WarnerMedia CFO On Discovery Merger: 'We Know Consumers Need and Want More Content'
As consumers make choices between streaming services, WarnerMedia is hoping that offering a wide variety of content will entice audiences.
And with the Discovery merger expected to close in mid-year 2022, the company is working towards its goal of expanding its offerings.
"We have a really complementary, deep library of content with Discovery, and so we're excited about what the future holds," WarnerMedia Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Biry told Cheddar News. "We know that consumers need and want more content."
WarnerMedia posted solid quarterly results, with revenue surpassing $8 billion dollars as its entertainment business continues to boom. The media and entertainment giant saw wild success with its HBO Max division, which reached nearly 70 million subscribers globally.
Part of HBO Max's expansion began in June with the introduction of a free, ad-supported model.
"Customers who have purchased the product are deeply engaged with it," Biry said. "I think next year you'll continue to see that momentum grow as there's very little discrepancy next year between the products, because all the theatrical movies will launch the same date."
HBO Max was only available in the U.S. at the beginning of 2021. Now, it's currently in 46 countries, including most recently Spain and the Nordic region. WarnerMedia plans to produce local language content in these regions as well, and expand further in Europe in 2022.
"We saw with the pandemic we saw a significant increase in consumption on the platform," she said. "And so we are investing significantly more in our content because as I mentioned, more is better."
Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence.
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