Ryan McConville’s Post

My comment on Warner Bros Discovery Q4 earnings: Warner Bros Discovery continues to improve short-term financial prospects at the expense of long-term potential. This may improve balance sheets for when the M&A lockup period expires in April, but it raises difficulties about how its product can elevate. Axing completed projects and removing hit shows makes streaming appear profitable on paper while stunting growth possibilities by alienating consumers, angering producers, and devaluing prestige entertainment brands. WBD's slight streaming subscriber gain this quarter doesn't change the fact that it had more domestic subscribers at the end of 2022 than it did at the end of 2023. WBD's position in the sports streaming joint venture could become advantageous as the linear TV model crumbles. But the sports venture will need to survive legal challenges and ego checks, which isn't given.

Media and cable giant Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is set to report its third-quarter earnings on Thursday with demand for its broadband services, theme park attendance, and studio performance being at the front and centre. Investors expect relative stability from the company's cable business and expect Studios/Theme Parks revenue to be driven by a strong theatrical slate and continued ramp up in international parks. Concerns persist around a challenging linear network advertising environment. Observers will also be watching the performance of the company's streaming service Peacock, expecting it to post improved losses. Story for Seeking Alpha https://lnkd.in/gckgqhwp

#Max offer and strategy revealed ahead of June 11 launch in Poland Full details about content (including local content), subscription plans, ad strategy, channels available, sports programming, transition from #HBOMax; etc. after the link below. The premiere of the Max streaming service in Poland will take place on June 11. Within one platform, users will have access to the highest quality content from global brands such as #HBO, #DC and #WarnerBros, as well as coverage of the most important sports events, including the Paris #OlympicGames 2024, and also a rich offer of local productions and the best entertainment from #TVN. The long-awaited second season of the series #HouseoftheDragon will premiere on Max on June 17. "It's official - we are starting the countdown to the launch of Max, which will debut on the Polish market on June 11, i.e. in just over a month. With every moment we are getting closer to the big premiere. Every element of the platform, from the rich content offer to the innovative website design and unique recommendation systems, has been carefully refined with the needs and expectations of users in mind. We can't wait for them to see and experience what we have prepared for them," Maciej Gozdowski, Group Vice President - Streaming at #WarnerBrosDiscovery in Poland, announced in a statement. https://lnkd.in/dRqGafz7 #maxpolska #maxcee #hbomax #ceetv #theeasterngate #streaming #eurosport #olympicgames #tvn #tvnpoland #warnertv #cnn #foodnetwork #travelchannel #discovery Warner Bros. Discovery HBO Max TVN Warner Bros. Discovery

Acquisition of Warner Bros by Universal is in talks and drawing attention across Hollywood this morning. As we see past year especially entertainment industry is going though a significant transformation, with a huge shift towards video games and streaming platforms. Entities like Disney who owns Pixar, EA, Lucasfilms and Marvel, Comcast who owns Universal Pictures, Sony, ViacomCBS who owns Paramount Pictures, Amazon who is acquiring MGM, Alphabet that owns YouTube, Facebook that owns Instagram, Apple, Tencent, and Alibaba will dominate will dominate the space and are to dominate market in next few years, it's substantial market share, influencing content creation, distribution, and platform development of all kinds and types. That's why Warner Bros., with its most incredible transmedia portfolio including Warner Games, DC Comics, and HBO/MAX, brings more than just content to the table; it brings a multifaceted approach to entertainment across various platforms. Universal will likely integrate Warner Bros.’ IPs into its existing operations, creating new collaborative projects and expanded Transmedia IP universes. Given Warner Bros.' adept management of its IPs and streaming services, Universal will probably build around Warner’s organizational structure, leveraging its well-managed IPs and streaming platform. Universal potentially utilize Warner Bros.’ IPs for creating expanded metaverse, theme parks and other ventures, initiating innovative projects while possibly disrupting ongoing ones. Butt I see how this deal rising lots of questions regarding strategic alignment, financial stability, and industry monopolization concerns, with the perspectives of Warner Bros. employees future in this potential industry REDEFINITION, where film, gaming, and streaming converge into a unified, immersive entertainment experience, with the integrated management of IPs and platforms at its core. Where film will not be the core of the business, where more layoffs to come. #transmedia #videogamesindustry #contentcreation #ai #warnerbros #universalpictures #hollywoodnews #entertainmentbiiz #filmindustry #merger #acquisition #ip #rransmediaip #intellectualproperty #dcuniverse #hbo #entertainmentindustry #streamingservices #mediaconglomerates #industrymonopolization #globalizationn #contentdistribution #disney

Streaming business turnaround: All major studio streaming divisions will be profitable within 18 months Ampere Analysis predicts A significant turnaround for studio direct streaming is just around the corner with all major studio streaming divisions (*excluding sports operations) set to turn a consistent profit within 18 months, the latest research from Ampere Analysis suggests. The shift to profitability has wide-ranging implications for content production and the wider entertainment landscape with a reversal of investor negativity likely to come sooner than previously predicted. Who will achieve profitability first? After investor sentiment towards direct streaming soured and studios implemented a series of cost rationalization measures, the scene is now set for the streaming businesses of Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and NBCUniversal to head achieve consistent quarter-on-quarter profitability with the narrative switching from ‘when will studio streaming make money?’ to ‘who will get there first?’ While some studio streaming operations have already reported small profits, the analysis looks at timelines for consistent profitability, taking into account income from subscription and advertising against content costs, staff and marketing costs, depreciation and amortization to predict the point that businesses reach consistently positive EBIT. Ampere predicts that #Disney is likely to get there first, as early as calendar Q1 2024 (two quarters earlier than the company itself has predicted). Warner Bros. Discovery will be a close second, reaching consistent profitability by calendar Q3 2024 with both #Paramount and #NBCU** not far behind, achieving the goal by Q1 2025. Not only have all the major studio streamers now laid the groundwork for profitability in relatively short order, but they all also look likely to turn streaming direct into significant sources of profit. By 2028, studios will earn between $1bn and $2bn EBIT a year from streaming based on current market footprint alone. Additional geographic expansion would lead to even more upside. Cost rationalization and advertising revenue deliver results The shift in fortunes has been driven by two major factors: cost rationalization (particularly the two major cost centres of content and staff) and the move to embrace advertising dollars. Advertising also provides a wild card opportunity for significantly more growth and profit than currently predicted by the models, which are based on known existing operations. Executive Director at #AmpereAnalysis Guy Bisson says: “The analysis shows that streaming direct is not a broken business model but an important revamp of an existing content exploitation window..." #streaming #svod #vod Ampere Analysis

Max subscribers who enjoyed the privilege of being grandfathered into the platform's cheapest ad-free plan are in for some unwelcome changes. Here's what you need to know: These subscribers previously had access to premium 4K and HDR streams. They could simultaneously stream on up to three devices, all for the monthly rate of $15.99. Max is currently sending out emails to inform these subscribers that significant adjustments are on the horizon. Starting "on or after" December 5, the following changes will be implemented: Grandfathered subscribers will no longer have the luxury of 4K or HDR streams. The ability to stream on three devices will be reduced to just two devices. To regain access to 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision streams, subscribers will need to consider upgrading to Max's Ultimate plan. This enhanced plan starts at a monthly rate of $19.99. The discontinuation of the legacy plan was anticipated during the merger of Discovery+ and HBO Max in May, which ultimately resulted in the creation of the new Max service. Some subscribers may opt to pay the extra $4 for superior streaming quality. Others might explore the more budget-friendly ad-supported tier, starting at just $9.99 per month. For subscribers who are contemplating their next move, there's still some time. You have until December to enjoy your 4K HDR content before making your final decision. #Max #Streaming #ServiceDowngrades #4K #HDR #Subscriptions #Entertainment #UltimatePlan #AdTier #LegacyPlan #HBOmax #DiscoveryPlus https://lnkd.in/eURZdaND

From Variety: [V] Warner Bros. Discovery launched HBO Max a year ago in the U.S.. What’s your assessment of its track record so far? JBP: It’s almost two years since these (Warner Bros. Entertainment and Discovery Inc) came together. In August of 2022, we laid out for the first time our new vision for #streaming strategy as the new company. And we said a couple of things are just important because I think it sets the context for where we are now. We said we’re not going to keep going with the subscribers at all cost kind of mentality that was driving both companies plus the industry. And our focus was going to be profitable growth. That was one. Number two, that it was going to be a multi year journey. It’s not going to happen overnight. And we gave a three year outlook, which we said at the time we were losing $2.5 billion. We obviously had the two different products, HBO Max and in some markets it’s discovery+, that we were going to be migrating and by 2025 it would be a billion dollars in profit and 130 million subscribers globally. But we would prioritize profitability versus hitting a subscriber number. We’re now one year into the three-year plan to reach profitable growth and the good news is that we hit the profitability faster than we expected — we went from losing $2 billion in 2022 to making $100 million last year. So we turned around a $2 billion loss in one year. [V] Do you think there’s room to become even more profitable going forward with Max’s launch across #Europe? JBP: We always expected the growth part to come in the next two, three years because our business right now is – unlike The Walt Disney Company or Netflix, where the majority of their revenue and subscribers are outside the US — our business today is still, revenue-wise, 80% in the U.S. And HBO Max or Max are only available in less than half of the addressable markets and subscriber bases that Netflix and Disney have. So we’re not in the big four European markets yet. We’re not in the U.K., we’re not in France, we’re not in Germany, we’re not in Italy, we’re nowhere in #Asia. We’re not in the Middle East and we’re not in Africa. So the next phase of our kind of three year plan, which is exactly where we expected to be in terms of the rollout, is our international roll out. We launched in Latin America in 39 markets in February. We obviously are now launching in about 25 markets here in Europe in this first wave over the next couple of months. And then there will be more markets to come but we’re still not going to be in the three big European markets until later, until our deal with Sky ends. What do you anticipate in the big European markets, which are mature and very competitive already with a wealth of streamers available? JBP: I think we recognize that we’re sort of late to the party. On the other hand, we’re not in the widgets business. We are selling something that is unique, IP brands and franchises that you can’t get anywhere else.

Warner Bros. Discovery has recently released its Q1 report. While the company's losses have narrowed compared to the same period last year, it fell short of consensus estimates in terms of total revenues. Despite this, Warner Bros. Discovery was able to add two million streaming subscribers in the first quarter alone, bringing their total to 99.6 million. This resulted in a modest increase in revenues for the company's streaming business, totaling $2.46 billion in Q1. However, over the past year, WBD has experienced a decline of more than 40%, making investors a bit wary. But with an average price target of $13.61, there is a potential upside of 70.1% from current levels. #investment #financialmarkets #stockstobuy #stockstowatch #stockmarket #stocksmarket #stockmarketnews #warnerbros Not investment advice. Capital at risk.

H.264 vs. H.265: Ax-One's Journey to Superior Video Compression At Ax-One, choosing H.265 over H.264 wasn't just a technical decision—it was about enhancing the way we share and experience video content. Here’s a closer look at why H.265 is our choice for a brighter, more efficient future in video tech: Better Compression, Same Quality Imagine needing only half the data to stream your favorite shows in crystal-clear quality. That's what H.265 brings to the table—50% better compression than H.264, without compromising on the visuals. It’s a game-changer for both creators and viewers, offering cost savings and smoother streaming. Ready for 4K and Beyond With H.265, streaming in 4K and 8K isn't just possible; it's practically effortless. This codec ensures that ultra-high-definition videos, complete with vibrant HDR, reach your screen without a hitch. It means more detail, more color, and more depth, all while keeping data usage in check. Great Video Anywhere Whether you’re in the heart of the city or out in a remote area, H.265 ensures you get the best video quality your bandwidth can handle. It adapts, delivering high-resolution content even when internet speeds are less than ideal. Everyone gets to enjoy the show, no matter where they are. Ahead of the Curve Adopting H.265 is how we stay ahead—ready for whatever new video tech comes next. And we're not stopping there; we're already experimenting with H.266. It's about pushing the limits, exploring what's next, and making sure our platform is ready for the future of video. Let's Push Limits Together Dive into the world of H.265 with Ax-One and see what cutting-edge video compression can do for your content. As we explore the frontiers of H.266, we invite you to join us on this journey. Let's push the boundaries of video technology together, making every stream better, every detail sharper, and every experience more memorable. With Ax-One, you're not just watching the future unfold; you're part of it. #VideoCompressionEvolution #H264vsH265 #FutureOfStreaming #TechInnovation #UltraHighDefinition #BandwidthEfficiency #DigitalTransformation