The year 2022 and 2023 will be remembered as a time of interesting and controversial decisions in the entertainment industry. With the recent merger between Warner Bros and Discovery, there have been numerous changes and headline-making moves that have left many in the industry scratching their heads. One such decision was the initial plan to merge the streaming services of HBO Max and Discovery+.
Instead, Discovery+ will remain a separate streamer, as the company fears that many subscribers would not be willing to pay the increased fee for the new mega channel.
The new streaming platform from Warner Bros, once referred to as Max, will still merge content from both services but Discovery+ will continue to feature new content that is exclusive to the channel. The CEO of Warner Bros Discovery, David Zaslav, has had a turbulent year, with controversial business moves and decisions that have not been well received by fans. One such decision was the shelving of the nearly completed feature film, Batgirl, which was deemed to be “unreleasable” by DC President Peter Safran.
Despite this, Zaslav has assured viewers that the shows and movies that have been removed from the platform were ones with low viewership numbers.
However, the partnerships with Roku and Tubi for the new free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels is a significant step for Warner Bros. Discovery in their efforts to “aggressively attack” the lower end of the streaming market. The FAST channels will give the media giant an opportunity to reach a new audience, providing them with access to a wealth of entertainment options at no cost.
The content available on the Roku Channel and Tubi will feature a range of titles from the company’s extensive portfolio, including popular shows like “Westworld,” “The Bachelor,” “Cake Boss,” and “Say Yes to the Dress.” This move represents a strategy shift for the company, which previously relied solely on its premium streaming platform, HBO Max. However, with the growing number of streaming options available, offering a free, ad-supported platform is a smart move to reach a wider audience.
In addition to the FAST channels, Roku will also add about 2,000 hours of on-demand content from Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV series and movies, including content from HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and more. This partnership with Roku and Tubi is part of the company’s larger effort to increase its reach and addressable market, providing consumers with more options for entertainment.
The FAST channels are set to launch in the spring of 2023, and it will be interesting to see how they are received by audiences. If successful, this could be a model that other media companies look to follow, as they seek to expand their reach in the increasingly crowded streaming landscape. The Warner Bros Discovery merger has already made waves in the entertainment industry, and this new venture could prove to be a game-changer in the world of streaming.
Similarly, Tubi has announced a content deal with Warner Bros Discovery that will bring 14 WB-branded FAST channels and more than 225 ad-supported VOD titles to the platform. The content will begin rolling out on Tubi as early as February 1, 2023, and will include popular series such as Westworld, The Bachelor, Cake Boss, and Say Yes to the Dress, among others. The Tubi platform will also launch three new curated FAST channels that will include all seasons of popular series such as Westworld and Raised by Wolves, among others.
The future of streaming entertainment continues to be an ever-evolving landscape, and the Warner Bros Discovery merger is a prime example of the rapid changes taking place. The combination of HBO Max and Discovery+ was a bold move that aimed to provide a one-stop destination for all of your entertainment needs. However, with the change in plans to keep Discovery+ as a separate platform, it is clear that the company is taking a more measured approach to the streaming industry.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the shift to streaming, with many people opting to stay at home and consume their entertainment online. This has led to a saturation of the market, with new streaming platforms launching all the time, each vying for a piece of the pie. The competition is fierce, and it is no longer enough to simply offer a broad library of content. To be successful, companies need to offer something unique and compelling that sets them apart from the rest.
Warner Bros Discovery’s decision to keep Discovery+ as a separate platform acknowledges this reality and is a smart move for the company. The platform already has a large subscriber base, and by not disrupting it with a radical overhaul, the company is more likely to retain those subscribers. This move also gives the company the opportunity to focus on the new platform, which is set to launch later in 2023. By keeping Discovery+ and the new platform separate,
The company can cater to specific target audiences, rather than trying to appeal to everyone with a generic offering. For example, Discovery+ caters to audiences interested in lifestyle, reality, and documentary content, while the new platform could focus on the more traditional entertainment offerings, such as movies and television shows.
