Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, formerly known as Turner Entertainment Networks,[1] is an American mass media division of Warner Bros. Discovery that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and assets owned and operated in the United States. Its related international division is Warner Bros. Discovery International.
 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | |
| Predecessors | Discovery Networks U.S. Turner Broadcasting System Scripps Networks Interactive |
| Founded | March 4, 2019 (original) May 12, 2022 (merger with Discovery Networks) |
| Headquarters | New York City , U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Kathleen Finch (chairwoman and CEO) |
| Brands | |
| Services |
|
| Parent | WarnerMedia (2019–2022) Warner Bros. Discovery (2022–present) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | wbd |
History
editTurner Broadcasting System
editIn 1970, Ted Turner purchased WJRJ-Atlanta, Channel 17, a small, Ultra High Frequency (UHF) station, and renamed it WTCG, for parent company Turner Communications Group.[2][3] During December 1976, WTCG originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting via satellite to cable systems.[2]
On December 17, 1976, at 1:00 pm, WTCG Channel 17's signal was beamed via satellite to its four cable systems in Grand Island, Nebraska; Newport News, Virginia; Troy, Alabama; and Newton, Kansas. All four cable systems started receiving the 1948 Dana Andrews – Cesar Romero film Deep Waters already in progress. The movie had started 30 minutes earlier. WTCG went from being a little television station to a major TV network that every one of the 24,000 households outside of the 675,000 in Atlanta was receiving coast-to-coast. WTCG became a so-called Superstation and created a precedent of today's basic cable television.
HBO had gone to satellite transmissions to distribute its signal nationally in 1975, but that was a service that cable subscribers were made to pay extra to receive. Ted Turner's innovation signaled the start of the basic cable revolution.
In 1979, the company changed its name to Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and the call letters of its main entertainment channel to WTBS.
WarnerMedia Studios and Networks (2018–2022)
editOn March 4, 2019, AT&T would reorganize its broadcasting assets to effectively dissolve Turner Broadcasting System withs its assets moving to the newly created WarnerMedia Entertainment with the unit consisting of HBO, TBS, TNT, TruTV, and an upcoming direct-to-consumer video service with Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, and Turner Classic Movies would be moved under Warner Bros. Entertainment via the new "Global Kids & Young Adults" business unit.[4][5]
On August 10, 2020, the WarnerMedia Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment television assets were merged to form WarnerMedia Studios & Networks Group with several of its units being reaorginazed in a major corporate revamp that resulted in TBS, TNT and TruTV being brought back under the same umbrella as Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Boomerang and TCM with Casey Bloys—who was with WarnerMedia since 2004 (as director of development at HBO Independent Productions), being elevated to President of Programming at HBO and Cinemax in May 2016—added oversight of WarnerMedia's basic cable networks and HBO Max to his purview.[6][7]
Discovery Networks U.S.
edit
In October 1996, Discovery Networks was formed by Discovery Communications to launch several networks, including Animal Planet, and the digital cable channels Discovery Kids, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Civilization, and Science Channel, with two years later being followed by the 1997 purchase of a 70% stake in Travel Channel, and the 1998 launches of Discovery en Español, Discovery Wings, and Discovery Health Channel.[8][9][10]
On July 31, 2017, Discovery announced it would acquire Scripps Networks Interactive, owner of networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and DIY Network, for $14.6 billion, with Discovery's brands being reorganized under different executives chief brand officers: SNI's chief programmer Kathleen Finch became chief brand officer of Lifestyle, overseeing TLC, the six former Scripps channels, and Discovery's other lifestyle networks, with Rich Ross, who formerly served as group president of Discovery and Science, stepping down, and being replaced by TLC president Nancy Daniels as chief brand officer of Discovery & Factual.[11][12]
Merger as Warner Bros. Discovery Networks
editOn May 17, 2021, three years after the acquisition, AT&T decided to sell its ownership of WarnerMedia in a merger with Discovery, Inc. to form a new publicly traded company, Warner Bros. Discovery. On April 8, 2022, WarnerMedia was divested by AT&T and merged with Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). All linear networks owned by the company, besides CNN, Turner Sports, HBO, and Magnolia Network, being overseen by Kathleen Finch as head of Warner Bros. Discovery Networks.[13][14][15]
On August 16, 2024, it was announced that Kathleen Finch would retire as the head of Warner Bros. Discovery Networks at the end of the year. She would be succeeded by Channing Dungey, who is the chairwoman of the Warner Bros. Television Group division.[16]
On December 12, 2024, WBD announced plans to reorganize its studios, networks and direct-to-consumer/streaming divisions in mid-2025. These businesses will be reorganized into two units: "Streaming & Studios"—which will include Warner Bros., HBO, and Max, and "Global Linear Networks". Zaslav stated that the new structure would enable greater flexibility and "potential future strategic opportunities". It will also insulate WBD's declining cable networks from its more profitable studio and direct-to-consumer businesses.[17]
Channels list
editCurrent channels
editBroadcast and FAST channels
edit- Free TV Networks (broadcast networks; joint venture with Lionsgate and Gray Television)
- The365
- Outlaw
- Defy (joint venture with A&E Networks)
- WBTV (FAST streaming channels)
Cable channels
edit| Former parent | Name | Notes | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Group | |||
| Turner Broadcasting System | TBS | September 1, 1967 | |
| TNT | October 3, 1988 | ||
| TruTV | July 1, 1991 | ||
| Turner Classic Movies | April 14, 1994 | ||
| Discovery, Inc. | Discovery Channel | June 17, 1985 | |
| Discovery en Español | 1998 | ||
| Animal Planet | April 1, 1994 | ||
| Oprah Winfrey Network | January 1, 2011 | ||
| Scripps Networks Interactive | Travel Channel | February 8, 1987 | |
| Factual & Lifestyle Group | |||
| Discovery, Inc. | American Heroes Channel | July 15, 1998 | |
| Destination America | October 7, 1996 | ||
| Discovery Life | February 1, 2011 | ||
| Investigation Discovery | October 7, 1996 | ||
| TLC | October 1980 | ||
| Science Channel | October 7, 1996 | ||
| Scripps Networks Interactive | HGTV | December 30, 1994 | |
| Hogar de HGTV | June 30, 2020 | ||
| Food Network | November 23, 1993 | ||
| Cooking Channel | August 21, 2002 | ||
| Kids & Family Group (The Cartoon Network, Inc.) | |||
| Turner Broadcasting System | Cartoon Network | October 1, 1992 | |
| Cartoonito | September 13, 2021 | ||
| Adult Swim | September 2, 2001 | ||
| Boomerang | April 1, 2000 | ||
| Discovery, Inc. | Discovery Family | October 7, 1996 | |
| Discovery Familia | November 1, 2007 | ||
Former channels
edit- AT&T SportsNet – shut down on October 21, 2023[18][19]
- AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh – sold to Fenway Sports Group
- AT&T SportsNet Southwest – sold to a joint venture between the Houston Rockets and Houston Astros (50% stake)
- AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain – ceased operations at the end of 2023
- Root Sports Northwest (29% stake with Baseball Club of Seattle, LP) – had sold its stake to the Mariners in January 2024[20]
- BET Holdings, Inc. – 15% with Robert L. Johnson, BET executives and shareholders, Taft Television & Radio Company and Liberty Media/Tele-Communications, Inc., sold its stake in 1996.
- Discovery Health Channel
- Discovery People
- Comedy Central (50% with Viacom) – sold its stake in 2003
- E! – stake acquired by Comcast and The Walt Disney Company in 1997.
- Game Show Network, LLC — 42% stake acquired by co-owner Sony Pictures Television in 2019.
- Great American Country – sold to GAC Media in 2021 and rebranded as GAC Family
- 3net – 3D television channel jointly owned with Sony and IMAX Corporation; operated from 2011 to 2014
- Motor Trend (moved under TNT Sports)
- Magnolia Network (moved under Home Box Office, Inc.)
References
edit- ^ "Businesses & Brands – Discovery, Inc". corporate.discovery.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ a b "Ted Turner's Former Superstation TBS Has Been Sold". adweek.it. February 23, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ Wu, Tim (November 11, 2010). "Ted Turner, the Alexander the Great of Television". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ Feiner, Lauren (March 4, 2019). "WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition". CNBC. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ "AT&T to HBO, Turner: No More Fiefdoms". The Wall Street Journal. March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (August 10, 2020). "WarnerMedia Begins Layoffs In Latest Streamlining Effort". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 7, 2020). "Bob Greenblatt, Kevin Reilly Out Amid Major WarnerMedia Restructuring". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ Parsons, Patrick (2008). Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1592137060.
- ^ Kirchdoerffer, Ed (April 1, 1999). "Digital Play in the U.S. of A". Realscreen. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
- ^ "Discovery seeks 70% interest in Travel Channel Paxson Communications would get $20 million". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (July 31, 2017). "Discovery to Acquire Scripps Networks for $14.6 Billion". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 1, 2018). "Rich Ross Out At Discovery In Exec Shakeup; Scripps' Kathleen Finch Adds To Oversight". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 9, 2022). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Road From HGTV To HBO As 'Fixer Upper' Stars Switch Sides Post-WB/Discovery Merger". Deadline. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "What Warner Bros. Discovery Looks Like on Day 1". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (April 9, 2022). "Warner Bros Discovery Merger: Who's In, Who's Out In The Executive Ranks". Deadline. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ "Warner Bros. Discovery Announces Retirement of Chairman and CEO of US Networks Kathleen Finch | Warner Bros. Discovery". www.wbd.com. August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (December 12, 2024). "Warner Bros. Discovery Creates New Corporate Structure, Separating Linear Networks From Streaming & Studios; Stock Soars – Update". Deadline. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ Keys, Matthew (August 4, 2023). "WBD affirms plan to exit regional sports business by end of year". The Desk. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Lafayettepublished, Jon (August 3, 2023). "Warner Bros. Discovery Expects To Exit RSN Business by Year-End". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Mariners to take full control of ROOT Sports NW, clouding team's financial outlook". The Seattle Times. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.