HBO Family Among Cable Networks Being Shut Down By Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is shutting down cable networks HBO Family, ThrillerMax, MovieMax and OuterMax.
The move, reported earlier this week by Cord Cutters News, was confirmed to Deadline by a person familiar with the decision.
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Charter Spectrum systems informed their customers of the impending change. 'At Spectrum, we are committed to providing you with exceptional service and want to alert you of changes before they happen,' the distributor told subscribers. 'Effective on or after August 15, 2025, HBO Family, ThrillerMax, MovieMax, & OuterMax will cease programming and will no longer be available.'
The move is the latest concession to the shrinkage of the traditional pay-TV bundle. HBO Family, for example, once had a clear reason for being during the linear era. In an on-demand, streaming world, though, its lineup of long-tail movies like Dolphin Tale, Spy Kids or Beetlejuice Beetlejuice have diminishing value for distributors. Non-ad-supported linear networks are also endangered species lately, with even a larger player, Starz, having just 30% of its total subscriptions in linear.
Aside from WBD, major cable network parents including NBCUniversal and Disney have also unplugged cable networks. The business is also being separated out from the rest of media portfolios given the ongoing decline in subscribers and revenue. Despite the secular downturn, the networks remain lucrative assets, throwing off considerable cash flow and profit.
Longtime industry analyst Craig Moffett, in a report earlier this week, took note of a potential leveling off in pay-TV subscriber levels. Although total pay-TV penetration has fallen to 1987 levels, he believes first-quarter data from distributors shows the industry may be 'finding the long-imagined bottom.'
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New York Post
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- New York Post
Katie Couric slams Lauren Sanchez's wedding style, calling it outdated and ‘tacky'
She was not impressed by the dress. Katie Couric slammed Lauren Sanchez's wedding style, bashing her gown and her hair in a scathing social media post. 'Welcome to the eighties — when big hair and conspicuous consumption ruled. Apparently tacky is back,' she penned. The former 'Today' show host left the rude remark on Jack Schlossberg's Instagram post on Friday, the day Sanchez married Bezos in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy. Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy, reposted Sanchez's Vogue cover — where the former journalist donned her long-sleeved, corseted Dolce & Gabbana lace gown that took some 900 hours to make — with the caption, 'Like I said … vogue.' 3 Katie Couric slammed Lauren Sanchez's wedding look, which made the cover of Vogue. Vogue Couric wasted no time in jumping on the bandwagon, and an hour later, left the 'tacky' comment, to which Schlossberg replied, 'Let's bring back scrunchies,' a reference to the '80s hair accessory famously roasted on 'Sex and the City.' Others joined in on the attack, adding comments such as 'Spot on. Money can't buy you class' and 'Imagine being married to the one of richest men on the planet and still choosing a dress that's ugly as f—k.' 3 The former 'Today' host took to Instagram to call Sanchez's look 'tacky.' Getty Images for The Women's Media Center Some did defend the new bride's looks, however, and called for an end to the mean girl comments. 'I think she looks gorgeous, the dress is stunning and a surprise. Everyone leave her alone. Let her be happy,' one said. 'If the dress made her feel good on her day that's a beautiful thing,' another added. 3 Sanchez married Jeff Bezos in a lavish, star-studded ceremony in Venice, Italy. @laurensanchezbezos via REUTERS Others turned on Couric and her unnecessarily rude comment. 'I'm reading that many women say Lauren Sánchez Bezos lacks 'class.' Those same critics also lack 'class,' because an educated, intelligent, respectful, or rather, classy person doesn't go around criticizing or making fun of other people,' one scolded. Another pointed out that Couric may be lashing out because she feels slighted since she didn't make the wedding's star-studded guest list. 'I'm guessing you aren't invited, Katie lol,' they quipped.
Cosmopolitan
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Miami Herald
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