Latest news with #JBPerrette
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Must-Read Analyst Questions From Warner Bros. Discovery's Q1 Earnings Call
Warner Bros. Discovery's first quarter results for 2025 were met with a positive market response despite missing Wall Street's revenue expectations, as management highlighted progress on key strategic priorities. CEO David Zaslav credited the company's emphasis on high-quality storytelling and a disciplined approach to content investment for driving performance, particularly in the streaming segment, which added over 5 million subscribers during the quarter. The leadership team pointed to strong audience engagement with recent releases like The White Lotus, The Pit, and the Minecraft movie as evidence that their focus on quality content is translating into commercial success. Is now the time to buy WBD? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $8.98 billion vs analyst estimates of $9.56 billion (9.8% year-on-year decline, 6% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $2.11 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.08 billion (23.4% margin, 1.1% beat) Operating Margin: -0.4%, up from -2.7% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $27.59 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Steven Cahall (Wells Fargo) asked about the new divisional structure's impact on capital flexibility. CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels emphasized improved transparency and optionality but declined to speculate on capital structures for specific assets. Peter Supino (Wolfe Research) inquired about the sports content strategy on Max. CEO David Zaslav and JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming and Games, indicated experimentation with different models, but stressed a shift toward proprietary IP over rental-based sports rights. Bryan Kraft (Deutsche Bank) questioned how HBO consistently produces standout hits and its appeal to younger viewers. CEO Zaslav attributed success to a long-standing, experienced creative team and a deliberate focus on quality over quantity. David Karnovsky (JPMorgan) asked about macroeconomic impacts and advertising trends. Wiedenfels stated the company has seen no material impact so far, and Q2 advertising trends are tracking in line with Q1, with cost management measures in place. Jessica Reif Ehrlich (Bank of America Securities) sought clarity on ARPU growth drivers and streaming consolidation prospects. JB Perrette outlined plans for new pricing, ad products, and password sharing initiatives, while Zaslav discussed optionality created by the company's reorganization. In the coming quarters, our team is watching (1) the pace and success of Max's global expansion, particularly in Europe; (2) the rollout and consumer uptake of ad-supported and password sharing features; and (3) the performance of upcoming franchise films and series, including their impact on subscriber engagement and studio profitability. Progress on cost control and execution of the new divisional structure will also be key markers. Warner Bros. Discovery currently trades at $11.15, up from $8.59 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Broadcast Pro
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
HBO Max expands global footprint with July launch in 12 new countries
HBO Max's global rollout builds on its earlier 2025 launches in Australia and Türkiye. Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed that HBO Max, its flagship global streaming service, will roll out direct-to-consumer access in 12 additional countries this July. The new territories set to receive the platform include Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Tajikistan. This latest expansion marks another milestone in HBO Max's international growth, offering subscribers in these nations access to a vast library of content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, and Max Originals. Featured titles include blockbuster hits such as A Minecraft Movie, the complete Harry Potter film collection, and popular returning series like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Pitt, and Peacemaker. Future programming includes highly anticipated series like Task and IT: Welcome to Derry, along with beloved classics like Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and reality hits such as 90 Day Fiancé from TLC and Gold Rush from Discovery. Select markets will also gain access to HBO Max's sports content, which features some of the world's premier live events. This includes tennis Grand Slam tournaments like the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, alongside cycling's Grand Tours — the Giro d'Italia, La Vuelta a España, Tour de France, and Tour de France Femmes. Major winter sports events will also be available, although broadcast rights and availability will vary by country. JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: 'Our continued global expansion of HBO Max is helping fuel the great momentum we continue to see for the service. These 12 countries will be followed by a few additional markets later this year, and launches in Germany, Italy and the UK early next year. Each new market further positions HBO Max as a worldwide destination for the best in entertainment.' To cater to varying user needs, HBO Max will offer two subscription tiers. The Standard Plan allows streaming on two devices simultaneously in full HD and offers up to 30 offline downloads, subject to limitations. The Premium Plan, meanwhile, enables streaming on four devices in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos support where available, along with up to 100 downloads for offline use. The service will be compatible with major devices, including select mobile phones, tablets, and connected TVs. Subscribers will have the option to pay using widely accepted methods such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and through in-app purchases via the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Samsung Checkout. This expansion follows earlier 2025 launches in Australia and Türkiye, with Warner Bros. Discovery planning additional rollouts through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. As of the end of Q1 2025, HBO Max had amassed 122.3 million global subscribers, reflecting a growth of 5.3m over the previous quarter, underscoring the platform's strong upward trajectory.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HBO Max Continues its Global Rollout and Sets July Launch in New Markets, Including Estonia and Iceland
A day after announcing its plan to split into two publicly traded companies, Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that HBO Max will continue its global rollout and will next launch in Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Tajikistan. With these additional countries, HBO Max will soon be available in 100 markets. Starting in July, HBO Max's offer in these markets will include titles from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios and Max Originals. The lineup spans 'A Minecraft Movie,' the Harry Potter movies, 'The Last of Us,' 'The White Lotus,' 'The Pitt,' 'Peacemaker,' and future series such as 'Task' and 'IT: Welcome to Derry.' More from Variety Warner Bros. Discovery Split: What Will Happen to the Movie Studios, HBO Max, Cable Networks and Other Businesses? 'A Minecraft Movie' Success Dissected: Brand Experts Reveal 'Entertain or Die' Strategy at SXSW London The Value of Video Game IP in Post-'Minecraft' Hollywood The sports roster on HBO Max will be available in select countries, with events including tennis tournaments such as the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, The Championships, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open — as well as cycling's Grand Tours — Giro d'Italia, La Vuelta a España, Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes—and major winter sports events. As in other countries, the streamer will be available via two plans, a standard one and a premium one. 'Our continued global expansion of HBO Max is helping fuel the great momentum we continue to see for the service,' said JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming & games at Warner Bros. Discovery. 'These 12 countries will be followed by a few additional markets later this year, and launches in Germany, Italy and the U.K. early next year. Each new market further positions HBO Max as a worldwide destination for the best in entertainment,' Perette said. WBD ended the first quarter of 2025 with 122.3 million streaming subscribers, an increase of 5.3 million from the previous quarter. But as the company is grappling with declines in its overall business and a debt that nears $38 billion, it announced on Monday that it will divide into two publicly-traded entities, one devoted to streaming and content production and one devoted to traditional television. Best of Variety All the Godzilla Movies Ranked Final Oscar Predictions: International Feature – United Kingdom to Win Its First Statuette With 'The Zone of Interest' 'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations in Northern Ireland to Open as Tourist Attractions
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: HBO streaming service changing back from Max to HBO Max
May 15 (UPI) -- HBO has announced that the name of its streaming service is changing back from Max to HBO Max this summer. HBO Max is what the platform was known as when it launched in 2020, but the HBO portion of the name was dropped in 2023 as its parent company sought to give it its own identity. The company announced it is going back to its original moniker at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation in New York on Wednesday. "No consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content," said JB Perrette, President and CEO of Streaming. Perrette said the idea to put HBO back in the platform's name is a "testament to WBD's willingness to keep boldly iterating its strategy and approach -- leaning heavily on consumer data and insights." To celebrate the move, the company released a hilarious video of famous TV couple reunions set to Pat Benatar's classic song, "We Belong."
Phone Arena
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Phone Arena
HBO? Max? HBO Max? The name change nobody asked for is happening again
If you watch a lot of movies or shows at home, you probably subscribe to at least one streaming service – and you've almost definitely crossed paths with HBO. Or Max. Wait, no... HBO Max… again. Yep, Warner Bros. Discovery is undoing its 2023 rebrand and bringing the old name back. Max is officially becoming HBO Max once more. In a move that is both surprising and oddly satisfying, the company says it is ditching the plain Max name and embracing the HBO identity again – the same one it dropped two years ago when it tried to appeal to a broader, family-friendly audience by bundling in content from Discovery, TLC and HGTV. Now, they are admitting what a lot of people probably already felt – HBO still matters. A lot. – David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, May 2025 Turns out, even though subscribers pay $17/month, most of them tune in for the core HBO hits — think The White Lotus, The Last of Us, plus a few new movies and documentaries. And not much else, really. HBO's streaming journey has been all over the place: HBO Go (2008), HBO Now (2015), HBO Max (2020), Max (2023) and now – back again – HBO Max (2025). It's been a bit of an identity Warner Bros. Discovery made the switch to Max, the idea was to protect the HBO brand from being diluted by all the reality TV content from Discovery. Plus, at the time, they argued that HBO was too adult-focused and might alienate viewers looking for more general, family-friendly stuff – like what Netflix instead of solving a problem, the name change just caused confusion. People didn't know if HBO was still around or being phased out. Internally and externally, it just didn't land. – JB Perrette, President and CEO of Streaming, May 2025 Meanwhile, in the bigger streaming picture, over the past few years, Netflix has pulled way ahead in the streaming wars, leaving legacy media companies scrambling to keep up. Netflix is still the leader when it comes to streaming. According to Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, Netflix grabbed around 8% of all TV watch time in March – a massive lead. In comparison, Warner Bros. Discovery managed just 1.5%, which puts it slightly above Peacock but still trailing behind Disney's streamers, Prime Video, Paramount, Roku, and even Tubi.
