Brand Marketing
FMCG firms cut senior roles by 32%; Total headcount shrinks 9.26% in FY25
Warner Bros. Discovery to split into two public companies by next year in major industry shakeup
Under the plan, WBD’s movie studios and streaming service HBO Max will anchor one new company, led by current CEO David Zaslav.
WBD's current CEO David Zaslav will helm the streaming and studios company, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels is slated to lead the global networks business.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) - the media conglomerate announced Monday that it will split into two separate public companies by mid-2026, according to media reports.
One of the new entities will focus on streaming and audio operations, housing marquee assets like HBO Max and Warner Bros.' storied movie properties. The second will become a global networks company, comprising businesses such as CNN, TNT Sports, and Discovery Channel.
WBD's current CEO David Zaslav will helm the streaming and studios company, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels is slated to lead the global networks business, the report added.
“By operating as two distinct and optimized companies in the future, we are empowering these iconic brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today’s evolving media landscape,” Zaslav said in a release.
The announcement follows months of speculation and industry chatter. Last December, Warner Bros. Discovery's internal restructuring signalled the possibility of a full break, a scenario now confirmed, the report added.
The move also mirrors industry trends: Comcast, for instance, is spinning out its cable networks - including CNBC - into a new public company called Versant, further driving a wave of sector realignment.
News of the planned split sent WBD shares surging more than 9% in premarket trading Monday, the report added.
Bookstrapping: Pingali Venkayya by National Book Trust
In this week's Bookstrapping, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta shared her insights on Pingali Venkayya, a book released by the National Book Trust, about the freedom fighter who designed the initial version of the Indian national flag.