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WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar expects the upcoming launch of the cheaper, ad-supported version of streaming service HBO Max to unlock new value and boost subscriptions.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorWarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar addressed the media conglom’s controversial move to release Warner Bros.’s full 2021 movie slate on HBO Max day-and-date with theaters — saying that theatrical releases are still a key part of the studio’s strategy, but also acknowledging that the industry’s windowing strategy has likely permanently changed.“I think we’re still in the experimentation mode” on theatrical/streaming movie release windows, said Kilar, speaking Thursday at

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAT&T already a long list of “to-dos” when it comes to WarnerMedia, the big entertainment conglomerate it purchased for $85 billion in 2018.

Long before former Hulu chief Jason Kilar became disruptor in chief at WarnerMedia and put the entire 2021 Warner Bros slate on HBO Max, Fredric Rosen began changing the way concert tickets were sold as the Ticketmaster president/CEO, when the service became the leading computerized ticketing company in the world.

Jason Kilar To make sense of all that has transpired in 2020 and what it portends for the media and entertainment sectors going forward, Variety spoke with a cross section of industry leaders about the broad theme of change. For more, click here.The pandemic is absolutely accelerating change because consumers are changing.In the case of WarnerMedia, this means that we need to talk about the fan.

As Hollywood reckons with Warner Bros.' unprecedented streaming bet — the studio is sending 17 of its films directly to its parent company's service HBO Max in 2021 — talent agency CAA is objecting to the details of the plan.

Dave McNary Film ReporterRichard Lovett, president of Hollywood powerhouse agency CAA, has blasted WarnerMedia’s stunning plan to stream all 17 of its 2021 Warner Bros. theatrical releases on HBO Max at the same time as they play in theaters.“The blind side Warner Brothers announcement Thursday was entirely unacceptable to CAA and to the clients we represent,” Lovett said in a letter to WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.

EXCLUSIVE: CAA is the latest to blast WarnerMedia on its decision to place its entire 17-film slate on HBO Max at the same time the films are released in U.S. theaters in 2021.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorIt’s an enormous bet that threatens to alienate Hollywood’s A-list, and it may well make or break HBO Max in the coming year.

William Earl administratorWarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar will keynote Variety’s Dealmakers Elite virtual event on Thursday, December 10.

Also Read: Warner Bros to Release All 2021 Movies in Theaters and on HBO Max SimultaneouslyOn Thursday, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar announced the decision to put all ’21 WB movies on HBO Max on their theatrical release date.

Unless you have been avoiding all film news over the past couple of days, you probably already know that WarnerMedia has publicly announced the company’s decision to simultaneously release its entire 2021 Warner Bros. film slate day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max.

announced Thursday that all 17 films on its 2021 slate will launch on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters — a model that was previously announced for the release of “Wonder Woman 1984.” In a statement, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar doubled down on the fact that this was a necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “We see an opportunity to do something firmly focused on the fans, which is to provide choice.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorAT&T CFO John Stephens described the groundbreaking simultaneous release of Wonder Woman 1984 in theaters and on HBO Max as “a win-win in a difficult situation.”In an online appearance Friday at the Morgan Stanley European Media, Tech and Telecom Conference, he complimented WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and his staff for “being collaborative and thinking differently to do something for the first time.”The release, which will be free for streaming subscribers on Christmas

Claudia Eller Co-Editor-in-ChiefI’ve been an entertainment journalist for more than three decades, and I truly cannot recall a time when one media company went through as much extreme management upheaval over such a short, concentrated period of time as WarnerMedia.Since this past August, three months after former Hulu chief Jason Kilar took the reins as CEO, there has been a mass departure of senior executives from a studio that for many, many years was considered the most stable of all the

Also Read: WarnerMedia Layoffs Underway: Read CEO Jason Kilar's Internal Memo“Blair has had an amazing run during her tenure at Warner Bros. creating and executing a multitude of unique, compelling and award-winning campaigns,” added Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros.

WarnerMedia.In a memo Tuesday, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar informed the staff that numerous jobs would be cut in the coming days. Cuts are expected to affect 5-7% of the company’s workforce, which will result in thousands of layoffs.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVWarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar addressed company employees at a virtual town hall meeting today, which followed the latest round of layoffs at the media company yesterday.Kilar, flanked by James Cummings, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer; and Christy Haubegger, EVP and Head of Marketing & Communications, opened the hourlong meeting by acknowledging Veterans Day and paying homage to those who have served the country, sources said.Through some technical

WarnerMedia is laying off employees today as part of its ongoing reorganization to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic and reorient its business around streaming. The cuts, which are expected to hit its North American business units, come after newly installed CEO Jason Kilar announced in August a comprehensive reorganization that would consolidate its content divisions under Warner Bros.

Daniel Holloway Executive Editor, TVWarnerMedia has initiated a new round of layoffs.In a memo circulated Tuesday morning, CEO Jason Kilar wrote, “Today, we have arrived at a number of difficult decisions that are resulting in a smaller WarnerMedia team. This is a function of removing layers and the impact of consolidating previously separate organizations.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorA significant round of layoffs forecast last month at WarnerMedia is getting under way today. CEO Jason Kilar emailed staffers this morning, acknowledging the process is “painful” but also calling it a “critical” step in the AT&T division’s evolution.The entertainment operation has seen multiple staff reductions since the acquisition of Time Warner closed in 2018.

WarnerMedia layoffs are underway, CEO Jason Kilar revealed to employees in an email on Tuesday. TheWrap has obtained that internal memo.Kilar is holding a town hall meeting tomorrow to discuss the reorg with staff.“Today, we have arrived at a number of difficult decisions that are resulting in a smaller WarnerMedia team,” he wrote.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorWarnerMedia’s recent restructuring was “spot on,” and the company accelerated those changes to the media division — which had been eyed for 2021 — because of COVID to boost the streaming profile of HBO Max, according to AT&T CEO John Stankey.Stankey, speaking Monday at the Wall Street Journal’s WSJ Live streaming conference, praised WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar’s changes at the company.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorJean-Paul “JP” Colaco, the industry veteran who has worked at Apple and at Hulu, has been hired by WarnerMedia as Head of Advertising Sales.

WarnerMedia has named Jean-Paul “JP” Colaco as its new head of advertising sales. One of his first assignments: launching HBO Max's ad-supported offering in 2021.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJean-Paul Colaco, an experienced hand in the emerging practice of gaining ad support for streaming-video content, will serve as the new head of advertising sales at WarnerMedia, filling a role that has been left open for more than a year.Colaco, known to many as “JP,” has a history with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorEXCLUSIVE: Chris Spadaccini, who spent two decades at HBO and became WarnerMedia Entertainment’s chief marketing officer in 2019, is exiting the company.His departure comes as WarnerMedia continues to undergo significant reshaping at the direction of CEO Jason Kilar, the former Hulu CEO and Amazon executive who took over in the spring.Spadaccini spearheaded campaigns for shows like Watchmen and Succession, which led HBO to a dominant showing at Sunday night’s Emmys.

WarnerMedia is putting its entire production business under review, following the multitude of toxic workplace reports at “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and TMZ.“We have engaged a third party to do an objective, proactive review across our production business (internal teams in addition to partner productions),” CEO Jason Kilar wrote in a memo.

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and Warner Bros. CEO and chairperson Ann Sarnoff are addressing reports of poor workplace cultures at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, TMZ on TV and other shows produced by its subdivision Telepictures in two new memos.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVBack in July, WarnerMedia launched an investigation into the workplace environment of The Ellen DeGeneres Show following a BuzzFeed report alleging bullying and intimidation at the syndicated talk show, produced by Warner Bros.’ Telepictures division.

This summer was filled with allegations of misconduct at two shows that are produced by Warner Bros. and now execs at WarnerMedia are speaking out in response.

made by a number of former and current employees.“I am both concerned and disappointed by public reports regarding patterns of unacceptable behavior that have been raised in recent weeks,” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar told staff in an email, according to BuzzFeed News.Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff spoke out about the issue in a memo, saying she “empowered, and will hold accountable, the Studios and Networks HR and Legal teams to act on any issues that are brought to them.

Dominic Patten Senior Editor, Legal & TV CriticCommunications chief Kevin Brockman is leaving WarnerMedia in the latest executive exit at the AT&T-owned company.On the job at the now Jason Kilar-run for just under a year and a half, former longtime Disney exec Brockman just informed staff this morning of his departure.Stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities immediately, Brockman’s primary publicly stated aim before formally leaving at the end of the year will be to assist Christy

Dade Hayes Finance EditorThe overhaul of WarnerMedia continues, with Jay Levine earning a promotion to a top strategy role and digital chief Tomas Gewecke heading to the exit.The moves come as the company’s Studios and Networks Group, a key element of CEO Jason Kilar’s restructuring plan, takes shape.Levine’s new position, Chief Strategy Officer and EVP Business Operations, is a new one for the organization.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorIn an interview with CNBC, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar addressed the launch of HBO Max, conceded a “mistake” with HBO branding and comparing Max with Disney and NBCUniversal’s streaming efforts.Today’s interview (watch a large chunk of it above) was Kilar’s first since major layoffs hit WarnerMedia this week.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThe broad restructuring at WarnerMedia is a “natural progression” for the media conglomerate to hone its focus on HBO Max, according to John Stephens, AT&T’s chief financial officer.WarnerMedia laid off hundreds of employees Monday across Warner Bros., HBO and DC Entertainment. That came after a major management shakeup under new CEO Jason Kilar, under which HBO Max content leaders Robert Greenblatt and Kevin Reilly were let go and Warner Bros.