Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Warner Discovery Merger Closes: What Comes Next

The long-anticipated Warner/Discovery has been finalized, shaking up the streaming landscape. What will change and should Netflix and Disney be worried?

Warner Bros. Discovery

After being in the works for nearly a year, on Friday, April 8th, 2022, a new media giant was created as a result of the finalization of the Warner Discovery merger. The new company will definitely impact the overall film, content, cable, and streaming landscape. 

To give you an idea of how big Warner/Discovery is, here is what each brand brings to the table. 

Warner Media 

  • Warner Bros Studios
  • DC Films 
  • New Line Cinema
  • HBO/HBO Max
  • TBS
  • Turner Sports
  • TNT
  • TRuTv
  • Cartoon Network/Adult Swin
  • Rooster Teeth

Tip: WarnerMedia and Paramount jointly own the CW TV Network 

Discovery

  • Discovery+ Streaming Service
  • The Discovery Channel
  • HGTV
  • Food Network
  • TLC
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Travel Channel 
  • Turbo/Velocity
  • Animal Planet
  • Science Channel
  • OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network)

Check out a full list of Warner and Discovery properties

You might think that Warner has the upper hand in terms of content, but the point is that with the two companies combined, Warner/Discovery is an “octopus” that has far-reaching tentacles into millions of households via cable, streaming, and local cinemas. 

With this merger, AT&T is also unloading properties that have been troublesome for them to run over the years and will be using the proceeds of Warner’s sale to Discovery to pay off a lot of debt ($156.2 billion as of Dec 2021). Unloading Warner relieves AT&T of $43 billion in debt, but that also means that Discovery now has that debt. 

What The Future May Hold

On the one hand, the Warner/Discovery merger creates a major force in the media landscape that could impact the market share of streaming services such as Netflix and Disney, provided all goes the way Discovery hopes. 

One thing to keep in mind is that aquisitions and mergers often result in a lot of realignment including reducing staff and selling off less profitable portions of the combined company.

In the short term, Warner Bros and DC are under the microscope for change as it is anticipated that some film release dates will be further delayed and assessment of what is going on at DC may result in some projects being canceled even if they are in production. 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

HBO/HBO Max has some significant content (such as Game of Thrones), but their streaming subscription numbers are not as high as anticipated at this point, so there may be some changes in both content and subscription prices to boost those numbers.   

Tip: It is being reported that HBO Max and Discovey+ will be combined into a single streaming service. No official timetable or subscription pricing has been announced. 

Another branch of Warner Media, CNN, is also under the microscope, with continued low ratings, credibility issues on some major stories, and the disappointing debut of CNN+, it could be sold off or at least be subject to a major overhaul.

Since Discovery is now in charge, Warner will be getting the most scrutiny, but that doesn’t mean Discovery’s own content and services are immune. There will probably be some examination of what is working and will work under the new structure and expansion or elimination of specific services is not out of the question. 

In addition to all the services and content, another factor will be availability. New contracts between Warner/Discovery and cable/satellite services for relevant properties may result in access changes in your geographical area, and negotiations with the streaming device and smart TV makers may result in some changes regarding availability on specific platforms (Roku, Fire TV, etc…)

Warner/Discovery vs Netflix, Amazon, and Disney

As to whether Warner/Discovery will impact Netflix and Disney negatively remains to be seen, but the new company definitely has access to and is able to provide a lot of content. 

Here is a look at worldwide streaming subscriber numbers for the top services:

  • Netflix: 221 million
  • Amazon Prime Video: 157 million
  • Disney+: 83 million
  • HBO/HBO Max: 74 million
  • Discovery +: 15 million

As you can see, Netflix is way ahead of the other streaming services in subscribers, but when you combine Discovery and HBO/HBO Max numbers, it is slightly ahead of Disney. If Warner/Discovery can significantly pull ahead of Disney, it will be a four-way race. 

How This May Affect Viewers

In the short term, there is nothing the average viewer of Warner/Discovery services and content can do but wait. As things settle in, watch for news and direct notices regarding the services you watch or subscribe to. 

This is definitely an ongoing story and any significant updates will be added to this article or posted in separate articles as the need arises.

NOTE: Warner Bros/Discovery will begin trading on stock exchanges Monday, April 11, 2022, under the ticker “WBD.” The corporate website is WBD.com

The Story Continues (8/5/2022)

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Warner/Discovery Merger Means Big Changes for HBO MAX: Warner/Discovery reveals a post-merger strategy that will bring changes to the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services.

Related Stories:

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

New Products

Bose 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers Lifestyle Front

Bookshelf Speakers

Without any public fanfare, Bose has recreated its legendary 901 Direct Reflecting Loudspeakers that we would like to see and hear in person.

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl Phono Stage Silver Front Angle Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl Phono Stage Silver Front Angle

New Products

Musical Fidelity's new flagship M8x Vinyl Phono Stage is both fully discrete and fully balanced with improved gain stage and more.

Master & Dynamic ME05 Wired Earphones Master & Dynamic ME05 Wired Earphones

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Are wired earphones coming back? The new $199 Master & Dynamic ME05 in-ear headphones refresh a 10-year old design with added support for hi-res...

McIntosh MSA5500 Integrated Streaming Amplifier (Front) McIntosh MSA5500 Integrated Streaming Amplifier (Front)

Digital Music Systems

At $8,000, the McIntosh MSA5500 streaming integrated amplifier isn't for everybody, but it's hard not to be impressed with its styling and audio technology.

HIFIMAN ISVARNA Hybrid Planar Dynamic Headphones HIFIMAN ISVARNA Hybrid Planar Dynamic Headphones

New Products

At $2,899, the HiFiMAN ISVARNA offers both planar magnetic and dynamic drivers to boost the low frequencies in a closed-back design.

Noble audio FoKus Rex5 True Wireless ANC Earbuds Noble audio FoKus Rex5 True Wireless ANC Earbuds

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

At $449, the Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 wireless noise cancelling earbuds drop xMEMS support in favor of a new hybrid 5-driver array.

You May Also Like

News

A/V aficionados will be happy to hear that DTS:X immersive sound has arrived on Disney+ with the "Queen Rock Montreal" live concert film and...

News

Roku users can access NBA content all in one place, including re-airs of basketball games, highlights, original series, G league and in-market live games.

News

2023 has been a year of disruptions and price increases for the major streaming platforms. What exactly is going on at Netflix, Disney, and...

Articles

Learn how much it will cost to subscribe to any combination of video streaming services to determine if you can save money by cutting...

News

Disney is raising its prices and adding new streaming tiers for Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. Netflix might be in trouble.

News

Disney+ is shaking up the streaming landscape with new ad supported plans and a password sharing crackdown. Prepare to pay more.

New Products

For less than $20, you can get Walmart's ONN brand Google TV 4K Streaming Box, but does it have everything you need?

News

HBO MAX has shortened its name to MAX, but its monthly subscription just got more expensive. Find out why.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers