It doesn’t mean quite what you want it to.
Ever since Discovery’s David Zaslav took control of Warner Bros Studios from a reckless and debt-racking AT&T, people have just been waiting impatiently for him to go away. The value of the combined company’s stock has plummeted under his leadership. Animation fans in particular despise him because he’s seemed to have it out for cartoons, shelving finished projects and shuttering Cartoon Network Studios among other crimes.
So when is Discovery going to learn what AT&T and AOL and Seven Arts did before them — that managing an entire movie studio is harder than it seems? Maybe now? The news broke an hour ago: Warner Bros and Discovery are making plans to split up in 2026.
“This means we get rid of THAT GUY, right?” Uh…..this is where we get to what our headline implies. Zaslav isn’t leaving with Discovery, he’s staying with WB. Yeah, I know. Don’t start throwing things until I can get out of the way.
Under the new arrangement, Zaslav will remain CEO of Warner Bros’ TV and movie studios and streaming ventures. Discovery and the other cable companies will be run under current WB CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels, as their own business. And if you haven’t already figured out the real scheme here, WB’s massive debt will become the responsibility of the side more unlikely to be able to pay it.
Cable in general is considered a sinking ship at this point, and the roots of that situation go far back. In the 2000s massive cable companies like TWC and Comcast established monopolies in many parts of the US, forcing consumers to pay ridiculous prices for hundreds of channels they didn’t watch just for access to the handful they wanted. The moment superior competition (streaming) finally appeared, this model of business never stood a chance.
I’m more concerned as to what this means for Adult Swim, which is attached to the dying Cartoon Network at the hip yet, unlike CN, continues to thrive. They still produce fresh original content that resonates with the public, like Smiling Friends and Common Side Effects, not to mention Rick And Morty, currently running through its eighth season (and renewed for many more). More importantly, Adult Swim has a unique voice and personality all its own, and a lot of the offbeat shows they produce would get lost on a streaming service or just not happen. The world can do without 99 percent of cable, but it needs AS!
It’s worth pointing out Adult Swim content has for the most part been produced in Atlanta on the Ex-Turner side of things, not LA, so it would not be that affected by the split. Worry more about the whole kaboodle potentially going bankrupt in a couple years.
The post Warner Bros Discovery Is Splitting Up, But Don’t Get Too Excited appeared first on Anime Superhero News.
