Warner Bros. Discovery Aims to Use Sports to Snatch Primetime Ad Dollars From Broadcasters

Wilson Chapman editorMajor entertainment companies Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. Discover, A+E Networks and Banijay Americas have signed on to join Coded for Inclusion, an initiative that aims to combat discriminatory hiring systems in the industry through its Staff Me Up platform.

J.J. Abrams’ ambitious HBO sci-fi drama series Demimonde has hit a major roadblock in its long journey to the screen. The issues, related to the show’s price, come amid talk of a potential reevaluation of the massive deal J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot has at Warner Bros. for film, TV, gaming and digital content as the new Warner Bros. Discovery is scrutinizing every aspect of the assets they took over.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAl Michaels may be leaving NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” but he’s not leaving NBC.The veteran broadcaster, who revealed in March that he planned to lead Amazon’s new streamcast of “Thursday Night Football” in the fall, is keeping a foothold at NBC Sports. Michaels will have “emeritus” status, and is expected to contribute across the NBC Sports portfolio, including, the company said, to the NFL Playoffs and the Olympics.“Revered by viewers and colleagues, Al has been the soundtrack for many of the greatest moments in sports television history,” said Pete Bevacqua, chairman of NBC Sports, in a statement.  “We are thrilled that he’s staying in the family and raising the stature of our events for years to come.” Michaels has has covered more major sports events than any sportscaster, and has, on occasion, found himself narrating history as well as a particular event.

EXCLUSIVE: Bong Joon-Ho’s follow-up film to Oscar winner Parasite is currently in pre-production at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWhen CNN presents an exclusive interview Sunday evening between Jake Tapper and Trevor Reed, recently released from Russia after nearly three years of imprisonment, the network has the potential to spur a new strain of activism around U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad.Reed, who spoke with Tapper for several hours Thursday in Florida, was released “because the Biden administration engaged in a prison swap with Russia, and in the past, that has been seen as controversial,” says Tapper during a recent interview. “The family wants those days to disappear.”During the hour-long special, Reed talks about his experiences overseas, some of which, Tapper says sound like something out of a “horror movie franchise.” He also speaks about his interest in helping other American families who have relatives detained unlawfully overseas.

Michelle Obama is going for one last ride with Ellen DeGeneres.

Jennifer Hudson, host of the forthcoming eponymous Warner Bros. Unscripted TV daytime talk show kicked things off at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront with some help from Discovery and CNN stars.

HGTV and Food Network are bolstering their lineups.

Jordan Moreau Discovery exec Kathleen Finch has revealed her revamped leadership team at the newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery after a series of c-suite exits, which includes Tom Ascheim, Brett Weitz and more, Variety has confirmed.Nancy Daniels, who was Chief Brand Officer of Discovery & Factual, will take on content oversight at the Turner networks after the departure of Brett Weitz. She currently oversees male-focused networks like Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Science Channel, will take on TNT, TBS and truTV.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorRichard C. Wald, a former president at NBC News and a senior vice president at ABC News who worked behind the scenes with Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Ted Koppel and Roone Arledge, died May 13 after suffering a stroke earlier in the month. He was 92.Wald was involved with the creation of “Nightline,” the signature ABC News late-night program that grew out of special coverage in 1979 on the taking of U.S.

Manori Ravindran International EditorWarner Bros. Discovery’s international streaming lead JB Perrette has said that an extensive joint venture with BT Sport, which was confirmed on Thursday, ensures that the company won’t be a “one-product, one-content type story,” particularly in the U.K.The 50-50 sports joint venture between Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery and British telecom giant BT Group have confirmed plans to form a 50-50 joint venture, creating a new premium sport offering for the UK and Ireland. This will see the transfer of the operating businesses of BT Sport to Warner Bros Discovery, effectively merging the content offering of both BT Sport and Eurosport UK.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefWarner Bros. Discovery and telco giant BT are to launch a premium sports venture in the U.K. and Ireland.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Johanna Fuentes is leaving as Head of Global Communications for Studios and Networks Group after a transitional period. The departure is a result of a decision to decentralize the communications functions of the recently formed Warner Bros. Discovery whose communications teams will be announced later.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterBrett Weitz is exiting as general manager of TBS, TNT and truTV, Variety has learned.Weitz, who was appointed to the role in January 2019, was among the group of WarnerMedia execs that came over under the new David Zaslav-selected regime at Warner Bros. Discovery, following the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in early April.Weitz was moved under Discovery lifestyle channels chief Kathleen Finch, who assumed a newly created role of chairman and chief content officer of U.S.

Warner Bros Discovery UK EVP & Country Manager, UK & Ireland, Polly Cochrane is stepping down after 13 years.

EXCLUSIVE: Jeffrey Schlesinger, who was previously President, Warner Bros Worldwide Television Distribution, has set up his own consultancy shingle.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorLegendary football player Tom Brady will join Fox Sports as part of a multi-year deal once he ends his NFL career, lending the company a potential new boost after it lost mainstay announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to ESPN.The news was disclosed by Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch during an investor call. The executive said Brady’s arrival at Fox Sports remained uncertain, as the decision about when to walk off the playing field would be left up to the athlete.

RTS London Unveils Lineup & Warner Bros Discovery’s Priya Dogra As Chair