{"id":575860,"date":"2023-05-24T16:15:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T13:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/warner-bros-discovery-cfo-on-streaming-bundles-i-dont-think-its-an-easy-thing-to-pull-off\/"},"modified":"2023-05-24T16:15:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T13:15:55","slug":"warner-bros-discovery-cfo-on-streaming-bundles-i-dont-think-its-an-easy-thing-to-pull-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/warner-bros-discovery-cfo-on-streaming-bundles-i-dont-think-its-an-easy-thing-to-pull-off\/","title":{"rendered":"#Warner Bros. Discovery CFO On Streaming Bundles: \u201cI Don\u2019t Think It\u2019s an Easy Thing to Pull Off\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels has talked up Max, the studio\u2019s revamped streaming service combining programming from both the original HBO Max\u00a0streaming service and\u00a0Discovery+ after it launched on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt\u2019s day one, but so far, so good,\u201d the WBD finance chief told the J.P. Morgan Global Technology<\/a>, Media<\/a> and Communications Conference during a session that was webcast. Max costs $15.99 a month ($149.99\/year) for the ad-free version and $9.99 per month ($99.99\/year) for the ad-supported tier.<\/p>\n

\n Wiedenfels pointed to early indications of faster download<\/a>s and better content discovery for Max as WBD looks for subscribers to get a better handle on the enormous amount of content available on the newly enlarged streaming platform, as opposed to a focus on a smaller slate of popular hits.<\/p>\n

\n \u201cWe\u2019re really in the first innings where we launched the product and the basic thesis here is that we can get better engagement and a more satisfactory consumer experience with this combined portfolio,\u201d Wiedenfels said.<\/p>\n

\n The WBD boss didn\u2019t show his cards when it came to putting sports and other traditional content from linear TV networks onto Max as the industry wrestles with balancing its declining cable networks and\u00a0emerging streaming\u00a0services amid increasing cord-cutting. But Wiendenfels did say Max would respond to the continuing industry pivot to streaming, which in turn undercuts the traditional pay TV bundle. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we need to be at the leading edge of disruption here, but we\u2019re clearly monitoring what\u2019s going on,\u201d Wiedenfels said. The Max launch comes a year after WarnerMedia and Discovery completed its $43 billion merger, with the combined company led by CEO David Zaslav.<\/p>\n

\n Part of Zaslav\u2019s pitch to Hollywood was the creation of a streaming service that could compete with Netflix and Disney+ by combining the best of HBO\u2019s high-brow scripted fare with Discovery\u2019s more low-brow but profitable lifestyle and reality programming.<\/p>\n

\n By removing HBO from Max\u2019s branding, WBD has aimed at appealing to a wider audience that may have previously turned away from the streaming service due to HBO\u2019s high-brow reputation and higher price point.\u00a0Wiedenfels also talked about moves to bundle\u00a0more\u00a0streaming services\u00a0together, while not venturing much on how that packaging may work.<\/p>\n

\n \u201cConsumers would benefit from some form of rebundling \u2026 but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an easy thing to pull off. And I certainly don\u2019t expect anything to happen short term here,\u201d he told the investors conference.<\/p>\n

\n On the movie side, WBD has looked to more theatrical releases for movie tentpoles, even as the film product is eventually headed to streaming platforms under the leadership of Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group chairs Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy.<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere\u2019s a very clear mission now. We\u2019re 100 percent committed to the theatrical model. What\u2019s different is the theatrical window is not a fixed mold anymore. Every title has a different number of days in the theater. That\u2019s the flexibility we didn\u2019t have years ago,\u201d Wiedenfels said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n