Warner Bros. Discovery has taken steps to strengthen its financial base with a significant distribution deal on the channel.
The firm introduced Monday that it has reached an settlement for cable big Comcast Corp. to proceed carrying Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear cable channels, together with HBO, TNT, HGTV, Food Network, CNN and Animal Planet. The deal additionally expands Comcast’s skill to supply Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming providers, Max and Discovery+, within the United States to its thousands and thousands of Xfinity subscribers.
Additionally, Comcast’s Sky tv service in Britain and Ireland will proceed to broadcast HBO reveals and Warner Bros. movies.
“These broad, multi-year agreements spotlight the worth and enchantment of our linear portfolio to audiences within the United States,” mentioned Bruce Campbell, chief income officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, in an announcement asserting the deal. “We are delighted that Xfinity and Sky UK subscribers will proceed to take pleasure in our award-winning and fashionable content material throughout our networks and streaming platforms.”
Since dropping an public sale for tv rights for TNT to proceed promoting NBA video games after this season, Warner Bros. Discovery and its high-profile CEO, David Zaslav, have confronted robust questions on whether or not the corporate had sufficient affect to keep up its offers with distributors. .
Struggling with an enormous debt load, it has come underneath rising strain to assist the distribution charges it receives for its huge portfolio of conventional cable channels.
In the month of August, Warner Bros. Discovery took a $9 billion writedown to reflect the declining value of its basic cable channels. The company’s stock price plummeted, and the company laid off thousands of workers.
Warner Bros. theatrical films have failed, providing greater incentives for senior executives to prioritize television distribution to maintain the company’s revenue picture.
Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery did not release financial terms of the new pact Monday.
“Through these agreements, we will bring Warner Bros. Discovery’s broad portfolio to our customers the way they want to consume content across our existing and future linear television and streaming packages,” Greg Rigdon, president of the acquisition of Comcast content.
In addition to offering Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear channels, including HBO, to its Xfinity customers, Comcast will have expanded rights to provide ad-supported versions of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max and Discovery+ in its streaming packages.
The companies said Warner Bros. Discovery television and films will continue to be available to Sky UK and US Now customers. Currently, Sky has exclusive rights to HBO, but Sky will have competition when Warner Bros. Discovery launches the Max app in Britain and Ireland in early 2026.
“This new partnership provides a broader portfolio of content for our customers who enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling. Sky customers will be able to enjoy the Max app, WBD films and TV shows currently on Sky channels,” Dana Strong, Sky group chief executive, said in the statement.
The deal follows a similar deal made in September between Charter Communications, another major television distributor, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charter operates the Spectrum service.
