Warner Bros. Discovery has raised a few eyebrows with its recent moves to sell off, cut back, and consolidate assets across the media enterprise. As we noted last week, WBD has begun talks with Netflix license to the streamer of older HBO series including INSECURE, BALLERS, and SIX FEET UNDER.
This week, reports emerged of major staff reduction at Turner Classic Movies (TCM), sparking condemnation from industry notables including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson. In response, CEO David Zaslav convened an emergency meeting with these directors to get their feedback on the future of TCM, resulting in a temporary stay of execution for some of TCM’s staff.
The company also announced this week that it would begin to offer some CNN live programming on the Max streaming service. CNN has had a tumultuous year, with the abrupt cancelation of CNN’s stand-alone streaming service CNN+, followed by the resignation in early May of CNN’s CEO Chris Licht. Zaslav hopes including some of CNN’s live programming will drive interest in Max, the company’s flagship streaming service.
See also: Live News Is Coming to Max: Warner Bros. Discovery to Add CNN on Streaming Service (Bloomberg) and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Noisy Week, From TCM And ‘The Flash’ To Netflix Talks And CNN Chatter, Highlights Media Giant’s Many Challenges (Deadline)