Discovery and WarnerMedia Merger | Inside Universal Forums
Inside Universal Forums
Inside Universal Forums
  • Home
  • Forums
    New posts Search forums Account Upgrades
  • News
    Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Orlando Universal Studios Japan Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Beijing
  • Merchandise
Log in Register
What's new Search

Search

By:
  • New posts
  • Search forums
  • Account Upgrades
Menu
Log in

Register

Install the app
  • Signing up for a Premium Membership is a donation to help Inside Universal maintain costs and offers an ad-free experience on the forum. Learn more about it here.
  • Forums
  • Miscellaneous
  • Games, Movies & Sports
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

Discovery and WarnerMedia Merger

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dead2009
  • Start date Start date May 18, 2021
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …

    Go to page

  • 7
Next
1 of 7

Go to page

Next Last
D

Dead2009

Shark Bait
Joined
May 5, 2020
Messages
275
  • May 18, 2021
  • #1
www.nbcnews.com

Discovery and WarnerMedia merge, creating one of the largest U.S. media companies

AT&T's move to spin off WarnerMedia and combine it with Discovery comes as Netflix and Disney have shown the upside of direct-to-consumer streaming platforms.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com

AT&T announced on Monday that WarnerMedia and Discovery are merging to become a new company that will immediately become one of the largest U.S. media businesses.

The new company is the result of AT&T spinning off WarnerMedia, which owns a variety of major media properties including CNN, TBS, TNT, Warner Bros. film and television studio and HBO, into a new company. That company is merging with Discovery, which owns Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, the Food Network and various other media properties.

AT&T will receive $43 billion worth of cash, debt securities and WarnerMedia's retention of debt. The new company will be led by Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

It's a major deal that allows AT&T to undo one of the largest media acquisitions in history: the 2016 purchase of Time Warner for $109 billion. AT&T billed the deal as a chance to combine its telecommunications business, consumer data and media offerings in a way that could compete with major media and tech companies.

The move to spin off Time Warner, later named WarnerMedia, and combine it with Discovery comes as Netflix and Disney have emerged as the dominant players in the direct-to-consumer streaming market.

In its press release, AT&T said that the new company will be better positioned to compete in the increasingly important streaming world.

"This agreement unites two entertainment leaders with complementary content strengths and positions the new company to be one of the leading global direct-to-consumer streaming platforms," AT&T CEO John Stankey said in the press release. "It will support the fantastic growth and international launch of HBO Max with Discovery’s global footprint and create efficiencies which can be re-invested in producing more great content to give consumers what they want."

AT&T shareholders will own 71 percent of the new company, with Discovery shareholders getting 29 percent, according to an AT&T press release. The deal also allows AT&T to unload some of its debt, which had become the focus of analyst concern on Wall Street.

Stankey said the deal would help AT&T refocus.
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Jun 3, 2021
  • #2
So this is probably the most befuddling decisions for a logo. The font is... odd, and that tagline is so cheesy I can't believe it's actually on the official logo and not a meme or something. It looks like someone had 5-minutes to make a logo and half-assed those 5 minutes.
Warner-Bros-Discovery-Logo.png

variety.com

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Initial Logo for Wordmark Mocked Online

The name of the combined WarnerMedia-Discovery was revealed on as "Warner Bros. Discovery" -- along with a logo that drew derision.
variety.com variety.com
 
Tristan

Tristan

Minion
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
734
  • Jun 3, 2021
  • #3
Nick said:
So this is probably the most befuddling decisions for a logo. The font is... odd, and that tagline is so cheesy I can't believe it's actually on the official logo and not a meme or something. It looks like someone had 5-minutes to make a logo and half-assed those 5 minutes.
Warner-Bros-Discovery-Logo.png

variety.com

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Initial Logo for Wordmark Mocked Online

The name of the combined WarnerMedia-Discovery was revealed on as "Warner Bros. Discovery" -- along with a logo that drew derision.
variety.com variety.com
Click to expand...
WHY IS THERE NO "..." AFTER THAT TAGLINE
 
Viator

Viator

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
23,298
Location
Seattle, WA!
  • Nov 10, 2021
  • #4


Small note: Discovery's CEO, David Zaslav, will be moving to the LA area to be much more hands on with Warner Bros; even having a direct office on the WB lot.
 
quinnmac000

quinnmac000

Dragon Trainer
Joined
May 14, 2014
Messages
6,512
Location
Seoul, Korea
  • Nov 10, 2021
  • #5
AlexanderMBush said:


Small note: Discovery's CEO, David Zaslav, will be moving to the LA area to be much more hands on with Warner Bros; even having a direct office on the WB lot.
Click to expand...


That's not necessarily a win. Discovery makes money by producing content on the cheap hints why its focus is reality television.
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 11, 2022
  • #6
It is official as of this past Friday, I believe:


 
  • Like
Reactions: Nico
Nico

Nico

Jurassic Ranger
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
2,017
  • Apr 11, 2022
  • #7
I’m just hopeful that the merger means we’ll have an official home to DC films/television, maybe under a specific tab or header. I think I also read that the HBO Max app will be absorbed into Discovery+.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HORRORable Commenter
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 11, 2022
  • #8
Nico said:
I’m just hopeful that the merger means we’ll have an official home to DC films/television, maybe under a specific tab or header. I think I also read that the HBO Max app will be absorbed into Discovery+.
Click to expand...
I think I read the opposite- D+ absorbed into Max.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HORRORable Commenter and Nico
Nico

Nico

Jurassic Ranger
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
2,017
  • Apr 11, 2022
  • #9
Redirect Notice

Looks like they may start as a bundle and the one app combo may take a few years. I’m assuming this is based on price point and customer integration. The article does say that they are looking into a a single login option in the meantime.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WAJAS
CyborgDinosaur

CyborgDinosaur

Shark Bait
Joined
Apr 4, 2017
Messages
150
Age
27
  • Apr 12, 2022
  • #10
Nico said:
I’m just hopeful that the merger means we’ll have an official home to DC films/television, maybe under a specific tab or header. I think I also read that the HBO Max app will be absorbed into Discovery+.
Click to expand...

A hub for DC already exists on HBO Max.
 
Nico

Nico

Jurassic Ranger
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
2,017
  • Apr 12, 2022
  • #11
CyborgDinosaur said:
A hub for DC already exists on HBO Max.
Click to expand...

Yup! That’s where I watch, but I want it to have more of a presence design/weight wise as Disney+ and Marvel. They’re making moves with all of this Batman content coming soon and I hope that continues.
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • #12
I think it's hilarious that right before the acquisition became official, they launched arguably the biggest streaming disaster with the name recognition and the resources behind it that i've ever seen. They spent $250M or so on CNN+ only to only get 20,000 subs (and only 10k daily users), which mediocre to good youtubers are probably laughing their ass at.

I expect in the short term for CNN+ to join the HBO Max/Discovery+ "bundle" that they said they will be doing (so they can hide CNN+'s subscriber numbers) before eventually all of this is absorbed into the HBO Max app.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GA-MBIT and Nico
Nico

Nico

Jurassic Ranger
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
2,017
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • #13
I really think that ultimately, the app is going to be called Warner Brothers. With individual brands underneath it to show the breath of programming. WB has long-standing name recognition.
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • #14
Nico said:
I really think that ultimately, the app is going to be called Warner Brothers. With individual brands underneath it to show the breath of programming. WB has long-standing name recognition.
Click to expand...
If they are going to change the name, then this is the time.

However, I think from the uptick in streaming use when people were out of work during the pandemic and 2021 when people were still hesitant to return to the theaters and HBO Max was making it pretty easy for them to stay away by giving their full theatrical slate away as long as you paid for a subscription.

I think people have basically finally come to know it as HBO Max and Max has built it's own name brand buy this point, that a change would only serve to confuse their customer base. HBO is the most premier name in television out there imo, so I have no issues with them sticking with that. It's a strength of theirs to own HBO, use it.
 
Nico

Nico

Jurassic Ranger
Staff Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
2,017
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • #15
Nick said:
If they are going to change the name, then this is the time.

However, I think from the uptick in streaming use when people were out of work during the pandemic and 2021 when people were still hesitant to return to the theaters and HBO Max was making it pretty easy for them to stay away by giving their full theatrical slate away as long as you paid for a subscription.

I think people have basically finally come to know it as HBO Max and Max has built it's own name brand buy this point, that a change would only serve to confuse their customer base. HBO is the most premier name in television out there imo, so I have no issues with them sticking with that. It's a strength of theirs to own HBO, use it.
Click to expand...

I see what you’re saying Nick, but brand mergers very rarely change the name quickly. Probably the easiest examples to point to are bank mergers. We often get a combined name, with the eventual name placed first. After a few years, they drop the second name.

I think we have a few years of Discovery+ and HBO bundle. Maybe a WB Discovery + name or not. Then WB+. As far as UI goes, Disney+ is the model I’d like to see.

Banner sections of DC, HBO, Discovery, CNN, Warner Brothers (which includes Potter).

8451467E-8440-429A-8129-F92A96BD0893.jpeg
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 13, 2022
  • #16
Nico said:
I see what you’re saying Nick, but brand mergers very rarely change the name quickly. Probably the easiest examples to point to are bank mergers. We often get a combined name, with the eventual name placed first. After a few years, they drop the second name.

I think we have a few years of Discovery+ and HBO bundle. Maybe a WB Discovery + name or not. Then WB+. As far as UI goes, Disney+ is the model I’d like to see.

Banner sections of DC, HBO, Discovery, CNN, Warner Brothers (which includes Potter).

View attachment 16175
Click to expand...
The longer the name stays HBO Max name, the stronger and more recognizable the name becomes. Streaming is in most people's daily lives in one way or another, if they are going to change, they can't allow the HBO Max name to become stronger. They need to change so people get used to the new name and become recognizable as the years go on.

As for the banner sections, HBO Max App actually does have a form of them, but they are hidden behind a part that needs to be expanded OR you need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the app to find the "Hubs". All this is is some poor UI, though. It would only take someone who knows what they are doing a short while to move those tabs from the bottom to the top of the app.
HBO-max-hubs-CONTENT-2020.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: HORRORable Commenter and Nico
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 14, 2022
  • #17
 
  • Like
Reactions: HORRORable Commenter
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 22, 2022
  • #18
Supposedly Zaslav was "irate" that AT&T launched CNN+ before the merger became official. They spent $300M building out, and paying talent for the service and that doesn't even include the marketing campaign they ran for it, only for Warner Discovery to announce yesterday that they were shutting it down just three weeks after it launched. It will last a grand total of 33 Days once the closure officially happens on April 30th.

Even Quibi, which was a huge bust in the mobile streaming realm, at least last 6 months and it's content was actually bought out to be Roku original content, so the financial loss wasn't as bad.



I got a good belly laugh here:
 
Mad Dog

Mad Dog

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
23,764
Location
Pittsburgh area
  • Apr 22, 2022
  • #19
and hardly anyone was watching. Their highest viewership number they ever hit was 10,000 actual viewers on one of their days....Pitiful.
 
Nick

Nick

Veteran Member
V.I.P. Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
31,222
Location
Orlando
  • Apr 22, 2022
  • #20
Mad Dog said:
and hardly anyone was watching. Their highest viewership number they ever hit was 10,000 actual viewers on one of their days....Pitiful.
Click to expand...
Yup. 10,000 per day in daily viership numbers is laughable and regularly beat out many times over by youtubers doing content from their own home and didn’t have or need $300M to burn through.
 
Last edited: Apr 22, 2022
  • Like
Reactions: GA-MBIT, Nico and Mad Dog
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …

    Go to page

  • 7
Next
1 of 7

Go to page

Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.
Share:
Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

Book with our Travel Partners

MEI Travel

Latest posts

  • Horror Lover
    Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors
    • Latest: Horror Lover
    • A moment ago
    Halloween Horror Nights 34
  • Rhian
    Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster (Opening 2026)
    • Latest: Rhian
    • 23 minutes ago
    Upper Lot/Entertainment Center
  • Evan
    Epic Universe Food and Drink General Discussion
    • Latest: Evan
    • 28 minutes ago
    Universal Epic Universe
  • krazyhorrorkid
    Monsters Unchained - Reviews, Photos & Media
    • Latest: krazyhorrorkid
    • 29 minutes ago
    Epic Universe Reviews
  • Wesker69
    SeaWorld San Diego
    • Latest: Wesker69
    • 46 minutes ago
    Other California Parks

Share this page

Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link
  • Forums
  • Miscellaneous
  • Games, Movies & Sports
  • Style variation
    System Light Dark
  • Contact us
  • Terms and rules
  • Privacy policy
  • Help
  • Home
  • RSS
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2025 XenForo Ltd.
  • This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn more…
Back
Top