LEAD STORY
What To Make Of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Plan To Merge HBO Max And Discovery Plus
The rage this past week within media circles was what Warner Bros. Discovery was going to do with its streaming services HBO Max and Discovery Plus.
The media company had previously announced that it intended to combine the two streaming services into one. Still, the chatter this time around devolved into which of the two would receive the worse outcome, and all signs were pointing towards HBO Max.
Also, what would the new name of the streaming service be? Will it go with a unique name or follow the herd mentality and go with a “Plus” monicker tied to the end of a legacy brand name like “Warner?”
On Thursday, David Zaslav and his executives from the WBD, during the 2nd quarter earnings call, gave a glimpse of what should be expected with the forthcoming marriage between the two streaming services that have a combined 92.1 million global subscribers.
WBD plans to merge the two streaming platforms sometime in the summer of 2023 for US and 2024 for its global audiences. It wants to have 130 million global subscribers by 2025 and be profitable by 2024.
The new streaming service will exist on one tech stack using the Discovery Plus infrastructure but employing HBO Max’s feature enhancements.
No new name for the streaming service just yet. That will be announced at a later date.
The new streaming service will consist of two paid versions — an ad-free version and an ad-lite version for cost-conscious consumers.
In addition, WBD announced that they would introduce a free, ad-supported TV (FAST) version to compete with the likes of Tubi and PlutoTV.
With the $3 billion in savings promised by Zaslav, WBD has been cutting costs across its operations, and HBO Max has not been spared.
Earlier in the week, the media company announced that made for streaming movies Batgirl and Scoob! would no longer be released and instead be shelved indefinitely. This was done primarily so that the company could take a tax write-down and recoup production costs.
The company is re-embracing its theatrical first model, followed by a release on streaming.
With one streaming option being offered in the future, expect additional job cuts, which unfortunately will aid in the cost-cutting.
This next year will be telling as everything about HBO Max, and Discovery Plus will be in a holding pattern as they gear up to merge. Current subscribers may not notice a thing, but the uncertainty will affect creatives.
Waiting till 2023 for the relaunched streaming product from WBD, even with its large subscription base, might lose the momentum it has built from having HBO Max and Discovery Plus in circulation. Consumer confusion will exist once they are being reintroduced to this new/old product.
Furthermore, its time lost as it tries to keep up with Netflix and Disney Plus and fend off the likes of Peacock and Paramount Plus.
(The Wrap, Vulture, Streaming Wars/Twitter, AdWeek, Axios, NBC News)
RECAP
Alyssa Farrah Griffin and Ana Navarro Join ABC’s The View
The Hot Topics table on ABC’s The View is going to need an extra seat as Alyssa Farrah Griffin and Ana Navarro were named co-hosts of the morning talk program. The two Republicans join moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines. Farrah Griffin, who comes from the Trump administration, made 29 appearances throughout the 25th season and will now be a full-time co-host, while Navarro, who is no stranger to the daytime program, having been a contributor and a guest host since 2015, will serve as a parttime cohost saying, “This is not the right time for me or for the show to make it full-time. I have other work commitments. I have a life. I have a husband in Miami who I thank for understanding my absences.” (ABC News)
Days Of Our Lives Moving To Peacock From NBC
NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock did not add any new subscribers during the second quarter. That stagnation is causing the media conglomerate to shake things up and look for ways to drive more subscribers to the service. One way it is doing this is moving the iconic daytime drama series Days of Our Lives from NBC to Peacock. The move, which will happen on September 12, marks the end of the drama’s 57-year run on NBC. Despite being the least watched of the four remaining network daytime dramas, Days of Our Lives has a loyal following, and NBCU executives are hoping that they will follow the show once it moves to Peacock. NBC will fill the gap left by Days of Our Lives’ exit with NBC News Daily, a one-hour news program anchored by Kate Snow, Aaron Gilchrist, Vicky Nguyen, and Morgan Radford. (The Vulture)
CNN To Shake Up Its Entire Programming Schedule
In the three months since he has taken over as chairman and CEO of CNN, Chris Licht has been moving rather quietly. For the most part, he has been on a meet-the-people tour as he gets a better understanding of the network’s vast global operations. Last month he announced his executive team, and now it seems he is ready to make his presence on the programming side as he looks to reimagine CNN’s schedule. All dayparts are expected to encounter some change as Licht looks to redefine what CNN and its program should be. Some of the programming changes that could be coming include debuting a new 9 pm primetime show, which will defer from the single anchor format and instead use multiple anchors; Another revamp of its morning program New Day may be coming; and an introduction of a Sunday evening news block featuring Chris Wallace. Licht also wants to highlight CNN’s beat reporters more, as he looks to emphasize CNN’s news and reporting capabilities more so than the analysis and talk radio format it had embraced during the Zucker era. (Variety and Axios)
QUICK RECAP
Hall of fame broadcaster Vin Scully passes away. (TVNewser)
It’s official, Matthew Berry joins NBC Sports. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
Former ESPNer Allison Williams joins Fox Sports. (Awful Announcing)
Taylor Rooks named feature reporter for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and extends deal with Turner Sports. (Front Office Sports and Variety)
Linda Cohn re-ups her contract with ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor, NHL host, and reporter. (ESPN Press Room)
NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt signs a multi-year deal with Omaha Productions. (Awful Announcing)
Rodolfo Martinez has been promoted to senior vice president of ESPN Deportes & International Productions. (ESPN Press Room)
CNN and other major news organizations filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety to obtain public records relating to the Robb Elementary School massacre. (CNN)
Netflix is moving into offering more video games. (CNBC)
Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill says she and SportsCenter weren’t a good fit. (Awful Announcing)
Bill O’Reilly could be joining Chris Cuomo at NewsNation. (The Daily Beast)
NBC Sports is looking to make something big out of Big Ten Football. (Front Office Sports)
CNN and HLN content will be available on Discovery Plus starting August 19. (Warner Bros. Discovery)
Paramount Plus adds 3.7 million subscribers in the second quarter to stand at 43 million total. (MediaPost)
Netflix is learning fast as it tries to set up its ad-tier version. (Wall Street Journal)
Fox Weather, Tubi added to Verizon Fios. (NextTV)
Paramount Plus was added to the Roku Channel. (The Streamable)
What do OAN’s troubles say for the conservative cable news landscape? (The Hill)
Alex Wagner’s new MSNBC show is named Alex Wagner Tonight. (NewscastStudio)
Fox News and Fox Sports to no longer enforce its COVID-19 vaccine passport system. (The Daily Beast)
CNN’s profits are to go below $1 billion this year. (The New York Times)
DirectTV is working on a deal with Amazon to show Thursday Night Football games in bars and restaurants.
UEFA Champions League rights could go to CBS Sports or Amazon’s Prime Video. (Awful Announcing)
Amazon’s Prime Video to stream a Dude Perfect alternate broadcast of Thursday Night Football. (The Streamable)
What to expect from NBC Sports’ 10th year of covering the Premier League. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
17.5 million people in the UK and 17.9 million people in Germany watched the Women’s European Championship final. (Deadline)
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A MarkHenry Media LLC publication - Issue #96 - 2022