Warner Bros. And Discovery Global Split To Be Completed By April 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said he expects the planned separation of the company to be completed by April of 2026. It’s the most specific executives have been as to a timeline. The split of streaming and studios from global networks was anticipated to fall in the first half of the year.

“We expect sometime in April that the companies will be split,” he told investors at a Goldman Sachs media conference. “Everything’s on track.” There are no regulatory approvals required, noted in a Q&A touching on the dramatic turnaround at Warner. Bros. film studio, HBO Max’s ongoing international expansion and anticipated streaming price hikes, which Zaslav said will be a bigger focus for the company than a password sharing crackdown.

WBD formally announced in June it will split into two companies, following a similar announcement by Comcast, which intends to spin off NBCUniversal’s linear cable networks by year end. company Of the new publicly traded entities, a renamed Warner Bros. will include Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO and HBO Max, as well as the film and television libraries. 

Media networks, called Discovery Global, will house entertainment, sports and news television brands around the world including CNN, TNT Sports in the U.S., Discovery, top free-to-air channels across Europe, and digital products such as the profitable Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report (B/R). 

Zaslav will serve as president and CEO of Warner Bros. and Gunnar Wiedenfels, current WBD CFO, of networks. The moves by both WBD and Comcast are separating out the high growth businesses from declining linear television. Zaslav acknowledged that linear entertainment aside from sports and new is really challenged but said the split will empower both companies with sharper focus and strategic flexibility to compete and pursue investments.

Focus for the standalone networks biz is key, he said. “You know, being able to really focus on these assets. What is Food Network in the future? How does CNN become a global business? How do we create a future on streaming for sports that really takes advantage of all the global sports that we have?”

“It’s a global, diversified business. Some of the businesses like free to air in Europe are doing really well. If there was a free to air channel trading at low multiples, when we’re one big company, would we buy a couple of those businesses and take advantage of the synergy and the fact that that may have a more sustainable, longer, more short future? Maybe not, because we figuring out how to re-bundle businesses that might be trading at 15, 20, 25 multiples. So I think they’ll be able to really focus on taking advantage of their assets, rebuilding them for the future, but also maybe buying some low multiple assets that could, you know, further further solidify their ability to generate a lot of free cash flow long into the future,” he said hinting at some M&A.

The Next New Season Of MasterChef South Africa Will Sizzle On e.tv

Another piping hot edition of MasterChef South Africa is on its way, and this time it will turn up the heat in its new home on eTV. The local version of the world’s best-known and most-loved television cooking competition is set to sizzle on e.tv on Sunday nights at 18:00 from early 2026. In addition to this prime-time screening, MasterChef South Africa Season 6 will also cook up a storm on eReality and eExtra.

“MasterChef is a tasty and spicy television stew infused with all the ingredients our audiences love – rollercoaster action, suspense, high drama, and unforgettable reality show moments,” said Helga Palmer, Group Head of Content and Strategy at eTV. “The South African adaptation, infused with the flavours of local cuisine, has been a winning recipe with a series of successful seasons, and eTV is the perfect broadcaster for this exhilarating format.”

“Collaborating with e.tv is an exciting step in bringing MasterChef South Africa to a broad, culturally diverse South African audience,” Bongumusa Makhatini, CEO of the franchise’s format rights holder for Africa, Primedia Studios, added. “We’re thrilled to have secured a primetime slot on the country’s biggest free-to-air independent broadcaster and its complementary channels, known for serving world-class entertainment to its multitude of viewers. And, we can’t wait to meet all the contestants who’ll whip up the new season’s must-watch moments.”

MasterChef South Africa Season 6 will once again be produced by the multi-award-winning production company Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios. It will be filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town and has been licensed in the territory following an agreement with Banijay Rights.

The previous season of MasterChef South Africa, aired on SABC, kick-started the culinary careers of several contestants, whether a surprisingly disastrous day in the MasterChef Kitchen caused them to hang up their aprons on the show or their delectable dishes saw them dashing to the final.

Season 5 winner Bridget Mangwandi made history on MasterChef by becoming the franchise's youngest titleholder at the age of 18 and the first black woman to win MasterChef South Africa.

“The show has truly transformed my life,” Bridget commented. “Not only did it open all kinds of culinary doors, but throughout the competition, the gruelling challenges, feedback from the show’s esteemed judges, and interaction with the guest judges, all experts in their fields, allowed me to sharpen my skills behind the pots and pans. I strongly encourage all passionate home cooks to seize the opportunity to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”

Home cooks from across the country who want to follow in Bridget’s food journey footsteps can now put their name in the pot to win the highly coveted title of “MasterChef” and the R1 million prize awaiting the MasterChef South Africa Season 6 winner. 

Visit the official website at masterchefsa.tv to complete the entry form. The closing date for entries is 16 October 2025 at 23:59.

Who is eligible to enter the competition? To bake, fry, or roast your way to success on the show, you must be a South African citizen above 18 who has never earned a living as a professional chef. 

You simply need to live and breathe food, enjoy spending time in front of the stove, and know how to create the most mouthwatering meals.  

The judges for the sixth season of MasterChef South Africa will be announced in due course. 

Represented internationally by Banijay Entertainment, MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format (Guinness World Records). Now commissioned across 71 markets, the life-changing show has aired over 700 seasons and more than 16,000 episodes to date. Created by Franc Roddam and first launched in 1990, the superbrand is known and enjoyed worldwide.

October 2025 On Cartoon Network And Cartoonito Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Tom And Jerry Gokko | Stunts: Cartoon Network Classics | More

Please note this is a drafted version of Cartoon Network and Cartoonito's highlights for October so should we gather more info further adjustments will be made.

Cartoon Network 

The Wonderfully Weird World Of Gumball (New Series)

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball continues the surreal humour and wild storytelling of the multi- award winning The Amazing World of Gumball. Created and executive produced by Ben Bocquelet, this quarter-hour animated comedy series blends an eclectic mix of media styles – including 2D & 3D animation, CGI, puppetry, photorealism and live action – into a wildly imaginative world defined by its vibrant visual style and sharp meta humour.

Trick Or Treat Stunt

It will consist of Halloween themed episodes for shows like Tiny Toons Looniversity, We Baby Bears, Teen Titans GO!, Jellystone, Apple And Onion and Regular Show.

Cartoon Network Classics 

90s and 00s fans are in for a treat as Cartoon Network will be allocating more older shows to the lineup as part of a block or stunt with Dexter's Laboratory, Courage The Cowardly Dog, Samurai Jack and The Powerpuff Girls. If anyone had to guess this is probably their version of America's Checkered Past.

Checkered Past was described as a programming block for Cartoon Network's older shows basically what Boomerang offered in the 90s to early 00s or what Boing had been doing for sometime in Africa. Based on the shows in question, Cartoon Network will likely air them in the evening or late nights.

For Samurai Jack, Cartoon Network never aired the fifth season and I can only assume like Adventure Time consumers will never get the final season. Also interesting to note is that the listed shows had been removed from Boing's lineup for consumers in Africa.

Films confirmed for the month include The Powerpuff Girls Movie 

Also read:

• Cartoon Network Had Been Acknowledging It's Older Library Of Content 

Cartoonito 

Tom And Jerry Gokko (New Series)

Tom and Jerry Gokko celebrates the calmness and simplicity of everyday life and embraces play between our iconic characters and showcases their friendly rivalries and friendships in this cute new stylization.

Grizzy And The Lemmings (New Episodes)

It is a silent comedy focusing on a food-loving, homebody grizzly bear, named Grizzy and a band of adrenaline junkie lemmings.

Mr. Bean S4 (New Episodes)

Mr Bean, a fastidious bachelor, lives with Teddy, his stuffed brown bear. He finds unconventional ways to do seemingly normal tasks and often gets into trouble with his landlady, Mrs Wicket.

Halloween Stunt 

It will consist of Halloween themed episodes for Bugs Bunny Builders, Cocomelon Lane, Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and Grizzy And The Lemmings.

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo! (Movie Premiere)

When a toxic waste leak turns Crystal Cove's pumpkin patch into evil Jackal-Lanterns, Mystery Incorporated teams up with Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Bill Nye the Science Guy to save the town.

Trick Or Treat Scooby-Doo! (Movie Premiere)

Scooby-Doo and his friends discover new troubles on Halloween when supernatural villains haunt them. With no clues in sight, they must team up with their nemesis, Coco Diablo, to investigate.

Films confirmed for the month include Tom And Jerry: The Magic Ring, Tom And Jerry: The Wizard And The Oz, Tom And Jerry: Cowboy Up!, Tom And Jerry: Blast Off To Mars, Tom And Jerry: Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, Tom And Jerry: Spy Quest and Tom And Jerry: Robin Hood And His Merry Mouse.

Paramount Skydance Looking To Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Amid Split

Paramount Skydance is working with an investment bank as it prepares an offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, according to people familiar with the matter.

Warner Bros. Discovery had yet to receive an offer as of Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic dealings. A bid could come as early as next week, CNBC's David Faber reported Thursday.

Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery soared more than 25% on Thursday after an initial report from the the Wall Street Journal that the recently merged Paramount Skydance was preparing a takeover bid.

Representatives for Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.

Shares of Paramount Skydance were up roughly 8% in afternoon trading.

Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced plans to separate its global TV networks business from its streaming business and studios. The Journal reported Thursday the Paramount Skydance bid would be an all-cash offer for the entirety of WBD.

Earlier this week, WBD CEO David Zaslav said at an investor conference that the planned separation would likely be completed by April. The streaming and studio assets would be renamed Warner Bros., while the global TV networks business — which will own a suite of pay TV networks including TNT and CNN — will be Discovery Global.

While WBD executives said in June that each company would be "free and clear" to do deals following the split, a bid before the separation would have to be for the entire company, one of the people said.

Media Moves

The media industry has been navigating a transformation as streaming has upended the pay TV bundle, a longtime cash cow for TV and entertainment companies.

A merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery would create a media behemoth with a huge portfolio of pay TV networks, a sprawling range of sports rights and two major film studios.

Paramount Skydance owns broadcast network CBS, as well as pay TV networks like BET, MTV and Nickelodeon, and streaming service Paramount+. Its film studio is known for movies like "The Godfather," "Top Gun," and "Forrest Gump."

With the exception of a broadcast TV network, WBD has similar assets — with networks like CNN and TNT, as well as HBO and streaming service HBO Max. Its Warner Bros. film studio also has a historic track record, and owns the intellectual property to franchises like "Harry Potter," DC Comics and "The Lord of the Rings."

Both companies have a long list of major sports rights, too, the marquee content for all traditional TV and streaming platforms. A merger would put the likes of the NFL, MLB, an array of college football and basketball, and other major sports under one roof.

Media executives and experts have expected consolidation could be coming to the industry.

Zaslav has said publicly for some time that media companies need to consolidate. During an earnings call in November, shortly after Donald Trump was elected as president, Zaslav said a new administration could usher in more dealmaking.

However, in recent months, some media companies have moved toward separation. Late last year, Comcast announced that its NBCUniversal would spin off its pay TV networks, which includes CNBC and MSNBC, into a separate, publicly traded entity. Months later, WBD announced it would make the same move.

Paramount Skydance is the result of an $8 billion merger that was announced last year and received regulatory approval in August to move forward after a lengthy delay.

The Federal Communications Commission cleared the way for the merger weeks after Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to Trump to settle a lawsuit he filed against the company over the editing of an interview on CBS's "60 Minutes" with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

At the time of deal's approval, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement that he welcomed "Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network."

The company is looking to cut more than $2 billion in costs, and layoffs are expected to continue. Last week, Paramount SKydance sent a memo to its employees saying they were expected to return to the office five days a week in the new year, or seek a buyout.

A lot has changed since the merger, which was backed by RedBird Capital Partners. The company has done a slew of deals under the leadership of David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and multibillionaire Larry Ellison, including acquiring the U.S. rights to TKO Group's UFC for seven years, beginning in 2026.

On Wednesday, Larry Ellison became more than $100 billion richer after software company Oracle issued growth projections that dramatically lifted the company's stock.

Big Change Coming To Warner Bros. Discovery In 2026, How It Impacts Cartoon Network?

As some readers are aware, Warner Bros. Discovery will be splitting into two separate companies with Cartoon Network or better yet the cable portion being owned by Discovery. Shows like Teen Titans GO! and The Wonderfully Weird World Of Gumball remaining with Warner Bros.

The bloated Discovery which will inherit the merged company's debt gets a 20% stake in Warner Bros. this wouldn't give it control but rather improve its balance sheet. With the merged company's CFO taking Discovery by the horns several changes await Cartoon Network.

Continued content investment under Cartoon Network Studios/Warner Bros. Animation 

If you look at Cartoon Network back in the 90s to early 2010s, it had always had a pipeline of animation from Ben 10, The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy and Secret Saturday. They even had an ongoing slate of content from Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and Tom And Jerry.

Now consumers don't get much Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and Tom And Jerry, and to top it off Warner Bros. Discovery is only interested in capitalization. They've got Batman: Caped Crusader on Amazon Prime Video followed by The Wonderfully Weird World Of Gumball on Hulu. 

Before consumers would have Cartoon Network and HBO Max both of which are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery for all this content. The push to have these shows on multiple platforms has caused division amongst viewers, not everyone that's subscribed to HBO Max has or can afford Hulu. 

The future of shows like CN To The Rescue 

Warner Bros. Discovery had been curating short form content within some of the markets Cartoon Network operates particularly Africa and these include CN To The Rescue, My Cartoon Friend and Cartoon Network Dance Challenge. Does that stop once Cartoon Network goes to Discovery perhaps?

Discovery will be handling all the debt and with the merged company's chief financial officer (CFO) getting a front seat (CEO) within this company. One can only assume the next course of action post the split would be content reduction.

The only reason Cartoon Network in Africa has all that local content and is what it is today is due to Warner Bros. Discovery Global will most likely follow a similar regime as seen with Amazon Prime Video in Africa and soon Paramount Global by halting their local operations.

The viability of Warner's linear assets under Discovery 

Aside from Cartoon Network, Discovery Global would also be distributing Cartoonito and Boing in Africa. The fear for some is whether Discovery would have enough content to accommodate these brands cause the likely scenario would be closing or selling some channels.

Discovery Global while in the kids space in the US through Discovery Family has very minimal presence and Cartoon Network may not really fit preposition as they're a factual brand above everything else. If they are retaining Cartoon Network and Cartoonito they could just alter the lineup. 

As mentioned, we are expecting them to close local operations, reduce their reliance on Warner Bros (affecting shows like Teen Titans GO! and Batwheels) and priorities on third party shows.