Broadcasters in the CEE region have delivered their verdicts on whether U.S. drama and comedy still packs a punch with viewers in the region, as part of a CEO power panel at NATPE Budapest.
13.06.2024 - 20:31 / variety.com
Brendan Kelly Liberty Global is buying a stake of Formula E from Warner Bros. Discovery, giving the media company controlling interest in the all-electric version of the motorsport. A publicly traded company led by billionaire John Malone, Liberty Global announced Thursday it is in the process of acquiring WBD’s 25% equity in Formula E, which is in its 10th racing season.
The deal means Liberty will own 65% of Formula E. The purchase price of the Warner shares isn’t disclosed,Variety‘s sibling brand Sportico reported. In a 2021 filing, WBD said its quarter ownership of the circuit was worth $65 million, though that is almost certainly the value of the company’s initial investment in the league, since the filing noted a current fair value wasn’t readily available.
A 2023 U.K. regulatory filing by Formula E Operations, which manages the races, showed revenue of €181.5 million and a net loss of €15.3 million in the year ending September 2022—about $202 million and $17 million, respectively, at that month’s exchange rate. The deal means two Formula circuits—Formula 1 and Formula E—are now under Malone’s umbrella of Liberty entities.
Liberty Media, a separate publicly traded business, owns Formula 1. Malone, who founded Liberty, controls about 31% of Liberty Global and most of Liberty Media, although an agreement limits Malone’s power to slightly less than half of Liberty Media’ s voting power, according to SEC filings. He is chairman of the board of both companies.
Broadcasters in the CEE region have delivered their verdicts on whether U.S. drama and comedy still packs a punch with viewers in the region, as part of a CEO power panel at NATPE Budapest.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large To paraphrase a long-running network slogan, “It’s Not Max. It’s HBO.” HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys is changing the delineation between what an “HBO show” and a “Max show” is, moving most of Max’s upcoming big-budget, tentpole Warner Bros. IP projects to under the HBO umbrella.
EXCLUSIVE: Stuff the British Stole, the Australian-Canadian doc series about the impact of British colonialism, is being remade as a six-part scripted heist caper.
It might be nearly 25 years later, but luckily for Ice Cube, there’s always another Friday around the corner.
Warner Bros brought twin tornadoes to CineEurope today, showing off an extended new look at the Daisy Edgar-Jones/Glen Powell starrer Twisters which the studio is releasing internationally. From Lee Isaac Chung, the action thriller starts overseas rollout on July 17 and storms into domestic cinemas via Universal on July 19.
Michaela Zee Warner Bros. Discovery is set to name Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary to former President Barack Obama, as its new communications chief, Variety has confirmed. The company is expected to make the announcement official on Monday, and is believed to have already informed WBD chief David Zaslav’s direct reports with the news.
An Apple Original Films title is heading to the big screen for the sixth time with the June 27, 2025 release of Joseph Kosinski‘s Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt. Warner Bros. has won the rights to handle both domestic and overseas. This follows Paramount releasing Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon ($157M WW), Universal with Argylle ($96.2M WW), and Sony with Napoleon ($221.3M WW), Fly Me to the Moon (July 12), and Wolfs (Sept. 20).
Warner Bros. Discovery’s search for a new comms chief is over with the media giant expected to name Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary for former president Barack Obama, to the job, Deadline has learned.
Warner Bros. announced on Thursday that Trap, the latest thriller from two-time Oscar nominee M. Night Shyamalan, will go earlier, moving up a week from August 9 to August 2nd.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language film debut “The Room Next Door” for key international territories, including the U.K., Spain, Italy, Germany and Latin America. Starring Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and John Turturro, “The Room Next Door” will also be released by Warner Bros.
The streaming war is over, but we are now in a streaming cold war as players work out which alliances they want to make and how to adapt to the new landscape, Warner Bros. Discovery international exec Jamie Cooke said during his keynote at the ongoing NEM Dubrovnik event in Croatia.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Warner Bros. Discovery is suddenly seeing red — clay, that is — in its bid to build out its sports portfolio. A new ten-year pact for the U.S.
Ocean’s Eleven, Ted Lasso and the challenging state of the television business were all topics addressed by Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, at the Banff World Media Festival today.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large It’s probably not the right time for a new version of “The West Wing,” but never say never, Warner Bros. TV Group chairman Channing Dungey told an audience on Monday at the Banff World Media Festival.
EXCLUSIVE: After a long run at NBCUniversal, writer, producer and director Alan Yang has signed a big overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Under the multi-year pact, he will develop and produce new TV projects exclusively for the studio.
The failure to find Dr Michael Mosley sooner after he went missing on the Greek island of Symi has been branded 'absurd' by one police source.
As intrigue continues to swirl about its future role as an NBA broadcaster, Warner Bros Discovery‘s Turner Sports has secured U.S. rights to the French Open tennis tournament.
Love Island viewers were left scratching their heads during Friday's episode (June 7) as they noticed one islander seemed to be "missing" from the villa.The latest instalment of the popular dating show was filled with drama, particularly between Harriet Blackmore - who put rumours to bed that allegedly had a boyfriend on the outside and Ciaran Davies, but fans couldn't help but notice that Munveer Jabbal, who is close pals with Piers Morgan's son Spencer, was conspicuously absent. Concerned viewers took to social media to voice their worries, with one asking: "Where is Munveer?" Another chimed in: "Pls.
Two House Democrats again are expressing antitrust concerns about Venu, the upcoming sports streaming joint venture from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, and are seeking more answers from the companies.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The Warner Bros. Discovery sports portfolio has long been grounded in offerings from the major U.S. leagues.