was just over $2 million with his stock awards totaling $13.4 million. In total, he took home just over $21 million. That was down slightly from the $22.5 million he earned in 2019, his last full year as WarnerMedia CEO.
Kilar’s first year atop WarnerMedia has been filled with numerous changes, and the launch of one pretty major streaming service in HBO Max. Kilar reorganized the business,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Would audiences pay to see a new movie on the big screen if they could watch the same title at home from the comfort of their couch? Prior to the pandemic, the response from theater operators and cinema purists would have been a resounding “no.”
Yet Hollywood is finding that, at least while a plague of Biblical proportion rages, the answer is: sorta.
“The Little Things,” a crime thriller starring Denzel Washington and Rami Malek, topped domestic box office charts, debuting to $4.8 million from 2,171 venues in North America. At the same time, it was available to HBO Max subscribers for a monthly fee that’s less than a single movie ticket in some parts of the country. “The Little Things” is one of 17 films from Warner Bros. that will premiere simultaneously in cinemas and on the HBO Max streaming service.
In normal times, those box office receipts would spell disaster.
Yet Hollywood is finding that, at least while a plague of Biblical proportion rages, the answer is: sorta.
“The Little Things,” a crime thriller starring Denzel Washington and Rami Malek, topped domestic box office charts, debuting to $4.8 million from 2,171 venues in North America. At the same time, it was available to HBO Max subscribers for a monthly fee that’s less than a single movie ticket in some parts of the country. “The Little Things” is one of 17 films from Warner Bros. that will premiere simultaneously in cinemas and on the HBO Max streaming service.
In normal times, those box office receipts would spell disaster.
- 1/31/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
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