Warner Bros. Discovery Is Moving Away From Traditional Cable TV Channels As It Changes Strategy Internationally

Also Read

Warner Bros. Discovery announced its President of International TV Distribution, Robert Blair, would be leaving the company after 25 years. This alone is not surprising, but in the memo from WBD President of International Gerhard Zeiler, it was announced that his role would not be replaced according to a memo obtained by the media.

Here is part of that memo:

Last year, we unveiled a new org structure for International, which we believed best positioned us for success at that time. But we also acknowledged that in an ever-changing industry and market, we would need to continue to evolve in a thoughtful and strategic way, along with the climate around us.

Seven months into 2023, although we remain confident about our trajectory as a business, we are at another inflection point, and one where the global economy has not rebounded as quickly as we had hoped.

As such, today I’m announcing that Robert Blair, President, WBD International TV Distribution, will be departing WBD.

The memo went on to say that Blair’s leaving was in no way a reflection on his performance but was instead “a shift we need to make to continue to refine our efficiency and cost structure.”

This move strongly suggests that Warner Bros. Discovery will keep more content in-house and likely streaming on Max instead of selling it to 3rd part cable TV networks around the world.

In the past, media companies have resold their content internationally to other cable networks to air in Europe and around the world. Now it seems that Warner Bros. Discovery is moving in a new direction, much like other media companies have.

Disney has even gone so far as to shut down many of its cable networks, including the Disney Channel in Europe, as it pushes fans to subscribe to Disney+. It is possible we will see something similar here with Max as Warner Bros. Discovery tries to cut out the middleman.

Source: Cord Cutter News

Foxtel To Close Down MTV In Australia Amidst Streaming Shift

Also Read

This development follows the recent news that viewers will also miss out on children’s favourites, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.

MTV has been a beloved destination for fans of reality TV series such as Geordie Shore, Teen Mom, and The Hills New Beginnings. The distribution of all three channels to Foxtel was overseen by Paramount ANZ.

A Foxtel spokesperson explained the decision, noting the drastic shifts in viewing patterns over recent years.

“With audiences flocking to on-demand and streaming options, and an increasing array of third-party apps now a part of Foxtel, our channel offerings have been adapting to reflect these new habits,”

While MTV’s reality content may be departing, music enthusiasts can take solace. MTV’s musical channels will continue to be accessible to Foxtel subscribers, with MTV Classic set to undergo a rebranding as ‘MTV 80’s’ from the start of August.

The departure of MTV reality programming from Foxtel comes at the same time industry speculation is indicating Channel 10 is preparing to add a dedicated MTV to its 10play streaming platform.

A spokesperson told sources,

“All the MTV content that audiences know and love will now have a home across all Paramount’s owned and operating platforms.

Further details will be made available soon.”

The reduction in channels at Foxtel comes as the pay-tv platform looks to offset its significant programming costs by moving toward an aggregation model.

Such moves underscore Foxtel’s approach of embracing third-party services, allowing them to forego the need for exclusive content investments. In a telling statistic, over two-thirds of Foxtel subscribers also use at least one other streaming service.

The company’s data highlights a shift from traditional channels to an increasing preference for On Demand.

“A diverse pipeline of content is slated for on-demand, from our international studio partners, as well as a burgeoning array of Australian originals.

Foxtel’s IQ set-top boxes now offer 14 integrated apps, reflecting this trend, with more additions anticipated soon. The seamless incorporation of services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and ABC Kids, among others, demonstrates Foxtel’s commitment to keeping pace with the ever-evolving entertainment sector.

Warner Bros Discovery President Of International TV Distribution Robert Blair Is Leaving After 25 years With The Company

Also Read

In an internal memo seen by Deadline, WBD President of International Gerhard Zeiler announced Blair’s departure and revealed his post would not be replaced after “much deliberation.”

Blair will “will transition over the summer and partner closely” with Zeiler “to further empower” WBD’s content licensing team, according to Zeiler. The move is being described as “a necessary structural change to our team design that both flattens and streamlines the Content Licensing organization.”

“Last year, we unveiled a new org structure for International, which we believed best positioned us for success at that time,” said Zeiler. “But we also acknowledged that in an ever-changing industry and market, we would need to continue to evolve in a thoughtful and strategic way, along with the climate around us.

“Seven months into 2023, although we remain confident about our trajectory as a business, we are at another inflection point, and one where the global economy has not rebounded as quickly as we had hoped.

“As such, today I’m announcing that Robert Blair, President, WBD International TV Distribution, will be departing WBD.”

Blair has been with WBD and its Warner Bros predecessor companies for a quarter of a century, overseeing the International sales strategy for major titles such as Game of Thrones, The Flash and House of the Dragon.

He joined Warner Bros International Television Distribution in 1998 as General Manager, Canadian Operations. He had previously served as Director of Television, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.

Blair was promoted to lead WarnerMedia’s international sales division in 2019 under worldwide distribution boss Jeffrey Schlesinger and kept his role in last year’s restructure, which followed the Discovery merger and creation of WBD. Schlesinger departed in 2020.

Zeiler’s note today said his departure was “no reflection of his performance” and was instead “a shift we need to make to continue to refine our efficiency and cost structure.”

“My humble thanks to Robert for his outstanding leadership, talent, and effort to help us get where we are today,” wrote Zeiler. “Robert’s contribution to the company in his 25 years has been outstanding and can be measured in several billions of dollars of sales-contracts he made possible every single year. Despite being known as tough negotiator, he is respected by all of his clients he dealt with. He is also an exceptional leader, who mentored many talents within the company and is admired and valued by his team.”

Zeiler is writing from experience — he will have sat at opposite sides of the table to Blair during his time at the helm of RTL, which was a major buyer of Warner content during his time running the European networks group.

Source: Deadline

24Kitchen To Cease Transmission In Turkey By The End Of July, More Countries Likely To Follow

Also Read

24Kitchen is a lifestyle channel operated by The Walt Disney Company (Benelux) that broadcasts mainly food and cooking programs. Similar to the FOX channel in the affected region, 24Kitchen is known for a number of original productions alongside international content.

Some of the content seen on 24Kitchen include Amazing Weddingcakes, Jamie’s Family Christmas, The Taste of Life Basics and Rudolph's Bakery.

During the month, it was learnt by Bob Iger who serves as the current CEO of the blue brand that he's looking to sell several linear channels. Internationally, The Walt Disney Company is consolidating further programming from these brands to streaming services.

It's likely that the demise of 24Kitchen has to do with the company's pursuit to a streaming only module. The company had closed a further 18 channels last year in Asia and plan to close the remaining feeds by the end of the year.

Although consumers in South Africa and most parts of Africa aren't familiar with 24Kitchen, MultiChoice however distribute a Portuguese feed of the lifestyle channel in Angola and Mozambique while Turkey and some parts of the world had been receiving the Dutch feed.

Rumour: Disney CEO Reportedly Planning To Sell Disney To Apple After Projecting $800M Loss

Also Read

In a move that would shake up the entertainment industry, Disney CEO Bob Iger is reportedly planning to sell the company to Apple. The news has sent shockwaves through the industry, with many analysts and investors questioning the logic of the deal. 

There are a number of potential benefits to a Disney-Apple merger. First, the deal would create a media giant with unrivaled reach and scale. Disney’s vast library of content, combined with Apple’s global distribution network, would create a powerhouse that could dominate the streaming wars. The merger would allow Disney to accelerate its transition to a streaming-first business. But why is Disney’s CEO Bob Iger so keen on selling when he’s known as someone who builds, not breaks?

The deal of the century

There are ongoing rumors in the industry that Bob Iger, who was recently reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Disney, is planning on selling the company in its entirety after having already made up his mind about selling the company’s television assets. This could be because the company’s streaming division is currently looking at possibly $800 million in losses in its recently ended third quarter, according to sources.

Bob Iger returns to Disney after a 2-year retirement

Apple is already a major player in the streaming market, with its Apple TV+ streaming service. If this merger happens, it would give Disney access to Apple’s expertise and resources, which would help it grow its streaming business faster than ever before. The merger would also allow Disney to expand its reach into newer markets.

Apple has a strong presence in China, where Disney has struggled to gain traction. The merger would give Disney access to Apple’s Chinese customers, which would be a major boost for the company’s growth. 

Is a merger between the two companies actually possible? And is it a good idea?

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to a Disney-Apple merger. First, the deal would raise concerns about antitrust regulation. The combined company would have a significant amount of market power, which could lead to higher prices for consumers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook

The folks at AppleInsider also claim that a deal this size is not very possible, and that is even if Apple has the kind of loose change lying around to buy Disney. Some time ago, a US judge denied a merger between two leading publishing houses just because a merger would mean lesser advances to their authors and cutting competition.

This means that if we consider even for a second that a deal as massive as Apple buying Disney were to go down, it would be happening through federal regulators of the United States.

Bob Iger is reportedly looking for an heir.

Second, the deal could lead to job losses. Disney and Apple are both major employers, and the merger could result in layoffs as the two companies consolidate their operations. Third, the deal could be seen as a sign that Disney is giving up on its own streaming business. Disney has invested heavily in its streaming services, such as Disney+ and Hulu.

The potential benefits and drawbacks of a Disney-Apple merger are complex and far-reaching. It remains to be seen whether the deal will actually happen, but it is clear that if it happens, it would have a significant impact on the entertainment industry.

Disney To Close ESPN Player Across Europe, Middle East & Africa

Also Read

Disney has announced that it will be closing down the ESPN Player streaming service, which operates across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia, on August 18th 2023.  ESPN Player offers a variety of sports, including basketball, baseball, American football, and many other sports.  There are thousands of live events & on-demand content, including ESPN Films plus four 24/7 ESPN TV channels.

Here’s the official statement:

ESPN Player to close on August 18th, 2023

We want to inform you that ESPN Player will be closing on August 18th, 2023. We appreciate your support over the years.

As of August 18th, you will no longer be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. You will also be unable to access any of your ESPN Player account information.

ESPN Player has been running for years and was operated by Endeavour Streaming. However, the platform has been neglected in recent years, with the app only available on a very limited number of devices like Android and Apple tablets and smartphones.  So you couldn’t watch ESPN Player on your big screen through a Smart TV app or console.  I myself wanted to get ESPN Player earlier this year to watch the XFL, but since I couldn’t watch it on my TV, I didn’t bother in the end.  Also, the official social media accounts have been a little erratic in how often they post, which could have indicated a change was potentially coming.

Disney has announced where some of the content from the ESPN Player will be going, but it doesn’t cover every country, such as the UK.    There are many possible outcomes for what’s next for ESPN within the EMEA region.  Disney could have just decided it’s more cost-effective to just licence out its sports to other platforms in each country, or if it is planning on launching a new ESPN+ app globally, such as adding ESPN+ into Disney+ as a paid add-on.

There are dozens of ESPN documentaries available on Disney+ already, so it’s possible we could end up seeing ESPN documentaries heading here if there is no alternative plan for the brand within the region.  Unfortunately, we will just have to wait and see what happens next.

Disney has been making changes to ESPN this year to try to become more profitable, including making ESPN a stand-alone division, outside of the theme parks and entertainment divisions and, most recently, laying off staff across the sports division.

Here is where some of the sports content will be heading to:

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Stream MLB games live or on demand with an MLB.TV subscription. Subscribe today for the rest of the 2023 season for $94.99 or $24.99/month.

National Hockey League (NHL)

NHL.TV is available in selected territories. Information about the 2023-24 package will be made available prior to the start of the season.  Visit NHL.TV in mid-September for further details.

NCAA Football: Territories and Broadcasters

Israel, One Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein: DAZN, Pro Sieben

Spain and Andorra: Telefonica

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Czech Republic: AMC

Hungary: Network 4

Africa: ESPN

France: beIN

Italy: Helbiz

NCAA Basketball: Territories and Broadcasters

Israel: One Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein: DAZN

Spain and Andorra: Telefonica

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey: CIS, Saran

Greece, Cyprus: Saran

Africa: ESPN

France: beIN

Baltics: All Media

Italy: Helbiz

Middle East: MBC

Hungary: Network 4

Other NCAA Championships: Territories and Broadcasters

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Africa: ESPN

Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia: Network 4

Israel: One Sport

Here are some useful details on the closure of ESPN Player:

How can a customer get a refund?

If you are an active subscriber, with time remaining on your subscription after August 18th you will be refunded the amount for that remaining time. No action is required by you. Refunds will be paid automatically to the payment card with which your initial purchase was made after August 18th.

Will it be a full refund?

You will be refunded based on the remaining length of your subscription after August 18th 2023.

If I purchased through Apple/Google/third party billing, how will I receive a refund?

Users will be refunded by the relevant app store or third-party provider. Refunds will be paid automatically to the payment card with which your initial purchase was made after August 18th.

Will the content be available until you close?

Yes, if you are an active subscriber, you will be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. As of August 18th, you will no longer be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. You will also be unable to access any of your ESPN Player account information.

How do I cancel now?

To perform all of the below actions, please head to My Account:

Update my payment method

Update my password

Review my payment history

Cancel my account

RUMOUR: End Of An Era, Disney Junior To Cease Transmission In Turkey By 2024, Could Africa's Be Next Alongside The Disney Channel?

Also Read

During the week, it was reported that Disney is looking to sell several linear channels which are no longer core to their business. On top of that, they're looking to close their remaining linear channels in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia by the end of 2023.

According to sources, Disney Junior would cease to exist in Turkey by 2024 and this was the last brand under Disney Branded Television following the closures of Disney Channel and Disney XD as further content from all these brands is allocated to Disney+.

Disney Junior launched as Playhouse Disney in 2007 and since then he proven to be a popular addition amongst consumers featuring shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia The First, Doc McStuffins, Spidey And His Friends and PJ Masks.

MultiChoice, an outlet seen in Africa to package Disney Junior alongside Disney Channel, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, ESPN 1 and ESPN 2 had mentioned in 2021 that these brands were extended through 2024. 

With Disney Junior in Turkey set to shut down by the end of 2023 around the time other parts of Asia would be losing their feeds. Could it be possible that the Disney Channels in Africa will join Turkey seeing as they're both operated by Disney EMEA alongside other regions.

Another thing, despite MultiChoice and Disney promise to retain them through 2024. It had mentioned that these channels would stick around for "another two years" bringing up that possible December 2023 closure if not early 2024 presumably before March.

Disney Branded Television Could Be Put Up For Sale

Also Read

Disney CEO Bob Iger sat down with CNBC's David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on Thursday.

Disney announced Wednesday that it was extending Iger's contract by two years through 2026. Iger returned to the helm of Disney late last year. The company has since undergone thousands of layoffs and cut billions of dollars in spending, including from content.

Disney CEO Bob Iger on media landscape: Challenges are greater than I had anticipated

DisneynhhCEO Bob Iger opened the door to selling the company's linear TV assets as the business struggles during the media industry's transition to streaming and digital offerings.

Iger appeared Thursday on, the morning after the company announced it would extend his contract by two years through 2026. He returned to the helm of the company in November after Disney's board ousted Bob Chapek with a two-year contract through 2024 and plans to find a next successor.

"After coming back, I realized the company is facing a lot of challenges, some of them self-inflicted," Iger told David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, noting he's accomplished a lot of work in seven months but there's more to be done.

At the top of the list is assessing the traditional TV business, Iger said. Disney owns a portfolio of TV networks, from broadcast station ABC to cable TV channels like ESPN. 

Disney is going to be "expansive" in its thinking about the traditional TV business, leaving the door open to a possible sale of the networks. "They may not be core to Disney," Iger said, adding the creativity that has come from those networks has been key for Disney. 

On Thursday, ABC News President Kim Godwin to employees expressed support for Iger's contract extension, according to a person familiar with the matter. Godwin encouraged ABC staffers to focus on their work and audience, the person added.

Cable TV channel ESPN is in a different bucket, however. On that front, Iger said Disney is open to finding a strategic partner, which could take the form of a joint venture or offloading an ownership stake. 

Iger said when he had left the company he had predicted the future of traditional TV and had been "very pessimistic," and has found since his return that he was right in his thinking, adding it's worse than he expected. 

When Iger last spoke with Faber in February, soon after announcing a major restructuring at the company, he said that he felt "a sense of obligation" to return to Disney and that his preference was to stay for his two-year contract.

"We've gotten a lot done very quickly, significant cost reductions and significant realignment of the company," Iger said. "But dealing head on with some of our biggest challenges."

The appearance in February came shortly after Disney announced a sweeping restructuring that included thousands of layoffs and billions of dollars cut in spending.

The reorganization warded off a potential proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Disney reorganized into three segments: Disney Entertainment, which includes most of its streaming and media operations; an ESPN division; and a parks, experiences and product unit.

These were some of Iger's most significant actions in the months after his return. Disney revealed it would cut $5.5 billion in costs, consisting of $3 billion from content, excluding sports, and the remaining amount from noncontent costs. The company earmarked 7,000 layoffs.

In addition to looking for his next successor, Iger has been tasked with bringing Disney's streaming business to profitability. In the last year, media executives across all companies have focused on how to make streaming profitable, particularly after behemoth Netflix lost subscribers early last year and since instituted an ad-supported tier and a crackdown on password sharing to drive revenue.

While the company posted revenue and profit in line with Wall Street estimates last quarter, it saw a loss of 4 million subscribers at its flagship streamer Disney+.

Those subscriber losses were offset by price increases, which Iger said in May weren't to blame for the lower numbers. Instead, he said it showed room for further increases when it comes to streaming, and pushing customers toward the ad-supported tier, with the aim of reaching profitability.

In an effort to bulk up Disney+ and attract more subscribers to its cheaper, ad-supported tier – which it launched last year – the company announced last quarter it would add Hulu content to Disney+.

Disney has been weighing whether it should buy all of Hulu, as it owns 66% and Comcast

 owns the rest. It's likely Comcast will sell its Hulu stake to Disney at the beginning of 2024, CNBC previously reported.

Iger said Thursday that since he returned to Disney, he ultimately concluded the company is "better off having Hulu." 

He added the combined Hulu and Disney+ offering would be available by the end of the calendar year, and the upcoming negotiations with Comcast over valuation wouldn't prevent that. 

"The combination of those apps is designed to obviously help the [streaming] business become profitable," Iger said.

Disney Exploring Possible Sale Of Indian Business Home To Star Life And Star Select

Also Read

Walt Disney (DIS.N) is exploring options to sell or find a joint venture partner for its India digital and TV business, a source with direct knowledge said on Wednesday.

The talks are in a "very, very nascent" stage and no potential buyer or partner has been approached so far, and it remains unclear how the process will pan out, the person added.

"Talks have begun internally (on) what makes sense to do," said the source, adding discussions were being driven by executives at Disney headquarters in the U.S.

Disney did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company's shares closed up 1.6% on Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report news of Disney's talks and said the company had reached out to at least one bank about ways to help the India business grow, while sharing some of the costs.

The discussions come at a time when Disney has faced increasing pressure due to the emergence of Reliance Industries' (RELI.NS) streaming platform JioCinema, run by Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani. He has been marketing his streaming platform by offering free access to Indian Premier League cricket tournament, digital rights of which were earlier with Disney.

Research firm CLSA has estimated Disney+ Hotstar's subscriber base shrank by nearly 5 million users in India after it lost the digital rights for IPL.

Reliance's broadcast venture Viacom18, which runs JioCinema, also struck a deal with Warner Bros in April for HBO and other popular content such as Succession. Several of these top rated shows earlier aired in India on the Disney platform.

Viacom18's shareholders include Reliance, Paramount Global (PARA.O) as well as Bodhi Tree, which is a joint venture between James Murdoch and a former Star India executive, Uday Shankar.

Disney's India business comprises the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service and Star India, which it took over when it acquired the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox in 2019.

The source, who declined to be named as the talks are confidential, said it will be difficult to find an outright buyer in India as the enterprise value of the India business was seen around $15-16 billion when Disney took over Fox's business.

Star India, which was rebranded as Disney Star last year, encompasses dozens of TV channels and a stake in a movie production company.

Disney, like its peers in streaming and the wider media industry, is cutting costs as macro economic headwinds weigh on its advertising revenue and subscriber growth.

In February, the company said it would cut 7,000 jobs as part of an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs in a sweeping restructuring of the company.