Warner Bros. Discovery Looking To Spin-Off It's Cable Networks Ahead Of Restructure

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is moving towards a potential break-up, CNBC reported on Thursday, as media companies explore options for their struggling cable TV businesses and sharpen focus on their faster-growing streaming and studios divisions.

WBD shares surged more than 4% on the news, rebounding from earlier losses of nearly 6% that were triggered by a dour quarterly report.

The company missed first-quarter revenue estimates and posted a larger-than-expected loss earlier in the day due to a sluggish box office performance and ongoing declines in cable.

The media industry is going through what some executives have called a “general disruption” as millions of subscribers abandon once-lucrative cable TV for streaming. That has piled pressure on companies to consistently produce hit studio content and boost profitability in their streaming businesses.

WBD had laid the groundwork for a possible sale or spin-off of its declining cable TV assets in December by announcing a separation from its streaming and studio operations. It reported results under the new structure for the first time on Thursday.

A split will align the company with Comcast, which is spinning off most of its cable TV networks such as MSNBC and CNBC to position itself for growth in the streaming era.

Analysts have long speculated about a break-up of WBD, formed by the 2022 merger between Warner Media and Discovery.

“WBD would be leaner and have stronger growth potential without cable assets. But finding a buyer could be difficult. Linear TV is deteriorating and WBD has big debts,” said eMarketer analyst Ross Benes.

WBD, which has $38bn (R693.4bn) of gross debt, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the CNBC report.

Its CEO David Zaslav said on Thursday the company's programming strength was helping Max attract subscribers in a crowded market for streaming services.

WBD added 5.3-million streaming subscribers in the January to March quarter, more than the 3.1-million estimated by analysts, taking its total to 122.3-million. Its content slate in the period included the third season of HBO's The White Lotus and the medical drama series The Pitt.

However, its results were hampered by a weak showing at the box office as WBD struggled to replicate the success of last year's Dune: Part Two, which grossed more than $700m (R12,7-trillion). Its marquee release for the period, Bong Joon Ho's sci-fi dark comedy Mickey 17, earned only slightly more than its reported budget at the box office.

Studio revenue fell 18% to $2.3bn, missing estimates of $2.7bn, according to Visible Alpha.

The company has, however, made a strong start to the second quarter with Ryan Coogler's horror film Sinners and the blockbuster A Minecraft Movie, which has raked in around $900 million globally, making it the biggest release of 2025 so far.

Revenue at the TV networks segment, which includes CNN, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, fell 7%.

Overall, revenue fell 10% to $8.98bn, missing analysts' average estimate of $9.60bn, according to data compiled by LSEG. Loss of 18c per share was also larger than expectations for a 13c loss.

June 2025 On ESPN Africa | NBA - Conference Finals And The Japanese Rugby League Finals | More

NBA - CONFERENCE FINALS AND FINALS

The NBA conference finals are the Eastern and Western Conference championship series of the National Basketball Association.

The finals will begin 20-21 May 2025.

Western Conference Game 7 (if necessary) – 1 June

Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 (if necessary) – 2 June

2025 NBA Draft, 25 – 26 June

THE JAPANESE RUGBY LEAGUE – FINALS

Japan Rugby League One, formerly known as the Top League, is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. 

The teams participating in the final are TBC.

NHL - STANLEY CUP FINALS

The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America.

The playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 19, 2025, and will conclude in June 2025 with the Stanley Cup Finals with the series ending no later than 23 June 2025.

June 2025 On National Geographic Wild Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Ocean With David Attenborough | Beneath The Waves Stunt | More

BENEATH THE WAVES STUNT 

Sundays at 18:00, from 1 June (ends 29 June)

Join Nat Geo Wild for a special programming event dedicated to exploring the wonders of the ocean. Through breath-taking documentaries and expert insights, we’ll dive deep into the mysteries of the deep sea, uncover the impact of human activity, and highlight the urgent need for conservation. Together, we can inspire change and protect the blue heart of our planet. Don’t miss this immersive journey beneath the waves!

Programming includes: 

Secrets of the Penguins - Sunday 1 June at 18:00

In Antarctica, emperor penguin societies reveal mysterious bonds forged from birth. They are the secret to surviving their extreme world.

Premiere: The Secret Life of Orcas – Sunday 8 June at 18:00

Orcas captivate with their intelligence and family structures. Recent attacks on boats near Gibraltar raise questions: Are they threatening us or just playing?

The Secret Life of Orcas – Sunday 15 June at 18:00

Exploring Orcas' remarkable ability to pass down knowledge through generations, marine biologist Florian Graner delves into the diverse cultures of orca populations.

Deep Sea Dwellers - Sunday 22 June at 18:00

Forget Hollywood; there are aliens in the deep. Octopus, squid and cuttlefish are shapeshifters with three hearts, blue blood and holes in their brains.

OCEAN with David Attenborough - Sunday 29 June at 18:00

The world’s leading natural historian draws on a lifetime of knowledge to reveal how Earth’s vast, interconnected waterways can be restored.

HEARTLAND DOCS 3 (8 x 60)

Mondays at 18:00, from 2 June (ends 21 July)

Heartland vets Drs. Ben and Erin Schroeder dedicate their lives to the health of their four-legged friends in their Nebraska community. Here, the Schroeders revive a juvenile bald eagle, tend to a dog overwhelmed by its litter of puppies and rescue a show horse with a near-fatal leg injury.

UNDERDOGS (5 x 60)  

Saturdays at 18:00, from 28 June (ends 19 July)

This ground-breaking series tells the stories of the heroic underdogs natural world - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, the series will spotlight the unique and unpredictable behaviors of a cast of little-known animal characters in the natural world, including their camouflage techniques, parenting skills and courtship rituals.

June 2025 On National Geographic Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Ocean With David Attenborough | Returning Shows Including Lawless Island | More

LAWLESS ISLAND S8 (10 x 60) 

Mondays at 19:40, from 2 June (ends 4 August)

In Port Protection, the summer and fall are proving grounds for its residents. Villagers must work unceasingly to commercial fish, stock firewood, build cabins, collect water and hunt for red meat. The younger generation must figure out how to grow and expand, while the old-timers find unique ways to reinforce their bodies after decades of struggle on the unforgiving island.

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Friday 13 June at 20:30 (1 part documentary) 

OCEAN with David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean.

The celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests, and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.

Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT: UNLOCKING THE TRUTH (3 x 60) 

(FIRST 2 EPS DOUBLE-BILLED)

Sundays at 21:00, from 15 June (ends 22 June)

A groundbreaking look at one of history’s most notorious psychology studies through the firsthand accounts of the original prisoners and guards, many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time. Their stories unravel a narrative that interrogates the motives of the man in charge, Dr. Philip Zimbardo, while exploring larger questions of human nature and the power of perspective.

COLOSSEUM: THE RISE AND FALL  (3 x 60) 

Wednesdays at 20:30, from 25 June (9 August)

New discoveries and cutting-edge research reveal the history of Rome’s Colosseum and its intricate relationship with the empire that created it. Combining the latest archaeological  evidence from the Colosseum itself, with clues from ancient sites in Europe and North Africa, we explore the building’s extraordinary archaeological and cultural history, and its role in Rome’s rise and fall. 

CONTINUING SHOWS

AMSTERDAM CENTRAL 24/7 S1 (5 x 60)

Thursdays at 18:50, from 29 May (ending 26 June)

Amsterdam Central Station, an architectural marvel, stands tall as a gateway connecting Amsterdam to the rest of the world. Over 250,000 passengers pass through its doors every day. Inside it, there is a melting pot of cultures and stories. Diverse travellers from different backgrounds, people who arrive in search of adventure, love, or a new beginning. From backpackers to businessmen, this station welcomes them all. 

TUCCI IN ITALY S1 (5 x 60)

Tuesdays at 20:30, from 21 May (ends 18 June)

The Italian peninsula is a battleground for the proud and passionate culinary traditions of rival regions. Stanley Tucci is visiting ten of the most distinctive to discover how food can unlock what makes them so special. In each episode, who he meets, what he eats and what he learns will all lead to the creation of a meal that captures that region’s very essence.

LIBERATION: D-DAY TO BERLIN (4 x 60) 

Tuesdays at 20:30, from 13 May (ends 3 June) 

80 years on from the fall of Nazi Germany, we experience the liberation of Western Europe through modern eyes. Unrivalled restoration and expert colourisation of the surviving archive transports us into an emotional and hard-hitting story that balances heroism and tragedy, hope and despair, and exposes the reality of warfare conducted with a ferocity that left no-one untouched, or unchanged.

NORTHWOODS SURVIVAL S1 (8 x 60) 

Mondays at 18:50, from 12 May (ends 30 June)

Northwoods Survival follows a diverse group of young Canadians as they embark on a challenging four-season mission: to build a life in the vast and unforgiving Canadian wilderness. The series takes viewers on an adventure through some of the country's most remote and rugged landscapes as these aspiring homesteaders face the harsh realities of living off the land and strive to not just survive - but to thrive in these wild places, they now call home.

Investigation Discovery Explores The Dark Side Of Fame In Upcoming Six-Part Series, Hollywood Demons

Investigation Discovery announced today a riveting new six-part series, HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, that pulls back the glamorous curtain of fame to expose the hidden struggles, sacrifices and scandals of life in the spotlight. From the seemingly cursed dynasties like the Von Erich wrestling family to iconic figures like 7th Heaven’s pastor dad, Stephen Collins, who are far from their beloved characters, and series plagued by peril and misfortune like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and The Real Housewives, this new series unveils the shadowy underbelly of Hollywood. Each gripping two-hour episode features accounts from Hollywood insiders, project collaborators, and survivors who endured harrowing abuse and struggles. Insight and perspective are provided by addiction specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky and culture writer, Scaachi Koul. HOLLYWOOD DEMONS will air weekly beginning Friday, 16 May from 21:00 – 23:00 CAT on ID Africa, DStv channel 171.  

 

For 11 years, Stephen Collins graced the screen as the altruistic Rev. Eric Camden on 7th Heaven. However, his squeaky-clean image is shattered when a recording of him admitting to inappropriate sexual conduct with underage girls is leaked. In this intense and emotional two-hour premiere of HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, one of Collins’s alleged victims comes forward in a shocking tell-all interview, revealing the disturbing truth about the actor she once idolised. Crew and castmates from the iconic series, including Jeremy London, also share their reactions to the bombshell accusations, leaving them reeling in the aftermath. The premiere episode of HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, “Stephen Collins, America’s Dad,” premieres on Friday, 16 May at 21:00 CAT.

 

A complete rundown of episodes this season includes:  

Child Stars Gone Violent  

Premieres Friday, 23 May at 21:00 CAT  

In the golden era of ’90s family-friendly TV, child actors weren’t just stars—they were America’s sweethearts. But for some, the transition out of the spotlight dragged them down a path of crime, addiction, and violence. Former child actors Brian Bonsall (Family Ties) and Dee Jay Daniels (The Hughleys) unpack the harsh reality of life after fame, while producers from Home Improvement and That’s So Raven reveal their brush with young stars who ended up behind bars. 

 

Dark Side of the Power Rangers 

Premieres Friday, 30 May at 21:00 CAT 

Every ‘90s kid remembers Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the ultimate live-action superhero show. Beneath the bright spandex and high-flying karate kicks lies a grim reality of tragedy and scandals. Viewers will watch never-before-seen footage of a fan-turned-gunman who had one horrifying mission: to assassinate the show’s most legendary star. And just a few years later, the same actor meets a grim fate. 

 

Housewives Gone Bad  

Premieres Friday, 6 June at 21:00 CAT 

The Real Housewives began as a dazzling display of wealth and luxury, but over the past two decades, tragedy and criminal activity have shaken their glamorous worlds. For the first time, a former colleague breaks down how one housewife built her multimillion-dollar empire on deception. And The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’s Taylor Armstrong speaks out like never before, shedding new light on her husband’s alleged abuse and the unsettling rumors that still surround his death.