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Tag: Warner Media

  • AT&T’s Warner Media & Discovery Inc closing in on merger?

    AT&T’s Warner Media & Discovery Inc closing in on merger?

    Mumbai: The growing power of Netflix, Disney and Amazon and other larger media entities is forcing strange alliances on the industry. US telecom giant AT&T, which acquired Warner Media (then named Time Warner) for around $85 billion in 2018 is all set to fuse Warner Media with Discovery Inc, which itself is valued at around $16 billion with an enterprise valuation of $30 billion. That’s according to a report by US business news channel CNBC.

    The purpose: the two want to stay relevant in the new media ecosystem in which billions of dollars are being spent on content on customer acquisition and retention.

    A new publicly traded company holding the combined assets is to be created with ownership lying with the two media giants’ shareholders. CNBC stated that insiders had informed the channel that a deal is likely to be announced Monday sometime. But it also said no one was willing to come on record on what the stock holding split would be like. It also added that the deal – while it was in the final stages – may even fall through.

    Earlier Bloomberg had reported that the two were in talks to combine the two firms to form a giant media conglomerate.

    AT&T houses brands like CNN, HBO, Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT, and the Warner Bros. studio. Discovery owns networks such as HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and Animal Planet. If such a deal were to be completed, it would be the largest media merger since Viacom and CBS combined their businesses to form ViacomCBS in December 2019.

    Both companies have recently entered the streaming wars. With a platter of content in entertainment, lifestyle, the combined company can create a better international footprint. Moreover, it can emerge as a strong rival to players like Disney, Netflix which are turning out to be more aggressive every day in the streaming war.

    However, there is no information yet on how the assets will be combined. Despite the ongoing discussion, there is no certainty at this moment that it would lead to an actual transaction, Bloomberg reported.

    The report also comes amid the speculation over Comcast’s NBCUniversal and AT&T’s Warner Media merger after research firm LightShed Partners said both the entities should be spun off and merged for long-term health.

    Back in February, AT&T sold 30 per cent of satellite pay-TV operator DirecTV to private equity firm TPG to offload its debt, largely caused by its acquisition spree in the last few years.

  • Wonder Woman 1984 to premiere in theatres & on HBO Max

    Wonder Woman 1984 to premiere in theatres & on HBO Max

    KOLKATA: After several protracted delays, Warner Bros superhero tentpole Wonder Woman 1984 is set to premiere in US movie theatres and on HBO Max on 25 December, in a Christmas present to fans of the franchise. The film will debut one week earlier in international markets where HBO Max is not available.

    “The film will be available for one month on HBO Max in the US at no additional cost to subscribers. After that it is understood it will be taken off the platform and continue to play exclusively in whichever cinemas are open,” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar wrote in a blog.

    Wonder Woman 1984 was expected to be one of the biggest films of 2020, and was slated to hit theatres after this summer. However, the release has been deferred many times due to the Covid2019 crisis.

    “As we navigate these unprecedented times, we’ve had to be innovative in keeping our businesses moving forward while continuing to super-serve our fans,” WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff said.

    The move, though a highly welcome one for fans, is somewhat unprecedented for Warner Bros, which in September ensured an exclusively theatrical opening for its big ticket release Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film turned out to be a dud at the US box office, earning $56 million over two months, as compared to production cost of $200 million. Luckily for the studio, Tenet fared much better internationally, raking in more than $350 million worldwide.

    The dual platform release of Wonder Woman 1984 could spark a trend, with other studios making their biggest titles available in cinema halls and streaming services simultaneously. For instance, Disney's Black Widow is currently scheduled for theatrical release in May 2021, a full year after its original date. While CEO Bob Chapek has come on record to say that the company was pleased with the "premiere access" release of Mulan to Disney+, no such plans regarding Black Widow have been made public yet.

  • Warner Media announces new UK & Ireland team

    Warner Media announces new UK & Ireland team

    MUMBAI: Polly Cochrane, Warner Media's new country manager for the UK and Ireland, has unveiled her leadership team. The company also announced that John Stanley, who helmed Warner Bros’ home entertainment operation in UK, Ireland, Spain and Nordics, has decided to exit after a tenure of 14 years.

    Stanley will step down from his responsibilities at the end of November, but stay on until the end of June on a series of transition projects.

    The new team brings together a group of seasoned executives in Alison Morris, Neil Marshall, Rachel Wakley, Alex Lewis, Allan Stenhouse and Charlie Cubbon. “I am excited to bring together such an outstanding group of executives, each of whom is testament to the great talent we have within the company,” said Cochrane. “As we integrate the commercial and group marketing activities of our Warner Bros businesses and our entertainment networks, we will benefit from their passion for our product, astute thinking, and proven desire to push new boundaries.”

    Alison Morris, who currently oversees the distribution of Warner Bros, Turner, HBO, and HBO Max content, will now lead a newly formed TV and digital distribution group which also includes home video digital distribution. She will also integrate Turner affiliate & ad sales into this combined team, working closely with respective leaders Riccardo Donato and Andrew Mallandaine.

    Meanwhile, Neil Marshall will continue to lead theatrical film distribution, and now also takes on local film production, supported by Patrick Strafford. In addition to this, he will assume oversight for all operations in Ireland.

    Rachel Wakley, who currently oversees consumer products & experiences, will expand her remit to encompass physical video and physical & digital games sales, bringing the company’s entire physical business across all retail and e-commerce channels under her purview.

    Alex Lewis will continue to lead film & games marketing. Lewis recently added digital & data strategy and media & brand partnerships as well as games to her remit and will now oversee the marketing of film catalogue in addition to her existing responsibilities for new release film.

    Allan Stenhouse will continue to lead TV Marketing, having recently taken on Turner and HBO Home Video marketing and TV distribution support in addition to the Warner Bros content he continues to manage.

    Lewis and Stenhouse will continue to jointly oversee creative services and franchise management for the UK & Ireland.

    Meanwhile, Charlie Cubbon will lead on commercial development for the UK and Ireland region, and will also oversee a newly formed central commercial planning team as well as the long-term strategy on games. He will continue to oversee supply chain.

  • Fifteen new HBO Max originals coming to Warner Media platforms in Asia

    Fifteen new HBO Max originals coming to Warner Media platforms in Asia

    MUMBAI: With the launch of HBO Max in the United States on May 27, Warner Media has confirmed that a first wave of at least 15 HBO Max Originals will land on HBO GO and channels in Asia in 2020.

    Most shows will be available first on HBO GO, such as The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo and Love Life where three episodes of each have already dropped on May 27. Premiere dates for other titles and those across HBO, Warner TV, Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels are still to be confirmed.

    The programming slate, specially curated to suit the taste of Asian audiences, includes drama series, documentaries, movies and kids shows. The content is sourced from studios and distributors including Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Sesame Workshop.

    Talent includes household names like Ridley Scott, Meryl Streep, Kaley Cuoco, Lena Dunham, Anna Kendrick, Steven Soderbergh, Melissa McCarthy, Ray Romano, James Corden and of course Elmo and the Sesame Street gang.

    The titles include:

    Comedy & drama series

    Love Life

    Anna Kendrick stars in this anthology romantic comedy series about the journey from first love to last love, and how the people we’re with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever.

    Watch the trailer:

    Raised by Wolves

    From the mind of Ridley Scott, Raised by Wolves centres upon two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet.

    Flight Attendant

    Starring Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory), a flight attendant awakens in a Dubai hotel room to find her one-night-stand dead beside her. Could she have killed him? And, if not, who did?

    Doom Patrol (S2)

    The critically acclaimed DC series features a band of superpowered freaks, part support group, part superhero team, who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them.

    Made for Love

    A series adaptation based on the tragicomic novel of the same name. Starring Cristin Milioti and Ray Romano, Made for Love is a dark, absurd and cynically poignant story of divorce and revenge.

    Generation

    Executive produced by Lena Dunham and Ben Barnz, Generation is a dark yet playful half-hour following a group of high school students. It tests deeply-entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.

    KIDS & FAMILY:

    The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo

    Sesame Street’s Elmo is the host of his very own talk show! He’s going to bring you some (not-too-late) fun with an all-new celeb-studded series that celebrates bedtime routines. Guests include Lil Nas X, the Jonas Brothers, Ciara, Blake Lively, Sofia Carson, John Mulaney, Olivia Wilde and John Oliver.

    Watch the trailer:

    Looney Tunes Cartoons

    An all-new series featuring the marquee characters in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories.

    The Fungies!

    A prehistoric comedy cartoon, The Fungies! explores Fungietown through the whimsical quests of Seth, a young student at Fungietown Elementary.

    Adventure Time: Distant Lands

    These four new specials will continue the Adventure Time stories that captured imaginations and introduced unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, best buds who traversed the mystical Land of Ooo and encountered its colourful inhabitants.

    Sesame Street

    For 50 years, Sesame Street has helped kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, offering preschoolers and their families the gold standard in educational children’s programming.

    Sesame Street: The Monster at the End of the Book

    Starring lovable, furry Grover from Sesame Street, The Monster at the End of This Story is a new animated special based on the acclaimed children’s picture book.

    FILMS:

    UNpregnant

    The film tells the story of 17-year-old Veronica, who never thought she’d want to fail a test – that is, until she finds herself staring at a piece of plastic with two solid pink lines. The Greg Berlanti-production offers a mix of humour and grounded human emotion as it tackles complicated friendships and the difficult road to adulthood…all while in a stolen car.

    Let Them All Talk (wt)

    The film is based on a story of a celebrated author who takes a journey with some old friends to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew comes along to wrangle the ladies and finds himself involved with a young literary agent. Stars Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Diane Wiest and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

    Superintelligence

    Starring Melissa McCarthy, this film tells the story of Carol Peters, to whom nothing extraordinary ever happens. But the world’s first super-intelligence has selected her for observation, taking over her life…with a more ominous plan to take over everything.

    Love Life trailer:

    The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo trailer:

  • HBO Max launches in the US with impressive content library

    HBO Max launches in the US with impressive content library

    MUMBAI: Every other week a new streaming service enters the market. But the arrival of HBO Max is more significant. WarnerMedia’s foray into the market creates a buzz because of its big library of TV shows and films from popular brands like HBO and Warner Bros. 

    The new service is available at $14.99 per month which is more expensive than its major competetiors like Netflix and Disney+.  However, the service includes hit TV shows like Friends, The Big Bang Theory. Moreover, the lineup includes movies like Crazy Rich Asians, A Star Is Born, Aquaman,  Joker, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, The Matrix, The Goonies, When Harry Met Sally.

    This new direct-to-consumer experience features 10,000 hours of premium content including the entire HBO service; motion picture and TV series from Warner Bros.’ 100-year content collection; highlights from New Line; catalogue titles from DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth and Looney Tunes Cartoons; a selection of classic films curated in partnership with TCM; along with a monthly offering of new Max Originals, guaranteeing something for everyone in the household. HBO Max is available starting Thursday priced at $14.99/month from WarnerMedia.

    “Today we are proud to introduce HBO Max – a dream that was created and nurtured by an incredible team of talented executives who dedicated the last year-and-a-half to making it a reality for consumers nationwide,” WarnerMedia Entertainment and direct-to-consumer chairman Bob Greenblatt said . 

    “However, this is just the beginning of our journey. We will continue to innovate and evolve this one-of-a-kind platform that brings together beloved programming from across the WarnerMedia family and around the world, while also paving the way for the creative voices of tomorrow,” he added.

    The service is currently available only in the US.

  • Esports, streaming wars, shopvertising to dominate digital media trends in 2020

    Esports, streaming wars, shopvertising to dominate digital media trends in 2020

    MUMBAI: Technology will continue to disrupt and reshape the digital media industry in 2020, presenting new opportunities and challenges for advertisers and media owners. While digital media will continue to grow globally, the coming of new technologies, platforms and digital touch points will force marketers to readapt their skills, engagement models and measurement capabilities to meaningfully engage with consumers in a cluttered media market.

    This emerging digital paradox – the co-existence of growth and expansion potential in digital media alongside the deluge of digital touch-points which will make it more difficult to connect with consumers – is the focus of the Kantar’s global 2020 Media Trends and Predictions report. In this fast-changing digital media landscape, marketers will also need to navigate the ‘data dilemma,’ to meet consumer demand for relevant, personalised content. And as third-party cookies start to crumble, advertisers will need to find alternative measurement solutions, the report says.

    The curse of the plenty? Streaming wars to continue in 2020

    Nowhere is the deluge of digital touch points more visible than in the crowded OTT space. Considered a niche space with limited players just a few years ago, there are now dozens of big OTT players in every OTT market in the world now. 2019 also saw the entry of Apple TV + and Disney + to the club whereas HBO Max and Warner Media are also getting in action.  

    This increased competition for customer retention and acquiring new customers may seem healthy, providing more choices to consumers, but subscripting fatigue can lead to industry consolidation, the report predicts.

    The report quotes TGI Global Quick View Data to show that 44 per cent of connected consumers in Great Britain who pay for online streaming services have at least two subscriptions, 18 per cent pay for at least three, and seven per cent pay for four or more. This means that entry for new subscription-based services might not be easy.

    “Consumers will continue to use advertiser-funded and subscription-based services, but the ever-increasing amount of available content and platforms will lead to a paradox of choice; more is not always better,” the report says, adding that content will be key to stand out in this crowded OTT market.

    Esports: The next frontier of expansion

    Originally, a hobby for teenagers, esports has now gone truly mainstream. Esports is huge. Over 1.2 million people claim to watch esports in Great Britain alone, according to the TGI survey. In Brazil, nearly one third (32 per cent) of internet users, around 30 million people, say they are active esports fans. This growth is also reflected in the increase in the number of minutes streamed on Twitch, the leading esports platform. Twitch usage totalled 292 billion minutes in 2016 and is expected to reach 600 billion by the end of 2019.

    Global brands like Gillett, Mastercard, Dell, Coca Cola, Toyota, Intel, Nike are already sponsors of esports tournaments.

    The report predicts that as esports tournaments gain more mainstream prominence in 2020, they will present lucrative opportunities for the media owners and advertisers who are ready to capitalise on them.

    2020 will also see more traditional sports move into esports: for instance, football clubs establishing their own esports teams, and Formula One streamed
    over Twitch with gamification.

    And as coverage of esports expands into traditional media, the report predicts, esports players will become well-known celebrities and influencers in their own right.  

    Shopvertising: When shopping meets advertising on digital media

    Content meets commerce in Western markets with shoppable ads on Snap and Amazon, Google, Pinterest ‘shop the look’ ads, and Facebook’s dynamic ads. Brands globally are flocking to formats like Instagram’s shoppable posts.

    Even on TikTok, the ByteDance-owned short-form video platform popular for lip-syncing clips and user-generated challenges, video ads redirect to microsites where people can shop.

    The report also talks about a new frontier of shoppable TV. South Korea's LG is enhancing TV sets with shoppable Augmented Reality (AR) in home shopping shows.

    The report predicts that with the rise of social commerce, direct commerce revenues could boost ad revenues for online media owners and more media channels will experiment with their versions of shoppable ads.

    The experimentation with shoppable formats in digital and traditional media will speed up this year, the report adds.

  • Time Warner to be renamed Warner Media, Turner CEO exits

    Time Warner to be renamed Warner Media, Turner CEO exits

    MUMBAI: AT&T announced on Friday, its first full day of owning Time Warner, that the operating businesses in the $85 billion acquisition will be contained in an entity called WarnerMedia. The names of the operating units — HBO, CNN, Warner Bros., TNT, etc. — will stay the same.

    AT&T’s media business CEO John Stankey who is tasked  with running WarnerMedia after integrating it into AT&T, also announced the exit of Turner CEO John Martin.
    Those who reported to Martin — Turner President David Levy, Turner International President Gerhard Zeiler and CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker — report now to Stankey.

    “This initial Turner org structure will allow me to work more closely with more Turner leaders and accelerate my personal learning of the business,” Stankey wrote in a memo to his “new colleagues.”

    The heads of WarnerMedia’s two other divisions — HBO CEO Richard Plepler and Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara will stay in their jobs.

    Among Time Warner’s top executives, however, Stankey said only general counsel Paul Cappuccio will join the new regime.

    That means former Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes, whom Stankey profusely thanked for his support throughout the deal’s 21-month approval process, will retire after a brief transition.

    WarnerMedia, to meet its goal of $1.5 billion in cost savings, is expected to announce further job cuts.

    Stankey promised daily operations would see “little change,” but he didn’t mince words about further paring of the old Time Warner.

    He further added, “Many of the redundant corporate support functions between our companies at the HQ/holding company level will be eliminated in the coming months,”
    Getting back to the name change, Stankey cited lingering confusion between Time Warner the media company and, until its takeover by Charter Communications, Time Warner the cable company. “Our consumer research suggests this confusion isn’t going away,” he said.

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