Often, the “buzziest” stories aren’t the most important stories for the entertainment industry, even if they get a lot of clicks. But since my last “most important story of the week” column, one story was both the most talked about and probably the most important:
HBO Max removed even more titles. Including old episodes of Sesame Street and the Elmo spinoff! Spending lots of dough to make a lot of Sesame Street content…and then abandoning it? You don’t see that every day!
Of course, there isn’t much left for me to explain on the various financial shenanigans that led Warner Bros. Discovery to such a drastic move. (CNBC had a good write-up, for example.) Instead, I’m left thinking about Warner Bros. Discovery and their long term thinking. Specifically…
What is Warner Bros. Discovery’s plan for kids and family content?
On the one hand, this seems like an easy question to answer: they’re getting out of it. That’s what Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in the last earnings call. But he also said that brands like Looney Tunes are one of the key pillars of the studio.
This feels like a contradiction worth diving deep into, so let’s make it the most important story of the week…
Most Important Story of the Week – What Will Happen With Warner Bros. Kids Assets?
The rest of this post is for paid subscribers, so if you want to read the rest, please subscribe.
We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you’d like to read more about why you should subscribe to my work, please read these posts about the Streaming Ratings Report, why it matters, why you need it, and why we cover streaming ratings best.
Related
Warner Bros. Discovery Sets a New Direction…Kind Of
Mid-way through last week, big news started dropping about Warner Bros. Discovery. First, Warner Bros. killed The Batgirl a $75-$100 million dollar picture to, allegedly, get a tax write-off worth more than the costs of finishing the special effects. Then Reddit sleuths realized that HBO Max had already removed a…
In "The Most Important Story of the Week"
Greg Berlanti’s New Overall Deal is a Big Deal for WBD
Back in December, I wondered out loud if the time for “giant overall” deals had passed. With cost cutting hitting all entertainment companies, it seemed likely. Well, apparently not! Earlier this month, Warner Bros Discovery signed a big new overall TV deal with Greg Berlanti, the most prolific showrunner/producer of…
In "The Most Important Story of the Week"
Discovery+ Is Almost As Big as the Warner Bros 2021 News
Well, after two and a half years of writing this column, I’ve finally come to a tie. Sure, the buzz is with Warner Bros and the decision to finally end the exclusivity part of the theatrical window. Every columnist from here to Timbuktu will feature that in their entertainment newsletter…
In "The Most Important Story of the Week"