CNN+ And HBO Max To Be Reduced To A Tile On Warner Bros. Discovery's Revamped Streaming Service In 2023

These past months, Warner Bros. Discovery has been scaling back on content investment so to save themselves some extra cash. They've scrapped several HBO Max productions like Gordita Chronicles, Little Ellen, Batgirl and Scoob: Holiday Haunt while some of the linear channels scale back on original programming.

As mentioned in Warner Bros. Discovery's earning call, HBO Max and Discovery+ will merge into one single streaming service and with these cutbacks from Warner's side as opposed to Discovery. The streaming service is said to hold more HBO than Discovery as HBO will be managing most if not all the content under a single tile.

Of course, these won't have as much affect on Cartoon Network as it will likely get its own tile on the merged streaming service same with Adult Swim if anything I'm expecting Cartoonito under CN's tile with Boomerang doing just Boomerang.

Warner Bros. Discovery attempted to spun off CNN as an independent brand with the launch of the short-lived streaming service CNN+ which has apparently been revived on Discovery+ and not HBO Max since the content is unscripted which the streamer lacks.

When Discovery+ and HBO Max eventually merge by 2023, CNN will form a tile on the streamer despite housing unscripted entertainment the platform very much unifies their offering from the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery's portfolio as ID has a lawnmower while CNN has a tractor with TLC living in a palace with CNN owning a resort with 5 star resort.

South Africa hasn't got access to any of these streamers seen with Netflix, The Walt Disney Company's Disney+, MultiChoice's Showmax and eMedia's eVOD but Europe will get it by early 2024 with Asia Pacific occupying the middle with Africa likely to get it close to the end of that year or early 2025.

Recap: The State Of Warner Bros Discovery Including Series Cancellations, Merger Of HBO Max And Discovery+ And Cartoon Network's Dismal Offering

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery cancelled several original productions like Scoob: Holiday Haunt, Batgirl and Little Ellen but here's the thing out of three two had finished production all that was left was distribution with the last being Little Ellen which was renewed ahead of time but recent changes suffered the same effects as the others.

Later today, Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to address these changes alongside unveil more details in regard to the merger of HBO Max and Discovery+.

News broke out about the merger started around the time prior to the time WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. functioned seperately and were on the verge of becoming Warner Bros. Discovery as seen with these recent cancellations the streamer is said to hold more Discovery than HBO.

The news has seen immense backlash for not only HBO Max fans but also Discovery has not a lot of consumers are accustomed to Cake Boss or Dr. Pimple Popper.

But if you look at the cutbacks from a clearer perspective, it actually helps a streamer like Disney+ which has been lacking in adult entertainment overseas.

HBO Max and Discovery+ have their 50% but if you look on Discovery there's reality, lifestyle, wildlife, factual, decor, motor, food and homegrown programming which is a lot you can do with a measly 50% while HBO had mostly dramas and movies before I can expand further some of Discovery+ content can be slotted under general entertainment which is where HBO Max sits.

Not that I'm happy about the downfall of HBO Max but if you kind of look at this merger just evens out the content as seen on Netflix the only brand I'm more curious about at this point is Cartoon Network alongside Cartoonito which has established linear presence internationally.

As it is there has been I wouldn't say cutbacks as seen with TNT, TBS and The CW but production is very slow as most shows have gone through development hell while others are ending soon and I wouldn't be shocked if Adult Swim got caught into the mix following the cancellation of Close Enough.

Roundups #80: The Purges Of HBO Max

In the last several months, Warner Bros. Discovery has been making headlines for the bulk of cutbacks seen on HBO Max and today we give a roundup of some of the most shocking news that makes us believe that the Netflix giant is becoming a vegetable.

1. Gordita Chronicles ends its run after one season as streamer steps back from live-action for family and kids

“Live-action kids and family programming will not be part of our programming focus in the immediate future, and as a result, we’ve had to make the very difficult decision to end Gordita Chronicles at HBO Max,” the statement reads. “The series earned critical acclaim and a loyal following, and we are proud to have worked with creator Claudia Forestieri and our two powerhouse executive producers, Eva Longoria (who also masterfully directed the pilot) and Zoe Saldaña, to bring Cucu’s journey to the screen. We thank them and the talented cast and crew for creating such a heartfelt, groundbreaking show that connected deeply with a very important demographic.”

For more info: click here

2. Scoob sequel had been shelved

Scoob! was a CG-animated prequel story that told the origin of Mystery, Inc., including the first meeting of Scooby-Doo and Shaggy, while also introducing various other members of the Hanna-Barbera universe, like Falcon and Captain Caveman, who made their theatrical feature film debut. In the movie, Scooby and the gang face their most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this dogpocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.

The first look at Scoob!: Holiday Haunt was shown during an HBO Max teaser at the end of 2021. Scoob! director Tony Cervone confirmed a sequel was in the works, sharing his excitement for the project. "Actually, we are kicking the tires on a follow-up to Scoob! " Cervone revealed to Comic Book Movie . "It hasn't been announced yet, but it's something we're all excited about. The whole creative team that made the first movie is still around and back and working on something new. It was neat to create this Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, and it's exciting to return to it.

3. Batgirl movie had been shelved despite post production

Warner Bros. Discovery will not release “Batgirl,” either theatrically or on HBO MAX, the media has learned. The $90 million project is effectively dead.

“The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max. Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future,” according to Warner Bros. Picture Spokesperson.

Made under a previous regime, “Batgirl” was initially designed to be an HBO Max release, and then was being considered for theatrical distribution. Due to COVID issues and shutdowns, the budget ballooned to $90 million.

The movie stars “In the Heights” breakout star Leslie Grace in the title role of Barbara Gordon.

4. HBO Max halts original production in major parts of Europe

As the media conglomerate looks to recalibrate its streaming priorities, it will no longer produce originals for HBO Max in the Nordics (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland), Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey, and will also remove some content from its platform in order to free up licensing deals elsewhere.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery said:

“As we continue to work on combining HBO Max and discovery+ into one global streaming service showcasing the breadth of content across Warner Bros. Discovery, we are reviewing our current content proposition on the existing services. As part of this process, we have decided to remove a limited amount of original programming from HBO Max, as well as ceasing our original programming efforts for HBO Max in the Nordics and Central Europe. We have also ceased our nascent development activities in the newer territories of Netherlands and Turkey, which had commenced over the past year.

“Our commitment to these markets has not changed,” the statement continues. “We will continue to commission local content for Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear networks in these regions and we remain substantial acquirers of local third-party content for use on our streaming services.”

For more info: click here

5. Several original films have been removed from the platform

Within the past few weeks, at least six Warner Bros. movies have been removed from HBO Max: “Moonshot ,” a sci-fi rom-com starring Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse; artificial-intelligence dystopia comedy “Superintelligence ,” starring Melissa McCarthy; Robert Zemeckis’ 2020 remake of “The Witches,” starring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock; comedy “An American Pickle,” starring Seth Rogen as an immigrant who wakes up after being pickled for 100 years; Doug Liman heist pic “Locked Down” with Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor; and drama “Charm City Kings” from director Angel Manuel Soto.

All six of the films were labeled as “Max Originals.” The removals were noted by users on Reddit in a discussion of the Warner Bros. decision to nix plans to release “Batgirl” — in theaters, on HBO Max or via any other platform.

Meanwhile, the reboot of comedy classic “House Party,” from LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill, was previously slated to premiere July 28 on HBO Max but was scrubbed from the release calendar.

6. Warner Bros. Discovery to lay off more staff

Hollywood is abuzz with speculation approaching Warner Bros. Discovery’s first quarterly earnings since becoming the nation’s No. 2 entertainment giant on Thursday. Multiple insiders told sources they expect Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav to announce a major restructuring of marquee streaming platforms HBO Max and Discovery+ during its results or soon after.

The move will result in a gutting of HBO Max, significant layoffs for its executives and staff to minimize redundancies with HBO and a combined streaming service with Discovery+ with a harder line separation between the scripted and unscripted content operations.

Warner Bros. Discovery Updates (Rumour): HBO To Remain As A Premium Cable Channel And HBO Max To Fold Under Discovery+ With Scripted Programming Cancelled

Following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery. The company has taken several drastic steps like making CNN a standalone company accompanied by the launch of the short-lived streaming service CNN+ and the sale of The CW which has seen most shows get scrapped.

Questions amounted to the plans Warner Bros. Discovery had for the future of the business and thanks to sources it seems as if we finally get our answer.

As reported last month, HBO Max will stop producing live-action shows for family and kids basically killing off Cartoon Network's future plans in that field and making the brand animation exclusive but things get worse as the streaming platform is said to no longer offer original content.

This is just a rumour but then would it be shocking if it was true as TNT, TBS and The CW all brands under the WarnerMedia portion of Warner Bros. Discovery no longer produce original content. Since then, these channels have been seen airing several Discovery shows which again was another rumour for HBO Max.

HBO Max is said to not only be shifting to unscripted programming but merging onto Discovery+ so there's no telling what will happen to productions like Hacks, Peacemakers and Gossip Girl but if I had to guess they'll likely form part of the premium HBO channel.

Compared to the Turner brands, HBO hasn't been phased by these changes and has seen more success with their original productions so I'm just saying it makes total sense to keep the channel and consolidate most if not all the scripted stuff under the channel if HBO Max will just be a mere tile what better way then with HBO.

I know most people are pissed off with the rise in Discovery and less WarnerMedia but if you look at it from a business perspective. Discovery Inc had more to offer on the table than WarnerMedia.

WarnerMedia's unscripted entertainment was big enough for two channels while as Discovery Inc. had enough stock over 10 channels. Internationally, you find brands like Discovery Max, Real Time and Discovery Science all supplying content from other stations.

But that's not what's got me curious about these changes but the whole branding of the business Warner Bros. Discovery if there's more Discovery than Warner wouldn't it make sense for the business to simply be known as Discovery if the closest anyone has to Warner is Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and HBO.

HBO Max Will No Longer Produce Live-Action Kids And Family Programming

HBO Max has canceled its comedy Gordita Chronicles, a move the streamer says is motivated by a change in strategy at its parent company.

The show, which centers on a 12-year-old Dominican girl (Oliva Goncalves) in 1980s Miami, debuted its full first — and now only — season on June 23. An HBO Max spokesperson said in a statement that the show fell victim to a change in priorities for the streamer.

“Live-action kids and family programming will not be part of our programming focus in the immediate future, and as a result, we’ve had to make the very difficult decision to end Gordita Chronicles at HBO Max,” the statement reads. “The series earned critical acclaim and a loyal following, and we are proud to have worked with creator Claudia Forestieri and our two powerhouse executive producers, Eva Longoria (who also masterfully directed the pilot) and Zoe Saldaña, to bring Cucu’s journey to the screen. We thank them and the talented cast and crew for creating such a heartfelt, groundbreaking show that connected deeply with a very important demographic.”

Sony Pictures Television produced the series, which creator Forestieri based on her own life. The cast also includes Diana Maria Riva, Juan Javier Cardenas, Savannah Nicole Ruiz, Noah Rico, Cosette Hauer and Dascha Polanco. Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz served as showrunner.

“We are heartbroken by the larger programming changes at HBO Max that will not allow our special show that is Gordita Chronicles, showrun by Latinx comedy powerhouse Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz, to have a second season at its original home,” executive producers Longoria and Saldaña said in a statement. “As producers and storytellers who are continually seeking out the authentic and original stories that highlight our community’s joy and talent, we are so proud to have worked on this piece of magic. We continue to be blown away by the overwhelmingly positive critical response coupled with our growing audience numbers, which prove that viewers recognize the importance of this show’s existence and the crucial space it is filling for Latinx content in the media landscape.”

Since HBO Max’s parent, WarnerMedia, and Discovery completed their merger in the spring, Warner Bros. Discovery has made a number of changes in strategy, most notably at its cable channels TBS, TNT and TruTV — where an ongoing move away from original scripted programming has accelerated. The company is all-in on a streaming first strategy, but family programming hasn’t had a huge presence in the two-plus years of HBO Max’s existence. WBD will continue with development of animated projects aimed at younger viewers via its Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation arms.

HBO Max has also gone one and done with a Head of the Class reboot, and a decision on The Garcias, a follow-up to the 2000-04 Nickelodeon series The Brothers Garcia, has yet to be made. HBO Max has renewed its Gossip Girl redo and just debuted Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, both of which are aimed at young adults.

Forestieri, Muñoz-Liebowitz (via her Bons Mots Emporium), Longoria (via her UnbeliEVAble shingle) and Saldaña (via Cinestar Pictures) executive produce Gordita Chronicles along with Josh Berman, Jennifer Robinson and Chris King of Osprey Productions and Cinestar’s Mariel Saldaña and Cisely Saldaña.

Credits: Deadline

‘Powerpuff Girls’ & ‘Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends’ Animated Series Reboots From Craig McCracken In Works At Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe

Craig McCracken, Emmy-winning creator of The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends, has teamed with Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe to bring new animated versions of the classic series back to the small screen. McCracken, who first began his career at Hanna-Barbera Cartoons 30 years ago, is developing animated reboots of both series at the studio.

The Powerpuff Girls reboot revisits and expands upon the world of the original series as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup face off against a gallery of villains comprised of familiar foes and new threats. The original series debuted on Cartoon Network in 1998, earned two Emmy Awards and numerous animation honors throughout its 78-episode run. The Powerpuff Girls centers on three sugar-coated superheroes — Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup — whose mission in life alternates between going to school, fighting crime, winning at hopscotch, and saving the world before bedtime.

 

A live-action reboot based on the original Powerpuff Girls Cartoon Network series remains in development at the CW. The network announced last year that the pilot was being re-worked and re-piloted off cycle. Talent deals for cast have lapsed but the project, from Warner Bros TV and Berlanti Productions, remains alive at the network.

The beloved Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends will return as an original preschool animated series with a new cast of preschool-aged imaginary friends, promised to be “as silly and playful as the original bunch.” The original series ran for six seasons from 2004-2009 on Cartoon Network, earning six Emmy awards during its run.

McCracken serves as creator, producer and director, and Sarah Fell, VP, Original Kids and Family Animation, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, will oversee development of both projects at the studio.

 

“The Hanna-Barbera homecoming of Craig was an opportunity we could not pass up,” said Sam Register, President of Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. “Along with his unparalleled sense of fun and imagination, he’s bringing two of his greatest works in The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and we are so excited for these characters to be a part of the new legacy taking shape at the studio.”

Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe is currently in production on The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe and the anticipated The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie! (wt) and The Amazing World of Gumball: The Series (wt) for HBO Max. Recently announced development includes a stop-motion animated reboot of Wacky Races starring Dastardly and Muttley.

Roundups #75: Close Enough Cancelled After Three Seasons On HBO Max Banni Chow Home Delivery Airing On StarPlus International Just Not Africa, Part 2 Of WFO Titans National Extreme Euro Championship Coming Soon To Ignition

Another one bites the dust

HBO Max is not proceeding with a fourth season of adult animated comedy Close Enough, from Regular Show creator JG Quintel and Cartoon Network Studios. The decision comes a little over three months after the release of the second season on April 7.

“After three great seasons, Close Enough is coming to an end,” HBO Max said in a statement. “We are so proud of the series and grateful to creator JG Quintel and our partners at Cartoon Network Studios, who made this show an instant fan favorite on HBO Max.”

Close Enough, a surreal take on transitioning from twentysomething to thirtysomething, revolves around a married couple juggling such everyday challenges as parenthood, friendship, ham theft, stripper clowns and choosing the right day care.

 

Banni Chow on airing on StarPlus Africa

Banni Chow Home Delivery follows Delivery-girl Banni is a strong, young, good hearted soul, who delivers her delicious food around the neighbourhood. She soon crosses paths with Yuvan, a mentally disabled man, and thus forms a change in her simple life.

It is based on the Bengali drama series from Star Jalsha titled Khukumoni Home Delivery which aired later in 2021 with the Hindi adaptation to follow 6 months after its launch on StarPlus.

 

Unfortunately, Disney Star doesn't supply the show in Africa due to an issue with the title. If you read the title of the show it sounds exactly like Bunny Chow which could the cause for the delay so maybe the series will be shortened to Home Delivery makes sense at this point.

More adrenaline for Ignition

Enduro enthusiasts will have numerous opportunities to see the highlights from round 2 of WFO Titans National Extreme Euro Championship that was held at the home of Titans Racing in Broederstroom, South Africa on the 25th of June.

‘Iyanu: Child of Wonder’ Animated Series Greenlit At HBO Max And Cartoon Network

HBO Max and Cartoon Network announced a 2D animated adaptation of “ Iyanu: Child of Wonder ,” a Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios graphic novel series heavily influenced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The project will be financed and overseen by Black-owned animation studio Lion Forge Animation.

“Iyanu: Child of Wonder” is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. The series follows Iyanu, a teenage orphan who spends her days studying Yoruba history and ancient arts but yearns for a normal life. One day, responding to danger, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers, the likes of which have not been seen since the Age of Wonders. With newly discovered superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she’ll uncover the truth about her past, her parents, and her ultimate destiny to save the world.

 

The series is created by Roye Okupe, who will also write and direct multiple episodes. Lion Forge head of production Saxton Moore serves as supervising director. The writers room is led by Brandon Easton. Executive producers include Okupe, Doug Schwalbe, Carl Reed, Lion Forge’s David Steward II and Matt Heath, Impact X Capital’s Erica Dupuis and Forefront Media Group’s Ryan Haidarian.

The greenlight of “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” is notable as it continues signaling the emergence of Africa as a player in global streaming. Much of this growth begins in the kids and family space — for example, Lupita Nyong’o became an equity partner in Nairobi, Kenya-based production company Kukua in 2021 and stars in its YouTube Originals animated series "Super Sema.” African titles made for older audiences are also beginning to cross over, such as Netflix’s South African drama “Blood & Water,” which debuted in 2020 and made Netflix’s Top 10 list in the U.S. Netflix also recently released “Blood Sisters,” the streamer’s first original series from Nigeria.

“‘Iyanu: Child of Wonder’ has it all – vast world-building, authentic characters, a strong, African female hero at the center, and a first-class team of stellar creators and producers,” said ​​Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros. “While created for kids, the series will resonate with anyone looking for an adventure filled with surprise, magic, lore and legend. We feel so lucky to be the home of ‘Iyanu’ and partnering with this team.”

 

“The authenticity of the ‘Iyanu’ story means everything to us and aligns perfectly with our mission to create and deliver inclusive content to global audiences,” said Steward, founder of Lion Forge. “A powerful means of accomplishing and sustaining this is through franchise building, and the depth and layers of the Iyanu world allow us to explore and create a beautiful universe on-screen alongside tremendous partners.”

“When I set out to create ‘Iyanu’ for a global audience, I wanted to develop a world that combined everything I love about the fantasy genre with the majesty and awe that is ancient West Africa,” said Roye Okupe. “On top of that, working with Godwin Akpan, who illustrated the books, as our art director and collaborating with a thoughtful studio like Lion Forge Animation that prioritizes authenticity and diversity, is beyond belief.”

HBO Max Halts Original Programming In Parts Of Europe In Major Restructure

Warner Bros. Discovery’s post-merger growing pains and an eye-watering $3 billion cost-savings target are hitting its programming strategy in Europe.

As the media conglomerate looks to recalibrate its streaming priorities, it will no longer produce originals for HBO Max in the Nordics (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland), Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey, and will also remove some content from its platform in order to free up licensing deals elsewhere.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery said:

“As we continue to work on combining HBO Max and discovery+ into one global streaming service showcasing the breadth of content across Warner Bros. Discovery, we are reviewing our current content proposition on the existing services. As part of this process, we have decided to remove a limited amount of original programming from HBO Max, as well as ceasing our original programming efforts for HBO Max in the Nordics and Central Europe. We have also ceased our nascent development activities in the newer territories of Netherlands and Turkey, which had commenced over the past year.

 

“Our commitment to these markets has not changed,” the statement continues. “We will continue to commission local content for Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear networks in these regions and we remain substantial acquirers of local third-party content for use on our streaming services.”

The news, which was shared with staff and producing partners on Monday morning, will come as a heavy blow to the local drama community as well as the well-respected HBO Max team in Europe, which just months ago articulated its wish list for Europe’s scripted producers as part of a high-demand session at drama festival Series Mania in late March. Some of the streaming service’s most lauded international shows to date, such as Swedish sex comedy “Lust” and Danish family drama “Kamikaze,” come from the Nordics.

While original development will be halted immediately in the aforementioned territories, programs that are already in production will continue, and it’s understood a number of green lights that haven’t yet been announced will move ahead, too. However, some of these shows may be sold to other platforms — a move that provides WBD with more licensing opportunities elsewhere.

As part of the restructure, certain European originals and some U.S. shows are also coming off HBO Max globally. Hungarian drama “The Informant” as well as “Lust” and “Kamikaze” will all be removed from the service.

Two territories that are being spared the overhaul are Spain and France, where originals won’t be affected. This is likely due to the fact that Spanish-language content travels well for HBO Max, which has a big footprint in Latin America, and also serves the U.S. Hispanic market. Meanwhile, though HBO Max hasn’t yet even launched in France, strict French content quotas for streamers under Europe’s game-changing Audiovisual Media Services Directive mean that a strong French slate is unlikely to be something Warner Bros. Discovery can afford to lose.

Following Monday’s shock restructure of originals, redundancies are likely across the European business, though specific details are still unknown.

The news will undoubtedly have vast reverberations across Europe where the production sector has — despite its occasional grumblings about rights — embraced the new commissioning opportunities heralded by new streaming entrants. The HBO team, in particular, has earned the respect of local producers given its long tenure expanding European originals for the legacy brand.

HBO Max in EMEA is led by Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production for WarnerMedia EMEA. His team includes Johnathan Young, VP and commissioning editor of original production for Central Europe; Miguel Salvat, who has the same role in Spain; Christian Wikander for the Nordics; and Véra Peltekian for France.

Priya Dogra, who is based in London and recently set out her leadership team, is president and managing director for EMEA, excluding Poland. JB Perrette is CEO and president of global streaming and interactive, while Gerhard Zeiler is president of international.

The media understands that similar decision-making for HBO Max is currently taking place in all territories where the streamer operates, which spans the U.S., Latin America and parts of Europe.

 

The rationale behind the programming pivot is both strategic and financial. Overall, the company wants to hammer out a more intelligent window for Discovery+ and HBO Max content ahead of the services being integrated into one offering. It’s also likely that WBD will look to leverage its IP across many different global platforms and divisions of the company rather than solely via its streaming operation. Further, the move comes as Wall Street takes a harder look at the streaming landscape following Netflix’s subscriber tumble last quarter and stunning plummet in stock price.

WBD’s share price has steadily dropped since the combined outfit began trading April 11 following the close of Discovery’s deal for WarnerMedia. WBD’s current market cap stands at around $34.29 billion, but the company has a debt load of around $55 billion.

Analysts in June cited the need for more “clarity” around the media conglomerate’s direct-to-consumer strategy, with J.P. Morgan analysts noting: “WBD has the assets and potential cost savings to reinvest in DTC, but we are skeptical of the company’s ability to grow in aggregate on the other side of synergies.”

WBD announced earlier this year a cost-savings plan of $3 billion within the first 24 months of the deal closing. Much of that, CEO David Zaslav warned, would come from “investment avoidance,” which is reflective in the European originals restructure.

Roundups #69: Nigerian Bans New Kiddies Animation Movie Lightyear, Game Of Thrones' Jon Show TV Series Has Been Greenlit And Snowpiercer Cancelled After 4 Seasons

Nigeria is banning more content

According to multiple media outlets, countries in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and a handful of Asian countries banned the film over the seconds-long scene featuring two lesbian characters.

While Nigeria's National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is yet to comment on the film's conspicuous absence from the big screens, Disney's official West African film distribution partners FilmOne Entertainment announced on Friday, that the film will screen in Ghana.

Since its release, the 'Toy Story' prequel has become a stage for major controversial LGBTQ+ takes. It's been over a decade-long debate with a majority of Disney's critics objecting to the studio's move to introduce inclusive content.

 

 

In 2006, executives at Disney asked that the same-sex scene be yanked off the G-rated (appropriate for all age groups) film. Disney CEO Bob Chapek reacted by ordering that the scene be put back.

Another Games Of Thrones spinoff is underway

As HBO is preparing to launch of a Game of Thrones prequel series, the network also is exploring a potential sequel centered around one of the original series’ most recognizable characters, Kit Harington’s Jon Snow, Deadline has confirmed. The project is still in exploratory stages, sources said.

If the series come to fruition, it would chronicle the post-Westeros story of Jon Snow, aka Aegon Targayen, with Harington expected to reprise his role.

The project, first reported by THR, would mark the first spinoff from and first sequel to the mega hit fantasy drama, which ran on HBO for eight seasons. Over the past several years, HBO has been focused on prequels to Game of Thrones. One, House of the Dragon, is set to premiere this summer with several others, including Dunk and Egg, and The Sea Snake, in development. The shift in strategy also coincides with the recent WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, which brought in a new leadership over HBO and the rest of the WarnerMedia divisions.

 

 

TNT loses out on another series

Fans of the post-apocalyptic series will be disappointed with the announcement that following the filming of Season 4, which is currently underway, the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer will not be returning with more episodes, according to Deadline. The series centers on a group of the last humans on Earth seven years after an apocalyptic event that causes the world to freeze over. The last remaining humans stay alive in a giant moving train that never stops.

Snowpiercer's cancellation definitely comes as a surprise, especially after the major events of the Season 3 finale seemingly promised that the storyline was heading to bold new territory in the coming seasons. The cancellation of the series follows the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia, TNT's parent company, which will completely restructure the business models of Warner Bros. and will likely lead to the cancellation of other projects in the near future. Alongside Snowpiercer, TNT's Animal Kingdom.

 

After years of development hell, the first season of the series premiered on TNT in 2020 and continued for three more seasons until its recent cancellation. The first three seasons of the show so far have received a moderately positive response from critics with some praising it for its ambition and style while also saying it does not live up to the subversiveness of the film.

‘Unicorn’, ‘Fionna and Cake’, ‘Gumball, ‘Bye, Bye Bunny’ Fascinate In Annecy

Warner Discovery was released in Annecy, with all three studios pulling, Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe doing a joint presentation of their upcoming slates.

The biggest news was an exclusive, multi-year global studio-to-studio deal signed between Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation and the creator of “Primal” Genndy Tartakovsky.

More Variety

Warner Bros. Animation also unveiled “Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical,” the first-ever Looney Tunes Original animated movie musical, which will be produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

 

 

In other news, Brian Cox, Miranda Otto, Gaia Wise and Luke Pasqualino are among the main cast members in New Line Cinema and the upcoming Warner Bros. animated film. Animation “Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim”.

However, a 75-minute three-studio focus had many more highlights, including the unexpected announcement of a new “Wacky Races” stop-motion reboot in development at Hanna-Barbera.

Cartoon Network Studios has unveiled new first-look images from ‘Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake’ while, for Hanna-Barbera, creator Ben Bocquelet’s teased updates on ‘Gumball’ projects, both a movie and then a new television series.

For its part, Warner Bros. Animation also unveiled more art for its adult animation series “Velma.”

 

 

Packed and fast-paced, the Focus showed each studio playing to its strengths and cultures, Genndy Tartakovsky – who sat on an early panel flanked by CNS Nicole Rivera, VP, Development, and Sammy Perlmutter, VP, longform and specials – is a icon of CNS’ desire to prioritize the production of original ideas, working with offbeat and more avant-garde artists.

After “Primal,” a dialogue-less and devastatingly brutal tale set in prehistoric times, Tartakovsky unveiled a sneak peek of his new “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal” series on Tuesday.

THE STORY CONTINUES

It could hardly be more different in many ways from “Primal,” weighing like a supernatural fantasy, set in a steampunk city, filled with stacks of factories and Victorian architecture, but drawn in soft-toned 2D textures.

WBA, on the other hand, draws from its library of iconic fictional characters to create shows and features to appeal to the full spectrum of audience demos, from preschoolers to adults, sometimes featuring the same character.

Annecy’s Studio Focus was an example of this, Audrey Diehl WBA SVP, Series introduced Annecy audiences to the preschool series “Batwheels”, while “Merry Little Batman” is an animated family action comedy and “Batman : Caped Crusader,” from executive producers Bruce Timm, JJ Abrams, and Matt Reeves, looks like a very old lighting design image on display in Annecy to look much older in its dark, stylized blackish tones. Peter Girardi, WBA Animation EVP, Alternative Programming, described it as “an evolution of ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ in technique and style.”

 

 

Organized on Wednesday at the Imperial Palace in Annecy, which is hosting its MIFA market this week, Studio Focus was hosted by Sam Register, president of the three animation studios.

In what seems indicative of his managerial style of letting creativity drive the shows, Register gave the stage to 10 animation artists and creative executives who sat on three studio panels.

Some highlights:

“Unicorn: Eternal Warriors”

Greeted by cries of enthusiasm from an Annecy audience mostly made up of French animation students, Tartakovsky presented images of “Unicorn”. In it, a giant mammoth runs amok on a steampunk city street attacking helpless kindergarten students who are rescued by a figure with a top hat, flaming supernatural eyes and a body of steel and a dashing warrior wielding a sword dressed in a red medieval cape.

As they fend him off, the mammoth sets his sights on a shivering goth teenager on the street, who looks set to become the show’s hero.

“Everything I’ve done is built for this show because it’s got comedy. It’s got action and adventure. It’s got great drama and the thing is an incredible, gigantic world ,” Tartakovsky told the CNS panel.

“Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake”

The mere mention of “Adventure Time” aroused the approval of the Annecy public. In France, it figures as a modern classic. A palpable collective take was heard when CNS’ Rivera unveiled a second never-before-seen image of “Fionna and Cake,” the alternate gender-swapped versions of the original series’ main characters, as they wake up in an alternate world where there is no magic and do not remember their life of adventures. Fiona is pictured sitting in a room designed with handcrafted details that yet appears to have been drained of color, its tones reduced to a dark brown. “Adventure Time” audiences have aged over time, as has Fionna and Cake, which will be the first “Adventure Time” series aimed at young adult audiences.

“The Amazing World of Gumball”

In the funniest part of the tri-studio presentation, creator Ben Bocquelet revealed everything he could about the upcoming film, which turned out to be next to nothing. In a kind of anti-presentation, Bocquelot leafed through the first page of the screenplay on the status screen, with almost all the words crossed out. A style guide was heavily pixelated, making scenes obscured.

“It’s a surprise take on the classic movie version of the TV show where we had to develop a whole universe for it,” Bocquelot said. “This strange and generous film pushed us towards new animation techniques which, to my knowledge, had never been used in this way before,” he added.

 

“Wacky Races”

Few details were given, but the Hanna-Barbera panel showed a brief sped up making of, showing the construction of a Muttley model which, at the end of the clip, emits its characteristic raspy sneer.

“Merry Little Batman”

Billed as “an animated family action-comedy destined to join the gallery of classic rogue holiday movies,” a snippet from a preview shows six-year-old Damian Wayne alone at Wayne Manor as two robbers sneak in to break the joined, but gasping in horror as they see Batman at the top of the stairs. It’s actually Damian perched on top of a giant vase, smiling with delight.

“Harley Quinn”, season 3

Set to premiere on HBO Max and received enthusiastically in Annecy, season 3 was unveiled via a first artistic preview by Jennifer Coyle, the show’s executive producer. It picks up where Season 2 pretty much left off, she said, with Harley and Ivy now together and on their unofficial honeymoon. We still sat together on a beach. Quinn will reunite with Batman, another image revealed. Coyle promised the series will have new characters, “twists” and take audiences to places and show things you don’t see anywhere else, showing an image of what looks like an S&M bar, with a man who gets her bare butt slapped. “Here is Commissioner Gordon who finds himself in a very strange place,” Coyle commented.

 

“Velma”

Introduced via first-look art, “Velma,” an adult animated “Scooby-Doo” spin-off, unveiled new footage beyond that already seen of a severed murder victim’s head in two, focusing more on the supernatural elements of the series – a woman transforms into a monster with long strokes, Yelma’s face is covered with snake-like arms. Velma develops her investigative skills by investigating the disappearance of her mother. “We’ve seen these characters in preschool and 6-11 shows, but how to total them and turn them into an adult animation space is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Peter Girardi, WBA EVP, Alternative programming.

“Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical”

Announced on Wednesday in great detail, “Bye Bye Bunny” was not so much seen as heard at the Annecy Festival. A brief image shows Bugs and Daffy tied up, presumably after Bigs tries to save Daffy, who has been kidnapped by a fan. The Annecy Focus, however, reached its climax with a clip of composer and songwriter Tom Kitt (“Next to Normal”) performing the song “I Want” from the film on the piano where the characters of musicals often expounded at the beginning what ‘they really want and then try to achieve. Here, a tired Bugs wants to retire, stop being Bugs Bunny and become himself. “The show must go on, but why can’t it go on without me,” Kitt sang. At the same time, scenes from classic Looney tunes shorts burst onto the screen at the Annecy stage, watched by the audience in reverence.

Roundups #67: Squid Game Spinoff Coming To Netflix Amidst Season 2 Renewal, Batman Is Coming To Latin America For Animated Feature And Upcoming Knives Out Sequel Gets A Weird Title

Squid Game is getting a reality show

Squid Game is being translated from television serial to live action, according to reports issued on Netflix. Squid Game: The Challenge will be played by 456 players, competing and racing to grab 45.6 billion Korean Won. In a written statement, the players will “compete through a series of games inspired by the original show,” along with “surprising new additions”.

“Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery. We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment,” explains Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series. “Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end.”

Squid Game: The Challenge is going to be shot in the United Kingdom, and proves to be a co-venture between Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E).

Batman Azteca is coming soon

HBO Max Latin America will be taking the Dark Knight to Aztec Mexico in a new project titled Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios ("Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires"), Variety reports.

The original, Spanish-language animated film will place the World's Greatest Detective in Aztec Mexico and center viewers in the arcane culture of Mesoamerica. Borrowing beats from Batman's origin story, the film will follow a young Aztec boy, Yohualli Coatl, as he trains with his mentor Acatzin — developing equipment and weaponry in the temple of Tzinacan, the bat god.

But unlike other Batman stories, like Batman: Three Jokers, or Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, which saw Bruce Wayne choosing not to exact revenge against his parent's killer, this project will seem to center on Yohualli going after the Spanish Conquistadors who murdered his father, the village leader Toltecatzin.

The mystery has just begun

The next Knives Out movie will hit Netflix this holiday season. On Monday, Rian Johnson announced the name of the new Benoit Blanc mystery: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

In a thread, Johnson described how much he wanted to emulate Agatha Christie and have each of Benoit Blanc’s mysteries take on a new tone (and also a new title). The detective, as played by Daniel Craig with an ambiguous and indecipherable Southern accent, will return, but the overall vibe will be different — it’s an homage to Christie’s masterful exploration of the genre, Johnson said.

“I think there’s a misperception that her books use the same formula over and over, but fans know the opposite is true,” he describes. He goes on to list some of the genres that Christie explored in her murder mysteries and what he aims to do with subsequent Benoit Blanc mysteries.

The first Knives Out movie, which premiered in 2019, followed the wealthy and dysfunctional Thrombey family after patriarch Harlan is found dead. In the new movie, Benoit Blanc will find himself embroiled in a new mystery — with a totally new cast, characters, locations, and mystery.

Roundups #65: Monster High: The Movie Coming This Fall To Nickelodeon And Paramount+, Idris Elba Reportedly In Talks For The Role Of James Bond And Lady Gaga Might Star In The Rumoured Jokers 2 Musical As Harley Quinn

Paramount+ and Nickelodeon are about to get spooky

Monster High (working title) stars Miia Harris (Just Beyond) as Clawdeen Wolf; Ceci Balagot (Dispatches from Elsewhere) as Frankie Stein; Nayah Damasen (Grey's Anatomy) as Draculaura; Case Walker (The Other Two) as Deuce Gorgon; Kyle Selig (“Mean Girls” on Broadway) as Mr. Komos; Marci T. House (Day of the Dead) as Headmistress Bloodgood; Scotch Ellis Loring (Firehouse Dog) as Clawdeen’s dad, Apollo; Steve Valentine (Mom) as Draculaura’s dad, Dracula; Jy Prishkulnik (Just Beyond) as Cleo de Nile; Lina Lecompte (Death Pursuit) as Lagoona Blue; Justin Derickson (When the Streetlights Go On) as Heath Burns; Lilah Fitzgerald (Honey Girls) as Ghoulia; and Nasiv Sall (Descendants 2) as Abbey Bominable. Additional fan-favorite characters from the Monster High universe will also be seen throughout the TV movie.

Monster High follows Clawdeen Wolf, who was born half human and half werewolf, after she arrives at her new school, Monster High. She quickly makes friends with her classmates Frankie Stein and Draculaura, and for the first time in her life, Clawdeen feels like she has finally found a place where she fits in and can truly be herself, despite keeping her human half a secret. When a devious plan to destroy Monster High threatens to reveal her real identity, Clawdeen must learn to embrace her true monster heart and find a way to save the day.

In addition to the Monster High TV movie, an animated series based off the beloved franchise is slated to premiere on Nickelodeon next year. Both projects join other Mattel Television content in production, including series and specials based on Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, Polly Pocket and Fireman Sam, to name a few.

 

Could Idris Elba become the next James Bond?

According to new reports, actor Idris Elba is in talks to play none other than 007 himself, James Bond, in the next instalment in the long-running franchise..

An insider reportedly stated, "Idris has long been in talks to play a role in the next era of James Bond’s story and last year was being considered for a role as an antagonist. However, talks surrounding him playing the lead have started again as producers realized how popular he would be after carrying out secret market research. He ranked highly among the diverse group of movie buffs invited to participate in it. They didn’t want to see him as a nemesis, they want him as the hero."

Earlier this year, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli confirmed Idris Elba was being considered for the role, following Daniel Craig's exit with No Time to Die. At the time, Broccoli said, "Well, we know Idris, we're friends with him, and he's a magnificent actor... And, you know, it's been part of the conversation, but it's always difficult to have the conversation when you have someone in the seat."

 

She also suggested no further discussions about the next Bond would take place until Craig's time as 007 was well and truly done. "I think we have decided that until No Time to Die has had its run and Daniel has been able to -- well, we've all been able to savor, reap the benefits of Daniel's wonderful tenure, we're not gonna think about, or talk about anybody else."

Lady Gaga might bring a superhero musical to life

Lady Gaga is in talks to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the sequel to Joker, according to sources. A deal hasn't been finalized, but she'd reportedly be playing Harley Quinn, the Joker's love interest whom he falls for after she serves as his psychiatrist. 

Margot Robbie has been playing Harley Quinn in the DC film franchise, including in 2021's The Suicide Squad. But Gaga's take would be a separate version of the character in a different fictional universe. Robbie played Harley opposite Jared Leto as the Joker.

 

Director Todd Phillips announced last week this sequel is moving forward with the working title Joker: Folie à deux, a term that refers to "an identical or similar mental disorder affecting two or more individuals,".

It was also revealed that even though the original Joker was a dark character study, the sequel is said to be a musical. The first movie was inspired by Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, so might the sequel be inspired by Scorsese's musical New York, New York?

Roundups #65: First Look At Scooby-Doo Adult Spinoff Velma, Sebastían Carvajal And Laura Londoño Reportedly Star In New Telenovela Hombres And Shraddha Arya Departs Kundali Bhagya For The Time Being

Jinkies! is the media's reaction to the new Velma series

At the Warner Bros Discovery Upfront presentation, Mindy Kaling took the stage to showcase the upcoming animated series, Velma, with one big change to the lead character.

In the first look at Kaling's adult animation comedy Velma, which is a spinoff of the popular Scooby-Doo cartoons, we got our first glimpse at the reimagined Velma Dinkley. “Hopefully you noticed my Velma is South Asian,” Kaling told the crowd. “If people freak out about that, I don’t care.”

While this is the first glimpse we’ve gotten at the upcoming series, it’s not the first we’ve heard of the reimaging for Velma. Last summer, it was announced Velma would be South Asian. Unfortunately, there was a lot of backlash for this from fans of the original cartoon.

The new animated series was announced in early 2021 for HBO Max with Mindy Kaling billed as both executive producer and the voice of the titular character. Velma is part of the streaming service’s push for more adult animation. Velma tells the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the bespeckled, brains of the Scooby Doo Mystery Inc. gang.

The Scent Of Passion and Nurses cross paths

Everything seems to indicate that Laura Londoño and Sebastian Carvajal would be the protagonists of the series 'Manes', which would prepare the RCN channel as producer, for the Amazon platform. so what revealed the presenter and expert in telenovelas

Supposedly Sebastián Carvajal is exclusive to the
channel and how his project of Señora Isabel
would have postponed for the second half of the year, managers gave him a short character in the
series by Leandro Díaz, as confirmed by the actor.

But now he would play Julian, a character he did
Nicolas Montero in the series Hombres de RCN, a
stock market man.

Kundali Bhagya loses an important character...for now

Kundali Bhagya is one of the most loved and long-running daily soaps on TV screens. The show has a massive fan following and people are fans of the lead couple Karan and Preeta. The roles are played by Shraddha Arya and Dheeraj Dhoopar. Amidst the recent rumours of Dheeraj Dhoopar leaving the show, Shraddha Arya shared a montage of pictures on social media, giving proof of their impeccable chemistry.

In the post shared by the actress, she is seen giving some romantic and adorable poses with her on-screen love Dheeraj Dhoopar. They are seen lost in each other’s eyes and in another picture they are seen hugging each other happily. Both of them are seen dressed in black outfits and present on the sets of Kundali Bhagya.

As several outlets reported, Dheeraj Dhoopar is all set to make his silver screen debut with a Punjabi film. The sources informed the portal that Dheeraj is not quitting Kundali Bhagya instead the actor will take a break and later will return to the show. Reportedly, Shakti's track in the show is going to be temporary and he will just add drama to the entire upcoming plot as the show with a leap of five years.

Roundups #55: Descendants Is Getting A Spinoff, Cartoon Network Is Doing Live-Action Again And Boomerang Africa's Upcoming Series True And The Rainbow Kingdom Hits 1 Billion Views On YouTube

Disney is getting more Descendants

The immensely popular fairy tale world of Descendants is about to get bigger. This week, Disney+ announced that a new original movie is in the works from Disney Branded Television. The Pocketwatch (working title) is a music and dance-filled movie that will once again center around the sons and daughters of classic Disney princesses and villains. The new installment is set to introduce Red, the teenage daughter of the iconic Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland; and Chloe, the teen daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming.

In an official statement, movie director Phang praised the Descendants’ world and revealed what drew her to the project:

 

'The Pocketwatch'; presents a delightful canvas with fantastical world building. Musicals sparked my imagination when I was a kid and are a huge part of what drew me to filmmaking. I think that's because they have a way of conveying these lovely, nuanced ideas through song and expressive movement. I'm also always inspired by the diversity of families that exist all around the world. So I really jumped at the chance to craft a supercharged musical experience and explore some new, invigorating themes inside an expansive Disney universe."

 

Cartoon Network is not a cartoon channel

Warner Bros Discovery-owned SVoD service HBO Max and kids’ cablenet Cartoon Network have ordered a music-filled live-action comedy series based on a concept by Hannah Montana creator Michael Poryes.

Scheduled to premiere in 2023, Home Sweet Rome is a coming-of-age series about a 13-year-old girl who moves from California to start a new life in Rome with her dad and Italian pop star stepmother.

Matt Huether and Courtney Jane Walker are developing and writing the series and will also serve as showrunners. Shot entirely on location in Rome, each episode will feature original songs.

 

HBO Max and Cartoon Network have also greenlit two original live-action specials based on toy company Mattel’s American Girl franchise.

American Girl: Corinne Tan (working title) is inspired by Mattel’s doll of the same name, which is its first doll of Chinese descent. The show follows the titular character and her sister as they adjust to life as part of a blended family after their parents’ divorce.

The one-hour special is produced by Mattel Television and MarVista Entertainment and is scheduled to premiere this December.

 

True And The Rainbow Kingdom reach a milestone

Toronto-based children’s entertainment powerhouse Guru Studio announced today its hit preschool series True and the Rainbow Kingdom has crossed a billion views and over a million subscribers on YouTube.

In addition to the highly successful English language channel, to support the growth of the True brand internationally, the company recently launched over 15 multi-language channels including: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish and Turkish. Within the first six months, the Portuguese and Spanish channels surpassed nearly 300,000 subscribers.

 

True has suprassed the billion-view milestone by providing regular content updates each week, releasing clips, songs, activities and unique multi-langauge contnet for the show’s growing worldwide audience. The series True and the Rainbow Kingdom currently streams on Netflix worldwide, and is a top performer on major linear networks around the globe including CBC Kids (Canada), Tiny Pop (U.K.), Gloob (Brazil) and Clan TV (Spain).

Potential Future: Lifetime Might Relaunch In Africa And The Rest Of Europe On Discovery+

Lifetime was terminated in the UK last year as A+E Networks partnered up with Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute the channel's entire catalogue on Discovery+ and a year prior to the United States.

The channel is set to go off air by the end of May in Africa and the rest of Europe meaning viewers will lose out on shows like On The Case With Paula Zahn, Storage Wars, Marriage At First Sight, Dance Moms and Surviving R. Kelly.

 

Also joining that list of terminations is the brands streaming service, Lifetime Play leaving HISTORY and Crime + Investigation as the only linear channels operated by A+E Networks.

The parent company doesn't state the actual reason for the termination but if I had to guess it probably has something to do with the distribution agreement A+E Networks made with Warner Bros. Discovery for Lifetime in the UK.

Not a lot of people know this but the A+E Networks channels in the Africa, Poland and the rest of MENA are all handled by the UK which has been streamlining their entertainment with the rise of other streamers like Disney+ and HBO Max.

 

So the idea of this deal possibly including the rest of Europe doesn't seem far fetched. Compared to History and C+I, Lifetime has been struggling to gain traction and some would deem it a worthy competitor to TLC's wedding bonanza.

The channel alongside History and Crime + Investigation are handled by major brands The Walt Disney Company (excluding Europe), Sky (UK) and Hearst Corporation (globally) but from what I've seen with several linear channels that have this many owners its hard finding success so Lifetime's fate was predictable.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if The Walt Disney Company sold their shares its not like the content is on Disney+ if it was they'd be no need to run to a competitor to gain some relevancy.

Warner Bros. Discovery would make an ideal buyer Lifetime would merge with TLC for their remarkable similarities, Crime + Investigation with ID as there's not much original content going there leaving History as the only survivor from A+E Networks.