Warner Bros Discovery

It’s no surprise HBO canceled “Westworld” after four seasons • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 4, 2022Posted in HBO, HBO Max, Media & Entertainment, streaming service, Warner Bros DiscoveryNo Comments

In a series of cancellations, HBO has managed to disappoint many viewers as of late. Now, “Westworld” fans will be among them. The network announced today that it is canceling the sci-fi drama after four seasons. The show just aired its season four finale in August. HBO, in a prepared statement, said, “Over the past four seasons, Lisa and Jonah have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step. We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It’s been a thrill to join them on this journey.” “Westworld,” created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, had the potential to be the network’s next “Game of Thrones.” At least in the beginning. The series earned nine Emmys and starred Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Thandiwe Newton, Luke Hemsworth and Aaron Paul. But, sadly, “Westworld” will never get the fifth season Nolan hoped for. It’s likely the network made the decision after watching viewership ratings for “Westworld” continue to drop and drop. For instance, the third season only drew in 1.8 million viewers across multiple platforms for the season 3 finale, down 18% from the final episode of season 2, according to The Wrap. Westworld’s absolutely abysmal cratering in the ratings wasn’t completely surprising but it’s still pretty shocking how steep it is pic.twitter.com/HfDFHtcFc0 — Sage Hyden → “Just Write” on Youtube (@sagehyden) July 24, 2022 Fans and critics alike anticipated the failure. One Twitter user said, “I won’t pretend like I didn’t see this coming.” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has been on a cost-cutting spree for months, shelving the highly anticipated DC movie “Batgirl” and canceling multiple shows that were deemed unsuccessful. “We are being deliberate about measuring how are the shows doing,” Zaslav said in yesterday’s earnings call. “Let me be very clear, we did not get rid of any show that is helping us… It’s a business of failure, but we’d rather take that money and spend it again and have a chance of having a show that will engage and delight.” Zaslav also noted that the company would focus on popular franchises, including “Superman,” “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones.” He’s been particularly vocal about improving the DC slate. The company even brought on Marvel filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran as the new co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios. After Warner Bros. Discovery missed expectations yesterday, the company is probably feeling the pressure to deliver better content as it gets ready to launch its combined HBO Max/Discovery+ streaming service next year.

Combined HBO Max/Discovery+ service gets an earlier launch date, price hike is to be expected • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 4, 2022Posted in Discovery, HBO Max, Media & Entertainment, streaming service, Warner Bros DiscoveryNo Comments

After Warner Bros. Discovery reported its third-quarter earnings results yesterday, the company told investors and analysts in a call that the forthcoming combined HBO Max/Discovery+ streaming service will now launch in the U.S. earlier than previously announced. CEO David Zaslav said the yet-to-be-named service is now getting a spring 2023 launch instead of in the summer. Following its debut in the United States, the service will roll out in Latin America and then in Europe in 2024. While the company has yet to announce how much the service will cost or what it’ll be called, it will get an ad-free and ad-lite plan. Also, HBO Max’s ad-free plan might get a price hike next year, the company noted during yesterday’s call. “By 2023, HBO Max will not have raised prices since its launch. So, it will have been three years since pricing has moved. Which we think is an opportunity, particularly in this environment,” JB Perrette, President and CEO of Global Streaming and Games, said. The $14.99/month price of HBO Max’s ad-free plan has not budged since its launch in 2020. As more streaming services increase its prices for subscribers, HBO Max will likely join in on the trend. And while many subscribers won’t be happy with a price hike, it also makes sense for the streamer. Once HBO Max merges with Discovery+, the higher cost seems justifiable because subscribers will get double the amount of content. Another reason for the potential price hike is that not enough subscribers are choosing HBO Max’s $9.99/month ad-supported tier, which launched last year. “We were frankly a little surprised in the HBO Max ad-lite offering that more people have not moved to that offering… We believe there’s actually some pricing advantage for us on the ad-free service, and we can probably move north of where the prices are today,” Perrette added. Separately, Zaslav mentioned that the company is still “aggressively attacking the AVOD market with our own FAST offering in 2023.” WBD stated last quarter that it was exploring a free ad-supported streaming TV service (FAST). “As a company with the largest film and TV library in the industry, we have a unique opportunity to increase our addressable market and drive real value, and we plan to move quickly,” he said yesterday. WBD’s future FAST offering will join other media company-owned FAST services like NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Paramount’s Pluto TV, Fox’s Tubi and Comcast’s Xumo. The company reported a net add of 2.8 million global subscribers across HBO, HBO Max and Discovery+ in the third quarter, bringing the total to 94.9 million. Only 500,000 domestic subs were added.

Warner Bros. Discovery falls short of expectations in Q3 despite success of “Game of Thrones” spinoff • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 3, 2022Posted in Discovery, HBO Max, Media & Entertainment, streaming service, Warner Bros DiscoveryNo Comments

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) reported its fiscal quarterly earnings this afternoon– its last one before the company is set to launch a new streaming service next year that combines HBO Max and Discovery+ content. Since Netflix reported decent Q3 results, the market likely anticipated an okay turnout for WBD. However, it’s clear the company fell short. HBO, HBO Max and Discovery+ ended the third quarter with a combined net add of 2.8 million global subscribers, bringing the total to 94.9 million, up from 92.1 million in Q2. However, Wall Street anticipated a net add of 3.27 million subscribers. Last quarter, the company reported a loss of 300,000 domestic subscribers, bringing the total to 53 million. The new total is 53.5 million domestic subs. WBD stock has dropped 49% year-to-date. Analysts were bullish on revenue and expected $10.51 billion, which would have been a 233.6% jump year over year. WBD sorely missed expectations and reported a total of $9.82 billion. After reporting a net loss of $3.4 million in Q2, WBD’s net loss of $2.4 million this quarter isn’t as bad—we guess. Overall, WBD has a gross debt load of around $50.4 billion, the company noted. This is a promising improvement from the previous $53 debt load. The company has said it wanted to slash $3 billion worth of costs over the next two years. WBD has ramped up its restructuring efforts, including canceling HBO Max titles and cutting down its workforce. Most recently, 14% of staff working under HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys were laid off. “While we have lots more work to do, and there are some difficult decisions still to be made, we have total conviction in the opportunity ahead,” CEO David Zaslav said in today’s letter. On the bright side, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” spinoff series, “House of the Dragon,” garnered record-breaking viewership numbers. The series premiere had 10 million viewers, and the finale had 9.3 million. The entire series overall had an average of around 29 million viewers in the U.S., the company wrote in its letter to shareholders. This is likely why “House of the Dragon” will get a second season, with rumors that six more spin-offs are on the way. The company also announced yesterday that it is collaborating with NFT platform Nifty’s to launch “Game of Thrones” NFTs for fans to collect customizable avatars inspired by characters from the series, weapons, companions, gear and more. This comes a week after Warner Bros. launched “Lord of the Rings” NFTs, another popular franchise that’ll likely help the company earn revenue. Also, Zaslav made a smart move with the recent hire of James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios. Gunn is a top filmmaker in the industry, with tons of impressive superhero titles under his belt. Safran will also make an excellent addition to the studio since he’s produced “Shazam” and “Aquaman.” After years of working with Disney’s Marvel, Gunn turning over to Warner Bros.’ DC Entertainment marks a crucial moment for the company. Plus, after the extremely disappointing news that “Batgirl” was canceled, Zaslav has to work hard to get DC fans back on his side.

Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO announce plans for ‘Game of Thrones’ NFTs • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 2, 2022Posted in game of thrones, Media & Entertainment, NFTs, Warner Bros DiscoveryNo Comments

“Game of Thrones” NFTs are coming this winter. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and HBO have teamed up with NFT platform Nifty’s to launch digital-collectible non-fungible tokens based on the hit series. An official launch date is not yet confirmed, but fans can expect “Game of Thrones” NFTs in late 2022. The NFT experience, “Game of Thrones: Build Your Realm,” will allow fans to build a realm by collecting customizable avatars inspired by characters from the series as well as assorted packs with various collectibles like “equipable” items to “strengthen” their avatars such as weapons, companions and gear, Nifty’s wrote in its blog. “Throughout the program, varying themed packs will also be available,” WBD noted in its announcement. Other NFTs will include special moments from the series, “Game of Thrones” characters and locations. The experience will also have “thematic activities [and] on-site engagement” for fans to enjoy, WBD said. The company didn’t reveal pricing details. “Our goal, as always, with the fans, is to create new ways for them to interact with the stories and characters they love,” Josh Hackbarth, Head of NFT Commercial Development for Warner Bros Discovery, said in a statement. “We’re excited to expand the ‘Game of Thrones’ fandom and franchise with this unique digital collectible program that’ll engage fans on a deeper level, allowing them to immerse into the world of Westeros, and enhance the overall fan experience.” WBD is likely looking to generate additional revenue with the launch of “Game of Thrones” NFTs, arguably one of HBO’s most popular franchises. The company is in need of money after experiencing a net loss of $3.4 million last quarter. Plus, WBD has a debt load of about $53 billion. The company will report its Q3 results tomorrow, November 3. “Every so often, a film or television series comes along that pushes the boundaries of its genre so far it forever changes the creative landscape, becoming a part of our collective cultural identity. ‘Game of Thrones’ is that series for this generation,” added Jeff Marsilio, CEO and co-founder of Nifty’s. “Nifty’s is thrilled to be working alongside Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to keep pushing the bounds of creativity and imagination through a new kind of digital collectible that will allow fans of the franchise to connect in ways they never have before.” Also, 3D-content company Daz 3D will collaborate with the companies on the design, development and production of the NFT experience. This isn’t the first time the media company has collaborated with Nifty’s as it launched “Looney Tunes” NFTs in June. Separately, WBD also partnered with Funko on various NFT drops. And last month, Warner Bros. partnered with blockchain company Eluvio to release “The Lord of the Rings” web3 movie experience, with NFT versions of the film.

Warner Bros. teams up with web3 startup Eluvio to launch ‘Lord of the Rings’ NFTs • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 21, 2022Posted in blockchain, Media & Entertainment, NFTs, Warner Bros, Warner Bros Discovery, web3No Comments

Warner Bros. Discovery has partnered with blockchain company Eluvio to launch tomorrow “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (Extended Version) web3 movie experience, with limited-edition multimedia non-fungible token (NFT) versions of the movie. “The Fellowship of the Ring” NFTs feature a 4K UHD, 3-hour-and-48-minute extended version of the 2001 film, over eight hours of bonus footage and commentary, image galleries and hidden AR collectibles. There are two editions that fans can choose from. Warner Bros. and Eluvio are minting 10,000 copies of the Mystery Edition, priced at $30 each, which comes with one of three location-based navigation menus modeled after a location in the film. There will be 999 copies of the Epic Edition, which are $100 each, and include all three location menus — The Shire, Rivendell and Mines of Moria. The Epic Edition will also come with exclusive bonus image galleries. Image Credits: Warner Bros./Eluvio Eluvio is rolling out the NFTs via its Ethereum-compatible blockchain. On Friday, October 21 at 9 a.m. PDT/ 12 p.m. EDT, “Lord of the Rings” fans can head to web3.wb.com/warnermedia/movieverse and create an Eluvio media wallet. The “Fellowship of the Ring” NFTs will be available to purchase with credit cards, debit or cryptocurrency. Once purchased, you can launch the web3 movie experience and stream the extended movie from the media wallet. This is the first set of NFTs available in the company’s new “WB Movieverse,” which Warner Bros. and Eluvio call a “multimedia living movie experience.” According to the website, two more NFT experiences are “coming soon.” “Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is setting a new bar for innovation in the distribution of home movies by demonstrating the potential of web3 for consumer engagement, digital supply chain transformation, and new business opportunities,” said Michelle Munson, CEO and co-founder of Eluvio, in a statement. Updated 10/20/22 at 2:03 p.m. ET with a statement from Eluvio.