Discovery boss David Zaslav didn’t exactly have a reputation for spending freely before his company’s merger with WarnerMedia. The pursuit of $3 billion in post-merger cost savings (“synergies,” in the corporate word) hasn’t changed that notion, nor has a closer look at some of the biggest deals and overall moves.
However, the renewal of HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloy’s contract sends a signal that Warner Bros. Discovery won’t screw up what works.
Blois’ new deal will keep him in the HBO and HBO Max brands for another five years, joining Zaslav’s tenure (the chief executive extended his contract until 2027 last year, shortly after the merger was announced). As HBO and HBO Max continue to grow (both reached 76.8 million subscribers worldwide in Q1), Bloys’ long-term lockdown may reassure the creative community that it won’t change much in the brand of prestige of the new company.
That’s a good thing, because WBD has completely eliminated the script business on its TBS, TNT, and TruTV cable channels; I’ve seen about 30 executives leave the company after a merger; and destroyed JJ Abrams’ big-budget series worldly women For budget reasons. Zaslav also expressed frustration with the slow pace of some of the company’s biggest global deals, including its $250 million deal with Abrams’ Bad Robot.
However, Blois may be in a strong position to protect the HBO brand from cost cuts. HBO and HBO Max recently received 140 Emmy nominations, representing Warner Bros. 90% of Discovery total (155). HBO continues to create shows that define culture as heritage s Euphoriait’s the first Game of thrones leave dragon house, the premiere is scheduled for the end of August. Meanwhile, HBO Max has gained enough viewership to register for the Nielsen rating platform’s monthly ranking, a year after it started offering subscribers a cheaper, ad-supported tier.
Not to be outdone, Blois’ expansion, which comes on the heels of the company’s Emmy Haul, also helps steer the narrative away from the glut of post-merger stories about budget cuts and layoffs. A positive perception can go a long way in Hollywood; Keeping Blois at HBO and HBO Max suggests that Zaslav and WBD are willing to play for both style and substance.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
