Tag Archives: Time Warner

Time Warner Inc.

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By: Nubia Dandridge, John Rattazzi, Johnny Pierce
2016-tw-company_collage-1-layered-300

Time Warner [1]

Company

Time Warner Inc (headquartered in New York City) is an international media and entertainment conglomerate. The conglomerate is segmented into three divisions: Turner is the branch of the company consisting of cable networks and digital media. Home Box Office (HBO) is the company’s domestic premium television and streaming service which includes international premium pay. Warner Bros is the segment of the company primarily responsible for the company’s role in entertainment for television, feature length films, video-games and home video production and distribution [1].

Background

Time Warner Inc. was originally founded in 1923, under the name Warner Brother Pictures Inc. Under the direction of Polish immigrant brothers Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, Time Warner Inc. has gone from being a nickelodeon in Pennsylvania, to one of the largest media conglomerates in the world by partnering with Home Box Office Inc. and Turner Broadcasting [2].

Television Success

One of Time Warner Inc.’s most valuable assets is HBO. The premium television service is widely recognized today for its show Game Of Thrones, but their fall series premiere of Westworld has taken viewers by storm.  The series premiere telecast drew 3.3 million viewers across multiple platforms by the following morning.  This opening was 1.1 million viewers greater than the first day Game Of Thrones was released back in 2011 [3]. Westworld has been approved for a second season [4] due to increased viewership from streaming services HBO Go and HBO Now, which allows viewers access to HBO programming without a subscription to the traditional HBO television service.  

Film Success

In September 2016 Time Warner acquired the commercial and tv rights to the “Star Wars”  collection, (valued at $250 million) including “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Star Wars: A Force Awakens.”  The deal makes TBS and TNT the only networks with legal rights over the series. Time Warner made a strategic move during a volatile in which networks are hustling to lock up as much content that already has a formidable audience attached to it. The DC subsidiary of Warner Bros. is sufficiently lucrative for the entire company. In relation to the 10 DC series on air this season, total revenues for the line up have surpassed $1 billion. The CW, the joint television station owned by Warner Bros. and CBS Corp. is home to half of those series. 

Warner Brothers has seen its share of success since September.  With movies such as Suicide Squad earning a total gross of $325.1 million [5] and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them earning a total gross of $158.1 million [6] in just two weeks has earned Warner Brothers a total gross income of roughly $806 million since the beginning of September. 

Company Fallbacks 

Since September, a negative mark against Time Warner Inc’s overall performance  is due to low ratings for Turner Broadcasting. Turner is most known for it’s networks like TNT, TBS, CNN, Adult Swim, HLN, and Cartoon Network. ratings are down 14% across all networks as younger demographics are opting more for streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. As of more recently, quarter three of 2016 came in with numbers 8% lower than they were this time last year [7]. 

The other recent flaw for Time Warner Inc. has been Warner Brothers.  Asides from three recently released movies, every other movie released after August has struggled to even reach its budget.  If Suicide Squad, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Sully, weren’t counted in the total gross, Warner Brothers would not have made enough money domestically to fund the movies.  While this is upsetting for Time Warner Inc. they cannot be too disappointed because this is the best year [8] that Warner Bros has had since 2009 thanks to releases earlier in the year. 

The financial success of the studio does not come without its qualms. In October 2016, Director Rick Famuyiwa walked away from directing The Flash with mention of creative differences between himself and the studio as the reason for his departure [9]. Before Famuyiwa, Seth Grahame-Smith stepped down from his role as director of the same film. Analysts claim that the tension between the creative vision directors are hired to develop and the executive oversight Warner Bros exercises over such projects could impact the studio’s ability to hire directors in the future, not just for their DC projects.

AT&T and Time Warner Inc.

Time Warner’s market value currently hovers at approximately $62 billion with AT&T in position to buy the company for $85.4 billion (as of October 22nd). In September and October 2016, senior executives from both AT&T and Time Warner met informally to discuss business strategies as well as a potential merger [10] of the two conglomerates. Acquiring Time Warner would allow AT&T to control one of the world’s major providers of pay-TV and one of the nation’s largest wireless and home internet providers. AT&T would also stand to inherit an extensive collection of content and programming from HBO to CNN as well as Cartoon Network and NBA basketball programming. If the deal is approved, Jeff Bewkes will resign from his position as CEO of Time Warner Inc after the transitional phase. President Elect, Donald Trump, however has spoken against the merger having said that his administration “will not approve [the deal]…because it’s too much concentration of power in the hands of too few.”

[11]

Time Warner Finances Going Forward

The news of a merger is coming off of a strong third quarter showing from Time Warner Inc. Coming less than two weeks after the announcement of the AT&T merger, Time Warner reported a third quarter earnings of $1.83 per share on a revenue of $7.2 billion, which was a 9% increase from the expected earnings of $1.37 per share on a revenue of $6.98 billion. These impressive third quarter earnings are a result of many recent successes in content produced by Time Warner, including HBO. Home Box Office saw a 4% increase in revenue to $59 million. Yet, in 2016 while content proved to be king, HBO also saw its content library decrease. With a potential influx of cash due to the potential AT&T merger, HBO can see itself become more like Netflix faster than Netflix can become HBO, contrary to the quote [12] of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. Due to the $85 billion dollar pay day Time Warner would receive for the merger, HBO could see its budget for original content increase from $2.2 billion, just a third of what Netflix spends on content. The merger could also result in an affirmation of Jeff Bewkes proposal for “TV Everywhere”[13]. Although the idea has not been a success, AT&T could make it a reality with their wireless subscription package. This idea of Time Warner putting their content “everywhere” will allow for shows like Game of Thrones or Westworld to vastly increase their audience.

Overview

Although many changes are likely coming to Time Warner, no immediate changes will be apparent in the near future. The focus for this next quarter, as well as the new year, will be on accelerating user subscriptions [14] for HBO Now, which could increase in the merger with a bundle package offered with AT&T services.

Sources

Sources:

  1. Top 3 Companies Owned By Time Warner (TWX). Retrieved November 19, 2016. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/102215/top-3-companies-owned-time-warner.asp.
  2. Time Warner Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2016. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Time-Warner-Inc
  3. Westworld’s Shaping Up to Be an Early Ratings Success for HBO. Retrieved October 16, 2016. http://www.vulture.com/2016/10/westworld-premiere-ratings-early-success-for-hbo.html
  4. Westworld: Season One Ratings. Retrieved November 30, 2016. http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/westworld-season-one-ratings/
  5. Suicide Squad. Retrieved November 26, 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dc2016.htm
  6. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Retrieved November 29, 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticbeasts.htm
  7. Turner Lacking Script For Success. Retrieved November 25, 2016. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/content/turner-lacking-script-success/153449
  8. Warner Bros. Retrieved November 20. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?studio=warnerbros.htm
  9. ‘The Flash’ Movie Loses ‘Dope’ Rich Famuyiwa (Exclusive). Retrieved on November 2, 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-movie-loses-dope-director-rick-famuyiwa-942604
  10. AT&T Discussed Idea of Takeover in Time Warner Meetings. Retrieved October 21, 2016. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/at-t-said-to-discuss-idea-of-takeover-in-time-warner-meetings
  11. What does AT&T, Time Warner Merger mean? Retrieved October 28, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOt1ZJjLxdo
  12. What the AT&T-Time Warner merger means for HBO. Retrieved October 27, 2016. http://qz.com/818603/what-the-att-time-warner-twx-merger-means-for-hbo/
  13. AT&T’s Time Warner Purchase Acknowledges TV Everywhere’s Failure. Retrieved October 25, 2016. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-24/at-t-s-time-warner-purchase-acknowledges-tv-everywhere-s-failure
  14. Time Warner’s Turner Inks Deal for DC Movies. Retrieved November 2, 2016. http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/turner-dc-movies-rights-1201906942/

Time Warner

Posted on by 
Lizzie Michael and Andrew Maercklein
Time Warner, Inc. logo

Time Warner, Inc. logo [1]

Time Warner, Inc.

One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000

Company

Time Warner, Inc. is an entertainment and media conglomerate whose works and influence reaches all over the world. First created in 1989 in a $14 billion merger between Time, Inc. and Warner Communications, Time Warner now owns magazines such as Time, People, and Sports Illustrated; HBO, The CW, and Cinemax, as well as the Turner Broadcasting System, which in turn holds networks such as TBS, CNN and Cartoon Network; DC Comics; and one of the world’s largest production companies, Warner Brothers Entertainment. [2] [3].

Some of Time Warner's assets. [4]

Some of Time Warner’s assets. [4]

The company has undergone a few trouble spots in the past, including a $164 deal with AOL in the year 2000. [5]. The deal, which eventually proved to be misguided and led to major financial losses in 2002, was said to be “the biggest mistake in corporate history” by current CEO and Chairman Jeff Bewkes. [6]. That being said, Time Warner has since rebouded and is currently enjoying success from several of its assets, including HBO and Warner Brothers, and is looking forward to the completion of an acquisition, with a total transaction value of
$108.7 billion, with AT&T. [7].

Who are some key executives?

Financial information

Time Warner is a publicly traded company on the NYSE under the ticket TWX. As of 11/17/16, their current stock price is $93.20, as compared to one of their primary competitors, Walt Disney Co., who is at $98.82. [9]. On Oct. 27 the company announced cash dividends for Common Stock at $0.4025 per share, with a record date of Nov. 30. and a payment date of Dec. 15. [10] [11]. Thanks in part to the AT&T announcement, Time Warner’s stock has been on the upswing, having increased nearly 22.07% since April 2016; additionally, about 67% of analysts covering Warner’s stock rate this as a good time to buy. [11].

TW revenues and earnings per share [12]

TW revenues and earnings per share [12]

In Warner’s 3rd quarter reports for 2016, total revenues for Turner, HBO, and Warner Broadcasting combined were at more than $7 billion, and there was an increase of $153 million in cash and cash equivalents. [13]. With the recently released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and HBO’s Westworld recently having success, revenues from ticket sales and merchandising for Time Warner can be expected to increase in 2016’s 4th quarter, and should give the company a strong year-end yield. [14].

Warner Brothers

Warner Bros. Logo [14]

Warner Bros. Logo [15]

Warner Bros., which was founded in 1923 and notably produced the first “talkie” in 1927’s The Jazz Singer, is one of the largest production companies in the world, with both New Line Cinema and DC Films in its toolbox. [16]. In 2015, Warner Bros.’ worldwide box office receipts exceeded $3 billion for the ninth consecutive year ($3.71 billion worldwide), and saw both international and domestic reaching the billions. [17].

[18]

The company houses several major franchises, including the Matrix series, the Harry Potter Franchise, and the world of DC Comics. In 2016 alone, multiple films were released to massive success, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Sully, Suicide Squad, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Suicide Squad was in theaters for an impressive 14 weeks and earned more than $700 million worldwide, while Fantastic Beasts has been open for less than two weeks and has already made nearly $500 million. [19] [20].

This success will likely carry into 2017, as Wonder Woman, Justice League, and two more animated Lego movies are all slated for wide release. [21].

Machinima's logo [23].

Machinima’s logo [22]

In news besides its releases, Warner Bros. also recently announced it will acquire Machinima, a “global programming service and production company” with a focus on gamer culture. [23]. The deal, which was estimated to be just slightly under $100 million, will allow Machinima to be its own entity within the Warner Bros. Digital Networks. [24].

HBO

HBO logo [31]

HBO logo [31]

Home Box Office, or HBO, is one of Time Warner’s most successful divisions. In terms of its financial performance, in the 2016 third quarter HBO’s revenues increased 4%, or $59 million, to $1.4 billion due to a 5% increase in subscription revenues. [12].

HBO’s content has gone over incredibly well with viewers. HBO took home 22 Primetime Emmys at the 2016 Emmy Awards, the most of any other network for the 15th year in a row. [12] [29]. Shows such as Veep, Game of Thrones, and Last Night with John Oliver all have loyal fan bases, while newcomer Westworld premiered in October 2016 to more than 13 million viewers. [12].

In other news, HBO just recently launched a new video streaming service in Spain, HBO España, that is expected to very well. The service offers both original HBO content, as well as films and programming from other networks as well, like Disney, Nickelodeon, and other Spanish programming. [30].

AT&T Merger

Click here for AT&T and Time Warner Merger (Video): http://nyti.ms/2exY5SK [27]

AT&T is looking to purchase Time Warner, Inc. in a $85 billion deal, and despite many setbacks, AT&T is confident the deal will go through. [25]. Were the FCC to oversee this deal, the time frame would have been elongated and the deal itself would be much less likely to go into effect. However, it is likely the deal will not be subject to the tight restrictions set by the FCC, as the FCC may be excluded from the process and the decision will be made by the Department of Justice. Randall L. Stephenson, the CEO of AT&T, is very optimistic regarding this scenario and said this deal will satisfy not only those looking for earnings growth, but also investors that are simply searching for income. [27]. However, this deal will cause AT&T to push its debt upwards of $190 billion. [27]. The average user of DirecTV Now will pay $35 per month, which translates to $1.32 gross margin, and despite an apparent lack of funding, there are expected to be approximately 15 million paid subscribers by 2020. [26].

AT&T logo []

AT&T logo [28]

Many investors are skeptical of the deal and doubt the level of success predicted by AT&T. AT&T, being the only company of its competitors to move in this direction, will be able to corner a large section of the market before anyone else. Through securing customers with a low price now, AT&T hopes to attract many more consumers in the future while still being able to raise the price of service as necessary. [26]. Furthermore, AT&T wants to boost their wireless business in an attempt to take back some of the market from other wireless companies. They plan to do this by allowing wireless users to watch DirecTV without using data. This is known as zero-rating and it’s frowned upon by the FCC because it would allow for AT&T to reduce competition, especially among its own assets. [25]. Between the low prices as well as other incentives to switch, AT&T is focused on increasing its consumer following as opposed to generating revenue. Revenue will theoretically be the focus after AT&T has accrued a mass following. In addition, it’s predicted there will be less subscription cancellations as well as a large boost in advertising revenue. [25]. Should the deal be successful, it will be one of the largest to date and will push AT&T further ahead of competitors. Should the deal not be approved, or even fail, AT&T will have to tread very carefully to avoid serious damage to the company’s finances, as well as the integrity of the company.

 [27]

Resources

[1] Time Warner Cables Customer Service Phone Number, Office Address, Toll Free Helpline Support. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.officeaddresshelplinenumber.com/time-warner-cables-customer-service-phone-number-office-address-toll-free-helpline-support/

[2] The Creator of Time Warner, Steven J. Ross, Is Dead at 65. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/21/obituaries/the-creator-of-time-warner-steven-j-ross-is-dead-at-65.html

[3] Top 3 Companies Owned By Time Warner (TWX). Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/102215/top-3-companies-owned-time-warner.asp

[4] Company Profile. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.timewarner.com/company

[5] Statistics on Mergers. Retrieved November 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120106045040/http://www.imaa-institute.org/statistics-mergers-acquisitions.html

[6] AOL merger was ‘the biggest mistake in corporate history’, believes Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8031227/AOL-merger-was-the-biggest-mistake-in-corporate-history-believes-Time-Warner-chief-Jeff-Bewkes.html

[7] AT&T to Acquire Time Warner. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://about.att.com/story/att_to_acquire_time_warner.html

[8] Senior Corporate Executives. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.timewarner.com/company/management/senior-corporate-executives

[9] TWX: NY. Retrieved November 27, 2016. https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/TWX:US

[10] Time Warner Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2016/10/27/time-warner-declares-regular-quarterly-cash-dividend

[11] Dividend Action: Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) advises to “Mark your calendars” for Dec 15, 2016; dividends expected to reach $0.40. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://friscofastball.com/2016/11/27/dividend-action-time-warner-inc-nysetwx-advises-to-mark-your-calendars-for-dec-15-2016-dividends-expected-to-reach-0-40/

[12] Time Warner Inc. Revenue & Earnings Per Share (EPS). Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/twx/revenue-eps

[13] Earnings Releases & Related Materials. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://ir.timewarner.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70972&p=quarterlyearnings

[14] Weekend Box Office: November 25-27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/

[15] Warner Bros. Logo Design Evolution. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://annyas.com/screenshots/warner-bros-logo/

[16] Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/divisions/warner-bros-entertainment-inc

[17] Warner Bros. Pictures. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/divisions/warner-bros-pictures

[18] Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Final Trailer [HD]. Retrieved November 28, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vso5o11LuGU

[19] Box Office Mojo: Suicide Squad. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dc2016.htm

[20] Box Office Mojo: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticbeasts.htm

[21] Warner Bros., Quietly Thriving, Recasts Its Own Story. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/business/media/warner-bros-quietly-thriving-recasts-its-own-story.html

[22] Machinima. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://www.machinima.com/

[23] Warner Bros. Entertainment to Acquire Machinima. Retrieved November 28, 2016.  http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/warner-bros-entertainment-acquire-machinima

[24] Warner Bros. Acquires Full Control of Machinima. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/warner-bros-acquires-machinima-1201920793/

[25] McAlone, Nathan. “Here’s Why AT&T Is Buying Time Warner, and Why It Thinks the Government Can’t Stop the Sale.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 15 Nov. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. http://www.businessinsider.com/att-time-warner-merger-government-regulation-2016-11

[26] Molla, Rani, and Shira Ovide. “AT&T Plays It Forward.” Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 23 Nov. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-11-23/at-t-wants-digital-video-share-with-direct-tv-now

[27] Morgenson, Gretchen. “The AT&T-Time Warner Merger: A Match Built on Hope.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/business/the-att-time-warner-merger-a-match-built-on-hope.html?_r=0

[28] LLC, UnderConsideration. “Reviewed.” Brand New: New Logo and Identity for AT&T by Interbrand. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.  http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_att_by_interbrand.php#.WDyz-6IrL_Q

[29] How FX Broke HBO’s Grip on the Emmy Awards. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://fortune.com/2016/09/19/emmy-awards-2016-hbo-fx/

[30] HBO Launches in Spain, Adds Content from Disney, Nickelodeon. Retrieved November 28, 2016. http://variety.com/2016/biz/global/hbo-espana-spain-disney-nickelodeon1201927778-1201927778/

[31] HBO Logos. Retrieved November 28, 2016. https://www.homeboxoffice.com/lodging/cmp/logos.html

Warner Bros. Pictures

Posted on by

Jeremy Frierman

Warner Bros Logo

Corporate Headquarters

4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522

Phone: (818)- 954- 6000

www.warnerbros.com

Overview

On April 4, 2016 Warner brothers, Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack founded Warner Bros. Entertainment. Almost a century later, they have released over 7500 films, including multiple billion-dollar productions in the same year. They are currently a division of the The Warner Brosmedia conglomerate, Time Warner. In the last 15 years, Warner Bros. has surpassed the billion-dollar marker for both domestic and international box office. This includes the past 9 years of reaching over $3 billion globally.

 

Key Executives

Kevin Tsujihara - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros.

Kevin Tsujihara – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros.

Edward A. Romano - Vice Chairman, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Edward A. Romano – Vice Chairman, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Richard J. Fox -Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Richard J. Fox -Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials 

Warner Bros. is a division of Time Warner Cable. Time Warner is represented by TWX, and as of April 25, they are up over 15 points from their numbers taken in February 2016. Time Warner’s first quarterly report of 2016 will be released on May 4.

Current Releases

As of April 25, 2016, Warner Bros. Pictures has garnered 12.5% of the available market share. This percentage equates to over $400 million of gross profit, tracking sixteen total movies, including four released this year. Three of the four movies Warner Bros. have released this year (Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, How to Be Single and Barbershop: The Next Cut) collected the majority of the year’s total gross up to this point. However, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice has clearly been the company’s best investment as it compiled over $300 million in just one month of operation. This has lead the company to become the third highest earning distributor of market share and total gross.

Batman V. Superman is the follow up film to Zack Snyder’s 2013 superhero flick, Man of Steel. After seeing the success of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, DC Comics knew that it wanted to expand and compete with its dynamic array of superhero figures. DC’s model to create their own cinematic universe compares to the already executed universe that Marvel has created. Just as Marvel had started with Iron Man, DC began their approach with Man of Steel. Batman V. Superman was the long awaited follow up that would launch DC into their next phase, a phase that looks all to familiar when you consider that Marvel’s third Avengers film will already be released as of next year. That’s why the reception that it received was so incredibly important because it potentially make or break DC’s long term plans for years to come. Batman V. Superman opened to an Easter weekend record of over $170 million across North America. That is the sixth best opening for a film in cinematic history.

Marketing

In just its first week of release (Mar. 25 – 31), Batman V. Superman obtained over $200 million domestically and over $500 million internationally. Even with the movie receiving negative reviews and consistent criticism (28% on Rotten Tomatoes), it still only took Warner Bros. a week to surpass their budget of over $200 million. Much of this financial success can be attributed to the strategic and substantial marketing campaign that Batman v SupermanWarner Brothers executed. Warner Bros. has always made it a point to efficiently market its biggest movies as exhibited in the past with the Harry Potter series as well as the Dark Knight and Hangover trilogies. For this movie, Warner Bros. outlined a campaign that would consist of interactive and viral content, along with mass-produced advertising. In totally, roughly $150-160 million was spent on marketing Batman V. Superman, including about $30 million on TV spending alone.

The campaign started around the central villain of the movie, Lex Luthor (played by Jesse Eisenberg). Marketers wanted to make the campaign as interactive as possible, which is why they took the fictional character and put him in the real world. Luthor’s fictional company, LexCorp Industries, was given a fictional website and a twitter account was created for Luthor in order to allow the fans to legitimately interact with the character. Furthermore, Fortune did an interview with Eisenberg (as exhibited below) as Luthor to discuss his inheritance of the company along with his future plans.

Lex Luthor Fortune magazine

The campaign continued its interactive nature through Snapchat filters, specially made behind the scenes exclusives broadcasted internationally and even provided live streaming content for this year’s NCAA March Madness.

Warner Bros. went on to partner with a total of 130 companies in order to market the movie, including Turkish Airlines, Facebook and Amazon. Turkish Airlines even paid for an elusive Super Bowl spot, as well as advertisements in over 40 international markets.

Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in a spoof trailer on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in a spoof trailer on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Along with making the campaign as interactive as possible, Warner Bros. certainly didn’t shy away from using its A-list actors as huge selling points in advertising the movie. Ben Affleck’s character Bruce Wayne was seen driving a Jeep Wrangler through Metropolis. Eisenberg and Affleck can be seen jetting around the world with Turkish Airlines. And of course, the stars all took to Late Night to promote the film, including The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and even Graham Norton (UK). Much of this was through a huge publicity tour that Affleck and Henry Cavill that started all the way in China.

Upcoming Releases/In Development

Warner Brothers certainly has no need to fret regarding a lack of upcoming content. Suicide Squad will be released this summer as a part of the DC universe, but instead, focusing on its villains. Other summer releases for Warner Bros. includes the comedies

Jared Leto as The Joker, in Suicide Squad

Jared Leto as The Joker, in Suicide Squad

Keanu and War Dogs, along with blockbuster The Legend of Tarzan and action flick, Central Intelligence. And that’s just in the next few months. Warner Brothers will close out their year with the release of the Harry Potter spinoff, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 2017 will see the release of the prequel Kong: Skull Island, Christopher Nolan’s WWII epic Dunkirk and of course, the all important Justice League Part One.

Conclusion 

Warner Brothers Pictures has continued its tradition of producing some of the year’s biggest blockbusters in the year. Batman v. Superman is this year’s example of how far Warner Brothers is willing to go in order to see its coveted investments succeed, and succeed historically. Through an extensive marketing campaign, Batman V. Superman was able to obtain over $800 million after just one month of its release. The rest of 2016 will see the release of many more big budgeted films and with over $400 million in the books, the future looks promising for Warner Brothers Pictures.

 

Sources

  1. “Company History.” Warner Bros. 20 Mar. 2016.
  2. “Time Warner Inc. Announces Time Change for First-Quarter 2016 Earnings Call.” Market Watch. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
  3. “Studio Market Share.” Box Office Mojo. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
  4. “Warner Bros. Pictures.” Movie Insider. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.
  5. Smith, Michael. “Batman, Superman and the Building of a DC Comics ‘extended Universe'” Tulsa World. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
  6. McClintock, Pamela. “‘Batman v Superman’: Inside Warner Bros.’ Massive Marketing That Led to a Record Opening.” The Hollywood Reporter. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
  7. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Rotten Tomatoes. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
  8. “‘BATMAN V SUPERMAN’: INSIDE THE WARNER BROS. MARKETING CAMPAIGN.” Imagiworks. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
  9. Ellis, Emma Grey. “BATMAN V SUPERMAN’S MARKETING SEEMS SUPER … DADCORE.” Wired. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
  10. Grauso, Alisha. “Marketing Spotlight: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Movie Pilot. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
  11. “Warner Bros. Pictures’ CinemaCon Presentation Hits the Jackpot in Las Vegas.” Yahoo Finance. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Time Warner (TV/Cable channels only)

Posted on by 
by JESSE KATZENSTEIN
Time Warner Inc. Logo

[1]

Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000
www.timewarner.com
[2]

About

Time Warner Inc. is one of the largest media corporations in the United States, specializing in TV, film, and entertainment.  Its operating divisions consist of Turner Broadcasting System, Home Box Office Inc., and Warner Bros. Entertainment. [3]

Executives

Chairman and CEO – Jeff Bewkes

[4]

[4]

EVP and CFO – Howard M. Averill

Howard M. Averill Executive Vice President and CFO

[5]

EVP and General Counsel – Paul T. Cappuccio

Paul T. Cappuccio, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

[6]

Financials and Company Plans

Time Warner is a publicly traded company.  In 2014, their revenue grew to $27.36 billion, which is up 3% from their 2013 annual revenue of $26.46 billion. [7]  In the release of Time Warner’s Full Year 2014 Financial Results, Time Warner stated that their fourth quarter revenues decreased by 1% to $7.5 billion and can be attributable to a decrease in income from Warner Bros.  It was also stated that Home Box Office Inc., or HBO, and Turner Broadcasting Company were responsible for counterbalancing an even larger decrease in revenue. [8]

In a story released by Bloomberg.com, it was said that CBS Corp. was thinking of a merger deal with Time Warner.  CEO of CBS Corp., Leslie Moonves, is said to have mentioned the idea to CEO Jeff Bewkes in meetings between the two companies last year. [9]  Critics claim this merger would benefit both companies regarding their position in sports broadcasting, and this powerful advantage would make this powerhouse “a good alternative for ESPN.” [10]  However, Jeff Bewkes seems to be satisfied with keeping Time Warner and CBS separate.

Lulegacy.com released an article on April 16th revealing the results of 30 ratings firms who have been analyzing Time Warner’s stock.  The average stock price target came out to $91.71.  A little over two-thirds of the analysts put a “Buy” recommendation on the stock, while just 9 of the analysts gave the stock a “Hold” recommendation. [11]

HBO

HBO

[12]

According to Time Warner’s company website, HBO is the top domestic premium pay television service in the United States.  This service offers both HBO programming and Cinemax programming. [13]  HBO is known for its original television series such as Game Of Thrones, Girls, True Detective, and Silicon Valley. [14]  Cinemax is known for its original television series such as The Knick, Banshee, and Strike Back. [15]  Both services also offer programming of movies released theatrically.  HBO’s most popular and successful show, Game Of Thrones, has won Primetime Emmy Awards in every year of its existence. [16]  Its fifth and most current season debuted on April 12th of this year, but was subject to many news stories when almost half of the season was linked on illegal websites all over the world.  Jeff Bewkes’ comments were surprisingly optimistic when he explained that these leaks can offset some paid advertising, and joked about how distributing the most pirated show in the world is “better than an Emmy.” [17]

On April 7th, Time Warner announced that HBO NOW is now available to Apple and Optimum Online customers.  HBO NOW is HBO’s streaming service where consumers can stream all available episodes from their favorite HBO shows on all compatible devices.  The service costs $14.99 per month, but if consumers purchase the service in the month of April, they are granted with a 30-day free trial. [18]

Turner Broadcasting System

turner_blue_r

[19]

Turner Broadcasting system controls and manages some of the leading television networks in the country.  These networks cover programming in entertainment, news, sports, and animation, among other television genres.  Turner’s networks TNT and TBS are most notably known for their broadcasting of major sporting events such as the NBA Playoffs and the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. [20]

TNT and TBS both had a huge turnout this year during the NCAA tournament.  Time Warner released a statement on March 29th stating that the Kentucky vs. Notre Dame broke the record for the most-viewed and highest-rated college basketball game in cable TV history.  As of that day, total viewership was up 2% from the previous year. [21]  A little over a week later, the semifinal game between Kentucky and Wisconsin broke one of those records; the most-viewed college basketball game in cable TV history.  Total audience for the Final Four across all networks (TBS, TNT, truTV) attained 41.7 million viewers, a 24% increase from 2014. [22]

As for original content, Turner delivers the #1 comedy with adults 18-49 in The Big Bang Theory (TBS), and delivers the #1 original animated series in Mr. Pickles and Squidbillies (Adult Swim).  For kids, Cartoon Network is the leading channel that holds “49 of basic cable’s top 50 telecasts for young boys.”  Turner recently announced a revamp of the Cartoon Network live streaming app in Australia called Cartoon Network Watch and Play. [23]

In the news genre, CNN is Turner’s premier news network.  It is one of the first 24-hour news networks that provides breaking news across all media platforms.  Its popular programs include Anderson Cooper 360, Newsroom, Situation Room, and State of the Union. [24]

Warner Bros. Entertainment

WarnerBroslogo.300dpi

[25]

Warner Bros. Entertainment is a studio responsible for Time Warner’s influence in the TV, film, and home entertainment industries, as well as being a global distribution company. [26]  For it’s work in film, 2014 became the 14th consecutive year Warner Bros. Picture Groups grossed $1 billion or more at both the domestic and international box office. [27]  It has also done what no other studio has done, which is gross over $3 billion at the international box office for two consecutive years.  On March 30th, Warner Bros. reported their new agreement with Redbox, a company that provides self-service kiosks for consumers to purchase movies and video games on various platforms.  There are 35,000 kiosks across the country.  This two-year agreement leaves a 28-day window for consumers to purchase Warner Bros. films on Blu-ray and DVD. [28]

The Future for Time Warner 

The future may or may not be bright for Time Warner.  At this point in the year, their action plan should be to play the waiting game and see how all of their assets perform.  There are high hopes for the current season of Game Of Thrones despite the leaking scandal.  Warner Bros. has an exciting lineup of movies coming out in late spring/early summer including The Water Diviner, Pan, Magic Mike XXL, and San Andreas.

Sources

[1] – Time Warner Logo, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[2] – Time Warner Contact Info, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[3] – Time Warner Inc. Company Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[4] – Jeff Bewkes Bio Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[5] – Howard M. Averill Bio Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[6] – Paul T. Cappuccio Bio Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[7] – Time Warner Annual Earnings, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[8] – Time Warner Q4/Full Year 2014 Results, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[9] – “Moonves Said To Have Mulled Time Warner Deal As CBS Plots,” Bloomberg Business, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[10] – “Karmazin: CBS and Time Warner Inc. Need To Merge,” Fierce Cable, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[11] – “Time Warner Recieves $91.71 Consensus Price Target From Brokerages,” The Legacy, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[12] – HBO Logo, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[13] – HBO Company Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[14] – HBO Website, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[15] – Cinemax Website, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[16] – Game Of Thrones Awards List, IMDb, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[17] – “Game Of Thrones Season 5 Premiere Set Rating Record Despite Episode Leak,” Forbes, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[18] – HBO NOW Press Release, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[19] – Turner Broadcasting System Logo, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[20] – Turner Broadcasting System Company Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[21] – “2015 NCAA Scores Highest Average Viewership in 22 Years,” Time Warner, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[22] – “2015 Final Four Semifinals Reach More Than 41 Million Viewers,” Time Warner, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[23] – “Cartoon Network Activates Live Streaming App,” Time Warner, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[24] – List of CNN TV Shows, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[25] – Warner Bros. Entertainment Logo, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[26] – Warner Bros. Entertainment Company Website, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[27] – Warner Bros. Entertainment Company Page, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

[28] – “Redbox, Warner Bros. Announce New Agreement,” Time Warner, Retrieved, April 17, 2015

Time Warner (TV/cable channels only)

Image

by Cameron MacPherson
 
Time Warner, Inc.

[1] Time Warner Logo

 Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000
www.timewarner.com

About

          Time Warner, Inc. is an American media company with properties in the television and film industries, including cable properties under the Turner Broadcasting System, its premium cable property Home Box Office (HBO), and its production unit Warner Brothers Studios. [2]

Time Warner has three major divisions: HBO, Turner, and Warner Brothers

[3] Time Warner has three major divisions: HBO, Turner, and Warner Brothers

Executives

jbewkes_0

[4] Jeff Bewkes, Chairman and CEO

gginsberg

[6] Gary L. Ginsberg, Executive VP, Corporate Marketing and Communications

Howard M. Averill, Executive Vice President and CFO

[5] Howard M. Averill, Executive Vice President and CFO

 

Financials and Strategies

           Time Warner Inc., a publicly traded company, posted a $29.8 billion revenue for 2013, a 4% increase from 2012. [7] On July 16, 2014, news broke that Time Warner had rejected an $80 billion buyout offer from 21st Century Fox. The proposal offered $85 a share for a stock that, just before the announced rejection, sat just above $70 a share. [8] CEO Jeff Bewkes has made a commitment to reach the $85 per share target to encourage stockholders that the company has growth potential. Under Bewkes, the financial strategy of the company has been to minimize expenses to maximize profits. Time Warner Inc. has recently spun off Time Warner Cable and Time Inc. properties, retaining only its Turner cable properties, HBO, and the Warner Brothers Studios. [9]

Time Warner rejected a buyout bid from 21st Century Fox

[12 ] Time Warner rejected an $80 billion buyout bid from 21st Century Fox

            Even with a smaller portfolio of properties, the emphasis on streamlined efficiency still dominates Time Warner’s financial strategy. In recent months, there have been layoffs in all three of Time Warner’s divisions. Turner Broadcasting offered a buyout option to 6% of its staffers in August, two months before announcing that the company would cut 1,475 jobs.[10][11] Time Warner cut seven percent, or 150, of its domestic employees for HBO in late October, one week before cutting 1,000 jobs at Warner Brothers Studios. [13][14]

            The strategy, to this point, has been successful. The newly enacted efficiencies and bold strategies for expansion of Time Warner’s HBO property have led to a surge in market valuation. On November 30, the price of Time Warner’s stock reached $85.12 per share, 12 cents above the buyout offer from 21st Century Fox in July (before falling slightly below the line the next day). [15]

[13] A graph showing the price of Time Warner's stock prices over the last three months (TWX)

[16 ] A graph showing the price of Time Warner’s stock prices over the last three months (TWX)

HBO Developments

HBO, a division of Time Warner

[17 ] HBO, a division of Time Warner

 According to Time Warner, a major reason for rejecting the buyout offer was the growth potential of HBO. On September 16, ten days after 21st Century Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch withdrew his buyout offer, Time Warner announced plans for a fourth quarter marketing push for HBO across broadcast, cable, and digital platforms. [18]  A week later, HBO partnered with AT&T to offer customers broadband service, HBO GO, and Amazon’s Prime membership for a limited time offer. [19] The move, similar to Comcast’s “Internet Plus” package, signaled another step towards unbundling HBO from pricey cable subscriptions. Just a month after that, Time Warner made a major announcement that expanded on this departure from cable bundles. Time Warner stated that it planned to offer a standalone streaming platform through its online HBO GO service starting in 2015. The service will be available without a cable subscription to HBO, using broadband as its distribution channel. [20] While the details about available programming and distribution channels are yet to be released, many analysts predict the over-the-top service will be marketed towards cord-cutters and millenials rather than those with existing HBO subscriptions. [21] 

            With the new online streaming service, Time Warner hopes to attract customers to HBO who might otherwise be deterred by cable’s lofty price tag. Additionally, it has positioned itself as a viable competitor to Netflix in the digital arena. HBO has fewer domestic subscribers than Netflix, but far more international subscribers; HBO boasts 130 million global subscribers to Netflix’s 50 million. [22] In recent months, Time Warner has sought to expand this international presence. HBO struck a deal with Chinese content distributor Tencent Holdings Ltd., granting the Chinese media giant the exclusive rights to distribute HBO’s original programming. Tencent Video, the company’s online streaming site, will air episodes of HBO shows that have become wildly popular in China through piracy sites. [23] Executives at HBO hope that this move will cut down on piracy, and create a loyal fan base in the world’s most populous country. 

Programming

HBO          

Boardwalk Empire

[24] In 2014, HBO aired the final season of its hit crime show, “Boardwalk Empire”

HBO is known for its award winning original programming and loyal fan bases, particularly with hits like “Game of Thrones,” and “True Detective.” One such program, the smash crime hit “Boardwalk Empire,” finished its television run after five seasons. The series, which has won 18 Emmys, had a strong showing with 2.3 million viewers tuning in live for the series finale. When coupled with a same-night rerun and HBO GO statistics, total same-day viewers exceeded 6.6 million. [25]

HBO launched the final season of its news drama "The Newsroom" [26]

[27 ] HBO launched the final season of its news drama “The Newsroom”

            HBO launched three new shows in its Sunday lineup, including the third and final season of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom.” The premiere of the truncated season reached a disappointing 1.2 million viewers live, a 40% decrease from the season two premiere. This year, the series does not benefit from the strong lead-ins of “True Blood” and “Boardwalk Empire,” leading to decreases in live ratings. [26]

            It should be noted that live viewership is not as important for HBO due to its lack of advertising. Only about 25 to 30 percent of viewers watch programs live on HBO, as many viewers use the on-demand services or the web-based HBO GO. [28]

 Turner

Turner CEO John Martin [#]

[31 ] Turner CEO John Martin

            Turner Broadcasting and its CEO John Martin have expressed a commitment to take more “creative risks,” and announced that the company would double its funding for original programming by the end of 2018. [29] Turner’s TBS and TNT channels have greatly benefited from airing live sporting events. Alongside Disney, Time Warner renewed its rights to air live NBA games through the 2024-2025 season. TNT is granted the rights to broadcast 64 games a year. [30] 

            The 2014 American League Championship Series on TBS was the most viewed MLB playoffs on the network since 2010. The 2014 ALCS averaged 4.3 million viewers, despite featuring teams from mid-sized markets. [32] Because sporting events can draw large numbers of live viewers, Turner is able to charge higher prices for advertising and licensing fees. Thus, investing in live sporting rights will continue to be a major component of Turner’s business strategy.

            The mass viewership of sporting events gives Turner additional leverage in negotiations with television distributors. When contract negotiations were stalling between Dish Network and Time Warner in October, Dish Network suddenly blacked out many of Turner’s cable channels, including CNN, TruTV, and Cartoon Network. Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen stated that while blacking out these channels was a “non-issue,” it would be “more painful” to take down the popular Turner channels Dish had left running: TBS and TNT, which both carry major sporting events. [33]

Future

            The future of Time Warner will be heavily scrutinized by corporate analysts. The question remains: can Time Warner create sustained growth, or was it foolish to pass

[34] The Time Warner Center, headquarters of Time Warner, Inc.

[34] The Time Warner Center, headquarters of Time Warner, Inc.

on the 21st Century Fox buyout offer? Time Warner has made decisions to bring its stock prices up in both the short-term, through corporate restructuring and job layoffs, and the long-term, through strategic HBO expansions and property spinoffs. Only sustained growth, most likely fostered by HBO’s continued expansion and Turner’s programming decisions, will determine the success of Time Warner.

[1] Time Warner Inc. logo. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014

[2] Time Warner Inc. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014

[3] Time Warner Operating Divisions. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[4] Jeff Bewkes bio page. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[5] Howard Averill bio page. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[6] Gary Ginsberg bio page. Timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[7] Time Warner’s quarterly reports. Ir.timewarner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[8] “Time Warner rejected $80B offer from 21st Century Fox: Sources”. CNBC, 16 July 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[9] “Time Warner Profit Tops Estimates as CEO Pursues Growth”. Bloomberg.com, 5 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[10] “Turner Broadcasting offers voluntary buyouts”. CNN Money, 26 August 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[11] “Turner Broadcasting, Home of CNN, TBS and TNT, Will Cut 1,475 jobs”. The New York Times, 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[12] “Time Warner’s HBO to cut 7 percent of staff”. Reuters, 28 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[13] “Warner Bros. Layoffs Beginning Tuesday to Eliminate Roughly 1,000 Jobs”. The Hollywood Reporter, 3 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[14] Twenty First Century Fox logo. Logopedia, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[15] Time Warner (TWX) stock. MarketWatch, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[16] Graph of TWX stock. Google Finance, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[17] HBO logo. Homeboxoffice.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[18] “Time Warner Plans HBO Marketing Push to Speed Growth”. Bloomberg.com, 18 September 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[19] “AT&T Lures Cord Cutters With $39-a-Month Deal for Broadband, Amazon Prime and HBO”. The Wall Street Journal, 23 September 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[20] “HBO Plans New Streaming Service, With Eye on Cord Cutters”. The New York Times, 15 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[21] “Before HBO Starts Streaming, Time Warner Wants to Make Big Cable Happy”. Businessweek, 5 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[22] “The battle between Netflix and HBO is just beginning. And this man holds the key”. The Washington Post, 28 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[23] “Tencent to Distribute HBO Dramas, Movies Online in China”. Nadsaq, 28 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[24] Boardwalk Empire poster. IMDB, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[25] “‘Boardwalk Empire’ Ratings: Series Ends With 2.3M Watching HBO Finale”. Deadline, 27 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[26] “HBO Has a Quiet Sunday With ‘Newsroom’ and ‘Comeback’ Returns”. The Hollywood Reporter, 11 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[27] Businessweek, ibid.

[28] The Newsroom poster. IMDB, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[29] “Turner Broadcasting CEO Pledges to Double Original Programming Investment”. The Hollywood Reporter, 12 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[30] “Walt Disney, Time Warner Said to Renew NBA TV Contracts”. Bloomberg.com, 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[31] John Martin bio page. Turner.com, retrieved 1 December 2014.

[32] “TBS Finishes Its Most-Viewed MLB Postseason Since 2010”. Multichannel.com, 16 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[33] “Turner Warns Dish Users That TNT & TBS Might Follow CNN, Toons Going Dark”. Deadline, 18 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[34] Associated Press file image of the Time Warner Center. Syracuse.com, 08 August 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

Discovery Communications

Aside

by Indica Young
Discovery Communications Logo

Discovery Communications Logo [1]

One Discovery Place

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tel: 240-662-2000

http://corporate.discovery.com

John Hendricks, Founder of Discovery Communications

-John Hendricks, Founder of Discovery Communications [3]

“To satisfy curiosity and make a difference in people’s lives by providing the highest quality content, services and products that entertain, engage, and enlighten.”[2]

                                        –John Hendricks,1982

             Discovery Communications is the #1 pay-TV programmer and is the worlds #1 nonfiction media company. With 2.8 billion subscribers, 189 international HD markets, and 54 network entertainment brands, Discovery Communications is successful at satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers [4]. The company began as a single channel in 1985 as The Discovery Channel [5].Now they are a global mass media that operates popular networks such as The Learning Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Education, and American Heroes Channel [6]. Discovery Communications is a publicly traded company that produces their own original content as well as acquiring content. Discovery Communications is subsidiary of Time Warner and they operate out of Silver Springs, Maryland [7]. Discovery Communications is publicly traded on NASDAQ stock exchange, but privately held Advance Publications is Discovery’s largest shareholder, with a 31% stake [8].

Headquarters image

Discovery Communications Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD [9]

TEAM DISCOVERY [2]

David M. Zaslav, President, CEO

David M. Zaslav, President, Chief Executive Officer, [10]

David C. Leavy, Chief Communications Officer, Senior Executive Vice President

David C. Leavy, Chief Communications Officer, Senior Executive Vice President, [11]

Andrew Warren-Senior Executive VP and CFO

Andrew Warren, Senior Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer, [13]

 

TOP COMPETITORS [12]

A&E Television Networks, LLC

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Viacom, Inc

FINANCIALS

On November 4th, 2014 the Third Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights were announced. While Discovery Channel has had a fairly stable U.S. market, the domestic network revenue has been declining and David Zaslav has been focused on expanding the international segment of Discovery Communications [14]. Overall, the company has seen a 14% year on year growth in the 3rd quarter. This growth is stemming from the International segment of Discovery, as the International Networks has seen a 32% increase, while U.S. Networks has actually seen a 1% decrease. This growth in international reach is widely due to the increase in distribution and advertising revenues that Discovery has been focused on [15]. Discovery is also widening their reach by focusing on investment for their content to be displayed and interacted with on many types of screen [14].

Discovery Communications Third Quarter 2014 Segment Results

Discovery Communications Third Quarter 2014 Segment Results [15]

Discovery Channel

2014 was marked by success due to its work in unscripted series. The Discovery Channel has seen viewership growth this year. Compared to October of last year, The Discovery Channel has seen double digit viewership, driving from strong returning series such as the 5th returning season of Gold Rush (Gold Rush kickoff was the nights second highest rated program on Friday Night [16]) as well as Alaska The Great Frontier and Misfit Garage. These unscripted series are also helping to drive ratings as Discovery has held 5 of the top 10 unscripted series for persons aged 25-54 [17].

The Learning Channel

The Learning Channel Logo

The Learning Channel Logo, [18]

The Learning Channel (TLC) is a global brand owned by Discovery Communications that initially focused on educational and learning content, but now produces nonfiction lifestyle programming. Popular shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (canceled this fall due to scandal [19]), Breaking Amish, and Cake Boss are what make is a popular nonfiction network, as well as being a top 10 cable network in key female demos [20].

Animal Planet

Animal Planet Logo

Animal Planet Logo, [22]

Animal Planet is an entertainment network and brand owned by Discovery Communications that focuses on life in the animal kingdom [21]. In the second quarter ratings for 2014, Animal Planet remains a top 20 network for males aged 25-54. These ratings were driven by the successful season of River Monsters [23].

Discovery Education

Discovery Education uses their high quality content and focus on education programming to develop a passionate educator community. Discovery Education is expanding their innovative multimedia education products and services as well as serving grades  K-12 in more than half of the schools in the U.S. [24]

American Heroes Channel

American Heroes Channel Logo

American Heroes Channel Logo [26]

American Heroes Channel (AHC) is a network owned by Discovery Communications that carries programs related to military history and warfare. As a network, AHC provides glimpses into major stories and events that helped shape the American future [25]. Shows like Gunslingers, Apocalypse WWII ,and Hardcore Heroes drive the ratings on AHC [27].

JOINT VENTURES

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

Oprah Winfrey, OWN Network

Oprah Winfrey, OWN Network, [28]

OWN, a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications and Oprah Winfrey with real life and emotional programming [28]. OWN brought in Tyler Perry to work on scripted series for the network in 2012, and the Perry soap “The Haves and the Have Nots” averaged 3.6 million viewers, an 18% jump from the previous week according to Nielson [29].

The Hub Network becomes Discovery Family Channel

The Hub Network Logo

The Hub Network Logo, [30]

The Hub Network was a joint venture announced in 2009 led by Hasbro, a toy manufacturer and media company, and was a re-launch of Discovery Kids [30]. On October 13th, 2014, The Hub Network announced that the network is to become Discovery Family Channel. This new joint venture continuing with Discovery Channel and Hasbro is promising because of the success of The Hub Network as a children’s cable network [31].

All3Media

All3Media is a leading creator of content that provides digital content for both television and film [32]. On May 8, 2014 Discovery Communications and Liberty Global announced they were acquiring All3Media, offering strategic support but allowing All3Media to preserve their creative independence [33].

WHAT THEY’RE UP TO

Shark Week

Shark Week, Discovery Channel

Shark Week, Discovery Channel, [34]

Shark Week is a 27 year old annual summer tradition of Discovery Communications that has not only been the longest running cable TV programming event ever, but also one of the highest rated [35]. In August of 2014 Discovery Communications announced this summer was the highest rated Shark Week in history, and is essential for viewers in the 25-54 year range [36].

Survival Live

"Naked and Afraid" Survival Live

“Naked and Afraid” Survival Live, [37]

Survival Life is Discovery Communications new live event programming series, a never done before reality event. Discovery is stranding eight people in the wilderness for 42 days, and their success on their show depends on their skill to survive [37]. Viewers will be able to track their progress on Discovery Communications web platform, 24/7. Survival Live is produced by Adjacent Productions for Discovery Communications [38].

Motor Mondays

Fast N' Loud, Motor Mondays

Fast N’ Loud, Motor Mondays, [39]

In April of 2013 Discovery Communications announced that Discovery Channel will now include a full night of vehicle programming on Mondays. Including shows like Fast N’ Loud and Street Outlaws, Discovery Channel Mondays will now be the biggest destination for all motor-programming [40].

Everest Live Jump Canceled

Everest Live Jump, Discovery Communications

Everest Live Jump, Discovery Communications, [41]

The Everest Live Jump, a Discovery Communications live event which was supposed to air Joby Ogwny’s attempt to wingsuit jump off the summit of Mount Everest [42].  An avalanche disaster in April of 2014 killed 13 and left 3 missing. The stunt was canceled, however Discovery Communications was at the base camp at the time of the tragedy was able to record as the disaster struck. The Everest Avalanche Tragedy is one of the single deadliest days in Everest’s history [43].

[1] “Discovery Communications Corporate,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[2] “Discovery Communications Leadership,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[3] “Driven by Curiosity,” Global Business Coalition for Education, RT: 11/27/2014

[4] “At a Glance,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[5] “The Discovery Channel; Science, Nature, Adventure and Animals That Bite,” The Washington Post, RT: 11/27/2014

[6] “Our Mission,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[7] “Time Warner Cable and Discovery Communications Reach Long-Term Distribution Agreement,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[8] “Advance Publications Waving Around $500 M,” Crain’s New York, RT: 11/27/2014

[9] “Discovery Communications Headquarters,” Stewart Bros. Photography, RT: 11/27/2014

[10] “David M. Zaslav,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[11] “David Leavy,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[12] “Discovery Communications Inc. Company Information,” Hoovers, RT: 11/27/2014

[13] “Andrew Warren,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[14] “Discovery Communications, Best Global Brands,” Interbrand, RT: 11/27/2014

[15] “Discovery Communications Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[16] “Gold Rush 5th Season Debut Hits Ratings Motherload For Discovery,” Deadline, RT: 11/27/2014

[17] “Discovery Channel Grabs Double Digit Viewership and Ratings Gains in October,” TV By the Numbers, RT: 11/27/2014

[18] “The Learning Channel,” TLC, RT: 11/27/2014

[19] “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Cancelled after Report Links Mama June Shannon to Alleged Sex Offender,” US Weekly, RT: 11/27/2014

[20] “TLC,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[21] “Animal Planet,” Discovery Communications, RT 11/27/2014

[22] “Animal Planet,” Animal Planet, RT: 11/27/2014

[23] “Animal Planet,” Discovery Press Web, RT: 11/27/2014

[24] “Discovery Education,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[25] “American Heroes Channel,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[26] “American Heroes Channel,” AHC, RT: 11/27/2014

[27] “Three New Original Series Propel American Heroes Channel to Best August Ever in Prime Delivery Among P2+ and HH,” The Futon Critic, RT: 11/27/2014

[28] “OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network,” Discovery Communications, RT 11/27/2014

[29] “Have and Have Nots Sets OWN Ratings Record with It’s Finale,” Variety, RT: 11/27/2014

[30] “The Hub Network,” Discovery Press Web, RT: 11/27/2014

[31] “The Hub Network to Become Discovery Family Channel on October 13,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[32] “About Us,” All3Media, RT: 11/27/2014

[33] “Discovery Communications and Liberty Global to acquire All3Media,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[34] “Its Shark Week,” Discovery Magazine Blogs, RT: 11/27/2014

[35] “The History of Shark Week: How the Discovery Channel both Elevated and Degraded Sharks,” The Week, RT: 11/27/2014

[36] “Discovery Channel Earns Its Highest-Rated Shark Week Ever in its 27 Year History,” Discovery Communications, RT: 11/27/2014

[37] “Discovery to Strand Contestants in Wilderness for Reality Show (Exclusive),” The Hollywood Reporter, RT: 11/27/2014

[38] “Real-Time Series ‘Survival Live’ to Premiere in Late 2014 on Discovery Channel,” TV By the Numbers, RT 11/27/2014

[39] “Fast N’ Loud,” Discovery Channel Store, RT: 11/27/2014

[40] “Discovery Channel Announces ‘Motor Mondays’,” TV By the Numbers, RT: 11/27/2014

[41] “Discovery Cancels Everest Live Jump after Tragedy,” USA Today, RT: 11/27/2014

[42] “Discovery Channel to Air Live Jump Off Mount Everest,” The Hollywood Reporter, RT: 11/27/2014

[43] “Mount Everest Avalanche Forces Discovery Channel to cancel ‘Everest Live Jump’,” NY Daily News, RT: 11/27/2014

Warner Bros. Pictures

Posted on by 
by Nancy Lopez-Luna

Warner Bros. Pictures

warner_bros._pictures_intro__140102232408
Photo Courtesy of deadline.com [1]

Contact Information: [2]

4000 Warner Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91522

P: 818.954.3000

http://www.warnerbros.com/

About Warners Bros. Pictures: 

Warner Bros. Pictures is one of the six major American film studios. The company was founded on April 4, 1923 by Albert, Harry, Jack and Sam Warner. [3] Warner Bros. Pictures is an entertainment company involved in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing on all their forms of entertainment. [4]  In 2008, Warner Bros. Pictures acquired New Line Cinema to maximize film performance. [5]

Warner Bros. Pictures has created blockbuster films based on books, including Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Sherlock Holmes, among others. [6] Warner Bros., with the collaboration of New Line Cinema, releases approximately 18-22 films each year. [7]

Competitors 

Warner Bros.’ competitors include: Paramount Pictures Corporation, Fox Filmed Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios. [8]

Key Executives: 

PhotoSizedDown_Kevin_Tsujihara_2014

Kevin Tsujihara; chairman and Chief executive officer

ThomasGewecke

Thomas Gewecke; executive Vice president & CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICE

EdwardARomano

Edward a romano; executive vice president & Chief financial officer

 

Photo and info courtesy of: http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/executives [9] 

Financials: 

In 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures grossed in $5.03 billion in global box office, their most successful theatrical year in company history. That year marked the company’s first time surpassing the $5 billion mark. [10] As of September 30, 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures has grossed a revenue of $1.17 million in their recent quarter. This is a 3% increase from last year. These increases were offset by Pacific Rim, The Conjuring and We’re the Millers. Through November 2, Annabelle grossed over $230 million in worldwide box office. [11] Currently, Warner Bros. Pictures employs 9,000 people. [12]

What’s happening now? 

In 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures released a total of 18 films, with Inherent Vice being released last on December 12th. [13]

The Lego Movie

One of the movies that stayed #1 for the first half of 2014 was The Lego Movie directed by DeAlan Wilson. [14] The Lego Movie is a 3D animation film that tells the story of a construction Lego worker, Emmet. He is recruited on a quest to stop an evil tyrant from destroying the Lego universe. [15]

Photo Courtesy of rottentomatoes.com [16]

The budget set for this film was $60,000,000 million. In its opening weekend (7-9 February 2014), The Lego Movie received $69,050,279 million. In total, it grossed $252,756,197 million. [17] The Lego Movie won the kids’ feature film prize at the BAFTA Children’s Awards Sunday, fighting off competition from Maleficent, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Frozen. [18] 

If I Stay

If I Stay recounts the story of Mia Hall after suffering a car incident that puts her in a coma. During her out-of-body experience, she has to decide if she wants to wake up and live a completely different life. During her journey she decides what she wants to do. The film is directed by R.J. Cutler and it stars Chloe Grace Moretz. [19]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [20]

During its opening weekend (22-24 August, 2014), If I Stay earned $15,679,190 million. To date, it has grossed $50,474,843 million domestically. [21]

Annabelle

Annabelle reunites the filmmakers behind 2013’s hugely successful supernatural thriller The Conjuring. A couple begins to experience supernatural happenings in their house after satanic cultists invade their home. The films stars Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis and Alfre Woodard. [22]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [23]

Annabelle was big for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. It is the highest grossing horror movie of 2014. Directed by John R. Leonetti, Annabelle has taken over $250 million at the worldwide box office. Opening weekend (3-5 October 2014), Annabelle grossed in $37,134,255 million. [24]

Interstellar 

Interstellar is a current release from Warner Bros. Pictures. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar tells the story of a team traveling through a wormhole in an attempt to find a potential planet sustainable for habitat. This film stars Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. [25]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [26]

In its opening weekend (5-7 November 2014), Interstellar grossed in $47,510,360 million. It is 3.7 weeks in and Interstellar has grossed in $147,090,000 million domestically and $542,290,000 worldwide. [27]

Horrible Bosses 2

A sequel to Horrible Bosses, three men decide to start their own business but things don’t go as planned because of an investor, prompting the trio to pull off a misguided kidnapping scheme. Directed by Sean Anders this film stars Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. [28]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [29]

In its opening weekend (26-28 November 2014), Horrible Bosses 2 grossed in $15,700,000 million. Domestically it has gained $23,010,000 million as of November 30, 2014. Worldwide it has reached $34,710,000. This movie was one of the popular to watch over Thanksgiving weekend. [30]

In other news

Cuts 

On November 9, 2014 Warner Bros. began to cut their employees. These cuts will eliminate 1,000 jobs, or 12.5% of the studio’s staff. Warner Bros. is trying to increase their profitability in lieu of their weak domestic box office sales. These layoffs are part of Time Warner, its corporate parents, who also seek to cut costs. Despite the hit in The Lego Movie, it has suffered with movies like Edge of Tomorrow, The Judge and Blended. It is ranked third at the domestic box office, behind 20th Century Fox and Walt Disney Studios. [31] 

Royalties 

A private arbitrator has decided against the Weinstein brothers and Miramax in a dispute with Warner Bros. over royalties for the second and third Hobbit films. In 1988, Miramax agreed to sell the big-screen rights it controlled to New Line Cinema, which is now owned by Warner Bros. Warner Bros. has decided to not pay the Weinstein company royalties for the second and third installation of The Hobbit. [32] 

The Stand 

Director Josh Boone has announced that the studio has allowed him to turn Stephen’s King’s novel The Stand into a four-part franchise. Matthew McConaughey is said to take the role of villainous Randall Flagg. [33] The Stand is about one man who escapes from a biological weapon facility after a deadly virus wipes out most of the world’s population. The survivors are stuck in a predicament of what to do, facing both good and evil. [34]

What to Expect: 

Focus

Warner Bros. Picture will release its first 2015 film, February 27. Focus is based on a veteran grifter who takes in an attractive woman under his wing. After time spent together they become romantically involved. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and Josh Requa this film stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro. [35]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [36]

In the Heart of the Sea 

Out March 13, 2015, In the Heart of the Sea is said to be based on true events. In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by a whale of mammoth size. The real-life disaster inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But In the Heart of the Sea reveals the aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. [37]

Photo Courtesy of IMDb.com [38]

Directed by Ron Howard, this film stars Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphay and Charlotte Riley.

Video courtesy of youtube.com [39]

 

[1] Warner Bros. logo. Deadline. RT: 11/29/14

[2] Warner Bros. contact. warner bors. rt: 11/29/14

[3] Founded. warner bros. rt: 11/29/14

[4] What Warner Bros. does. BusinessWeek. RT: 11/29/14

[5] New Line Cinema. warner bros. rt: 11/29/14

[6] Competitors. hoovers. rt: 12/1/14

[7] Blockbuster Film Franchises. boxofficemojo. rt: 11/29/14

[8] Distribution. warner bros. rt: 11/29/14

[9] Executive Officers. warner bros. rt: 11/29/14

[10] 2013 Gross Income. variety. rt: 11/29/14

[11] 2014 3rd Quarter Income. time warner. rt: 11/29/14

[12] Employees. variety. rt: 11/29/14

[13] 2014 Films. movie insider. rt: 11/29/14

[14] Lego Movie. time warner. rt: 11/29/14

[15] About Lego Movie. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[16] Lego Movie Image. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[17] Lego Movie Revenue. boxofficemojo. rt: 11/29/14

[18]  Lego Movie Award. variety. rt: 11/29/14

[19] About If I Stay. imdb. RT: 11/29/14

[20] if i stay movie poster. imdb. rt: 12/1/14

[21] If I Stay Revenue. Boxofficemojo. rt: 11/29/14

[22] About Annabelle. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[23] Annabelle movie poster. imdb. rt: 12/1/14

[24] Annabelle Revenue. boxofficemojo. rt: 11/29/14

[25] About Interstellar. imdb. 11/29/14

[26] Interstellar movie poster. imdb. rt: 12/1/14

[27] Interstellar Revenue. boxofficemojo. rt: 11/29/14

[28] About Horrible Bosses. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[29] horrible bosses 2 movie poster. imdb. rt: 12/1/14

[30] Horrible Bosses 2 Revenue. boxofficemojo. rt: 11/30/14

[31]  Warner Bros. Cuts. ny times. rt: 11/29/14

[32]  Warner Bros. Royalties. wall street journal. rt: 11/29/14

[33] Joseph Boone. deadline. rt: 11/29/14

[34] About The Stand. stephen king. rt: 11/29/14

[35] About Focus. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[36] focus movie poster. imdb. rt: 12/1/14

[37] About In the Heart of the Sea. imdb, rt: 11/29/14

[38] In the Heart of the Sea Image. imdb. rt: 11/29/14

[39] In the Heart of the sea trailer. youtube. rt: 11/29/14

 

Time Warner Cable

Posted on by 
by Dan Watson

 

Key Executives (13)

 

Robert D. Marcus Chairman and CEO

Robert D. Marcus
Chairman and CEO

Arthur T. Minson, Jr. EVP and CFO

Arthur T. Minson, Jr.
EVP and CFO

Dinesh C. Jain COO

Dinesh C. Jain
COO

Ellen M. East EVP and CCO

Ellen M. East
EVP and CCO

 

Contact (14)

One Time Warner Center

New York, NY 10019-8016

212-484-8000

http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential.html

History

In 1992, American Television and Communications (ATC) and Warner Cable merged to become Time Warner Cable (1). Not long after, in 1996, they released the first cable-delivered high speed internet, called Roadrunner (1). Following this was the release of digital cable and video on demand in 1999, digital phone service in 2003, and then finally the “Triple Play” service in 2005 (1). In 2007, Time Warner Cable (TWC) went public, and two years later, in 2009, they separated themselves from their parent company, Time Warner Inc (1).

About The Company

Time Warner Cable is a cable provider that offers high speed internet, digital phone services, and cable services to over 25 states, including Texas, North Carolina, and New York State (1). The company is subscription based, meaning customers pay a certain price per month to receive the content. Cable plans range anywhere from $20 to $50 per month, internet prices range from $35 to $65 per month, and phone service range from $10 to $20 per month (2). Subscribers can also choose the three service deal, which gives you video, phone, and internet for anywhere from $110 to $130 per month (2). As of September 30, 201, the end of their 3rd quarter, TWC has a total of 15.1 million subscribers receiving one or more of their services (1). 10.8 million of them are video subscribers, 11.5 million are internet subscribers, and 4.9 million of them are phone subscribers (1). In New York, North Carolina, and Texas, TWC provides local, all-news channels (1). TWC currently employs 50,000 people all over the US, including a special program that hires military veterans in areas such as technology, construction, and marketing sales (3). In 2013, TWC CEO Glenn Britt retired. TWC announced that the company’s COO at the time, Robert D. Marcus, would proceed him. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of TWC (1).

Financials

Time Warner Cable is a publically owned company, and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TWC (1). Currently, TWC on the New York Stock Exchange is $148.54 USD (12). Because TWC is a publically owned company, it is obligated to let the public know how it is doing, in the form of quarterly reports. The latest quarterly report, the end of the third quarter, was released on September 30th, 2014 (4). In the fourth quarter alone, TWC had a revenue of $5.7 billion, which was up 3.6 percent, when compared to last year’s third quarter (4). This year to date (September 30th), the company has a total revenue of $17.1 billion, which is a 2.9% increase when compared to the same figure from last year (4). The report boasts the “best third-quarter customer relationship performance in six years” (4). Services in particular, their video service continues to provide the most money out of all the other services. Their video service provided $2.5 billion, while the internet service provided $1.6 billion, and the phone service provided $476 million (4). One notable difference is that both the revenue of the video and phone services for the third quarter went down from last year, with the video bringing in $2.6 billion, and the phone bringing in $498 million (4).

The Comcast, Time Warner Cable Merger

Back on February 13th, Comcast publicly announced that they wanted to by Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion dollars (5). Since then, both the FCC and The United States Department of Justice have been investigating and evaluating the deal to see if they will either approve, or decline the deal. On October 8th and 9th, both company’s shareholders approved of the acquisition (6). For TWC, more than 99% of votes from shareholders voted in favor of the deal, showing the support of the deal from the shareholders (6). Immediately after the announcement of the deal, there was a wave of backlash and criticism against the deal. One of the main concerns of the deal is the fact that if the deal were to go through, the ensuing company would have control of roughly 30% of the pay TV market (6). This company would have 33 million subscribers, leagues above any other cable provider (5). Because of this, people are worried that the result of this deal would have far much too control on the cable, phone, and internet markets. With such control, this company would have would have more power to raise prices (5). This would be because they would be the only cable provider in a lot of areas, and customers would have no other option than to pay whatever amount for that cable provider. Some are also worried that this deal could affect competition and innovation. The company could have so much control over the market, that it might deter newcomers from trying to enter the market (5). Because of this, there would be inherently less competition, and much less innovation, as all of the new content and technology a new company could bring to the market would be much less inclined to jump in (5).

One of the biggest issues of the deal is the possibility of net neutrality being hurt following the completion of the deal (7). Net neutrality is the idea, and law, that every source on the internet is treated equally, and has the same access as any other source (7). This applies heavily to online streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. Their whole, or at least majority of their business is based on their ability to stream content to subscribers via the internet. With the completion of the deal, some are worried that the cable company would have so much control, that they could create internet “fast lanes”, and “slow lanes” (7). In other words, Comcast/TWC could make Netflix or Hulu pay an extra amount of money for their products to be streamed faster and in higher quality through the internet that the cable company provides its customers (7). President Barack Obama recently released a statement, saying that net neutrality is essential, and that any deal hindering that would hurt the economy (8). He also called for the FCC to create new rules regulating net neutrality (8). Both parties of the deal have since stated that the deal is still proceeding (9).

One of the biggest oppositions to the deal happened in Lexington, Kentucky. Arguing over poor customer service, the city was unable to reach a new franchise agreement with TWC, and planed on denying the transfer of ownership, and looking for other cable providers (10). This would have proved a tough task, though, because TWC owns all of the existing cable infrastructure in the city (10). On November 20th, however, the city agreed to a 10 year franchise agreement with TWC, ending negotiations and backlash of the pending deal (11).

Sources

(1) http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/about-us/company-overview.html

History of Time Warner Cable, DR: 11/26/14

(2) http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/plans-packages/cable-internet.html#3services

Time Warner Cable, Packages and Plans, DR 11/26/14

(3) http://jobs.timewarnercable.com/content/military/

Time Warner Cable, Jobs and Military, DR 11/26/14

(4) http://ir.timewarnercable.com/files/2014%20Earnings/3Q14/aQ3-2014-TWC-Earnings-Release-FINAL_v001_a0q10j.pdf

Time Warner Cable Third Quarterly Report, DR 11/21/14

(5) http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/comcast-time-warner-agree-to-merge-in-45-billion-deal/2014/02/13/7b778d60-9469-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html

Washington Post, Comcast and TWC agree to deal, DR 11/19/14

(6) http://online.wsj.com/articles/time-warner-cable-shareholders-approve-merger-deal-with-comcast-1412869575

The Wall Street Journal, Shareholders Approve, DR 11/20/14

(7) http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/15/opinion/why-the-fcc-should-heed-president-obama-on-internet-regulations.html?_r=0

The New York Times, Net Neutrality Concerns, DR 11/23/14

(8) http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/10/obama-internet-net-neutrality/18793429/

USA Today, Obama’s Statement on Net Neutrality, DR 11/25/14

(9) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/comcast-time-warner-full-steam-ahead_n_6149068.html

Huffpost, Deals moving Forward, DR 11/24/14

(10) http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/07/3468773_citys-action-could-kill-time-warner.html?rh=1

Kentucky.com, Lexington Opposes Deal, DR 11/19/14

(11) http://wuky.org/post/lexington-signs-franchise-agreement-time-warner-cable

WUKY.org, Lexington Agrees to Deal, DR 11/27/14

(12) http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=TWC.N

Reuters, TWC Stock Information, DR 11/30/14

(13) http://www.timewarnercable.com/content/twc/en/about-us/leadership/overview.html

Time Warner Cable Leadership, DR 11/28/14

Time Warner Cable Leadership Photos, DR 11/28/14

(14) http://www.timewarner.com/contact-us

Time Warner Cable Contacts, DR 11/28/14

(15) http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/File:Time_Warner_Cable_2010.png

Time Warner Cable Logo, DR 11/30/14

(16) http://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/144432/comcast_twc-via-comcast-release_large.png

Comcast, Time Warner Cable Image, DR 11/30/14

(17) http://static.squarespace.com/static/514c6ec7e4b0f1fab133877d/514e614fe4b0e29595febc04/514e6178e4b045db9416cc37/1364091272056/?format=1000w

TWC Triple Play Image, DR 11/30/14

(18) http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/7362006206_ea7fa6b6f8_z.jpg

Net Neutrality Under Attack Image, DR 11/30/14

(19) http://images.bidnessetc.com/img/f1e5284674fd1e360873c29337ebe2d7-president-obama-supports-net-neutrality-addresses-fcc.jpg

Obama On Net Neutrality

AOL

Posted on by 
By Raven Irabor
AOL Logo

Photo Courtesy Of: Hot Digital News

Location:

770 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
United States
Phone: 1-212-652-6400

Key Executives:

AOL Key Executives(Left to Right)

CEO/Chairman: Timothy M Armstrong

Exec. VP/Chief Financial Officer: Karen E Dykstra

Exec. VP/CEO: AOL Brand Group: Susan M Lyne

Exec. VP/Secretary/Gen. Cnsl: Julie M Jacobs

 

ABOUT AOL

Brief Overview:

AOL Inc is a brand company that focuses on producing original content that connects and engages its audience on a local and global scale.

History:

Originally known as Quantum Computer Services, AOL has been in the business of improving internet service for over 25 years. In 1989, the familiar epigram, “You’ve got mail” was introduced alongside its first instant messaging service. Due to an employee contest, Quantum Computer Services changed its name to AOL (America Online) in 1992. AOL first began expanding its products and services with its homepage that was launched in 1995. Over time AOL has acquired: Mapquest, CompuServe, ICQ, Moviefone, Netscape, AOL/Time Warner merge, Advertising.com, TechCrunch, AOL Huffington Post Media Group, Patch, Gravity, and many other companies. AOL made history in 2005 by becoming the first internet company to win an Emmy. In 2006, America Online officially changed its name to AOL and began offering its services free of charge. [1] [2] AOL Inc. then and now

AOL Inc. then and now [3] [4]

FINANCIALS

Summary:

AOL FISCAL

2013 Fiscal Overview

According to Armstrong, 2013 was AOL’s most successful year in the last decade. In the past year, AOL Inc revenue was $2.32 billion, an increase from $2.192 billion in 2012. This increase was predominately due to its growth in its advertisement business. AOL Inc. was able to come ahead in analysts’ estimated reporting of revenues but not of earnings. In 2013, it earned 43 cents per share while the estimation was 46 cents per share. The fourth quarter of 2013 shows a 13 percent increase of revenue in comparison to 2012’s fourth quarter. Subscription revenue declined by 10 percent, $156.7 million, in the fourth quarter. The anchor on AOL’s success was its newest acquisition, Patch. Due to major cutbacks and layoffs, Patch weighed down the company’s earnings for 2013. With the acquisition of Gravity, AOL is hoping for a better turn out for 2014. [5]  [6]  [7]  [8]

WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON

The leaders at AOL Inc. are constantly looking at the realm of media and figuring out innovative ways to constantly push forward their presence in the industry. In the beginningPATCH of the year, Hale, an investment firm that specializes in distressed business, joined AOL Inc in the holdings of Patch. Patch was acquired by AOL in 2009. Armstrong had high aspirations for this company, but it gave back little financial return. The idea for Patch was that AOL would be able to use it as a platform to create a series of hyper-local news sites, which would then allow AOL to get its hands into local and even national advertisement [9]. Unfortunately, in April AOL agreed to sell its minority holding to Hale as it was not reaping the benefits it had expected [10]. While Patch failed to be AOL’s ticket to advertising revenue, its new project shall be its next venture into further success in the advertising world.

In March AOL announced that they plan to lauONEnch One. One will be an ad system/software that helps companies automate the process of buying and selling advertisements online. According to Armstong, “the move represents a switch in focus from original content to ad technology.” With this expansion, AOL will now be able to reach audiences that its original contest would not have reached. With AOL making $1.6 billion in ad revenue, Armstrong plans on taking full advantage of this new window of opportunity [11].

In a continuum of advertising ventures, AOL also announced in theGRAVITY beginning of the quarter of its acquisition of Gravity. Gravity is a content personalization start up venture. It works with online publishers to offer tailored customized content based on the activity of each visitor. Gravity’s technology will act as a catalyst in all of the areas of AOL Inc. to create more engaging, relevant and valuable experiences for its consumers, advertisers and publisher partners. [12]

Other than advertisements being part of the new wave of media experience, video has become another popular avenue. In April AOL announced its media makeover on its site. In an interview with Maureen Sullivan, president of aol.com, she talks about the AOL SITEoverwhelming increase of video streaming. More and more AOL users are consuming more video based content. This caused for AOL to push more towards video. With content producing partners such as: ESPN, HSN, and Conde Nast, AOL will begin providing its users with more video content related to their previous searches. This will allow users to have a more personalized web experience and also allow advertisers to reach a more direct audience.

AOL has not completely left its focus on producing original content. In April, AOL announced the renewal of its four original web series:

CITY BALLET

city ballet

HARDWIRED 2.0

HARDWIRED

THE FUTURE STARTS HERE

FUTURE

#CANDIDLYNICOLE

NICOLE

These shows have allowed AOL not only to reach the number one spot for premium curated network on the web, but also to give advertisers a whole different platform to reach consumers. AOL’s full slate of new original series for 2014 will be announced at the Digital Content NewFronts on April 29th in Brooklyn, New York [13].

Since its spun off from Time Warner in 2009, AOL has been pressured by shareholders to make moves such as a patent deals. In April, AOL agreed to share and patent licenses to Microsoft Corp (MSFT). This deal has brought AOL to an increase of 43% the day of the closing, the biggest one day increase since 11/25/09. The arrangement, which will give more than 800 patents and related applications to Microsoft, AOL generate additional funds amid slow advertising growth and a decline in dial-up Internet subscribers. [14]

With AOL moving from content producing to a largely advertisement based company, it will be interesting to see how these new ad based ventures benefits the company and contributes to the ever growing world of media.

SOURCES

[1] 25 Years of AOL. April 20, 2014

[2] AOL Overview. April 20, 2014

[3] AOL Then. April 21, 2014

[4] AOL Now. April 21, 2014

[5] AOL’s Q4 Revenue Grows To $679M But Earnings Per Share of $0.43 Fall Short Of Estimates. April 20, 2014

[6] AOL Q3 Beats Estimates On Sales Of $561M But Net Income Weighed Down By $25M Patch Restructuring. April 20, 2014

[7] Setting Its Sights On Content Personalization, AOL To Acquire Gravity For $90.7M. April 20, 2014

[8] Analysis Tools. April 21, 2014

[9] AOL Calls Patch Spin Out A “Pivot”. April 20, 2014

[10] AOL Chief Tim Armstrong’s Pay Drops 46%. April 20, 2014

[11] AOL Chases $32 Billion Market With Automated Ad System. April 20, 2014

[12] AOL Makes It Personal With Agreement to Acquire Gravity. April 19, 2014

[13] AOL Announces Renewal of Four Original Web Series for 2014. April 19, 2014

[14] AOL Jumps After $1.06 Billion Patent Accord With Microsoft. April 20, 2014

Warner Bros. Pictures

Posted on by 
By Ken Kawada

Courtesy of Deadline

Brief Overview

The Warner Brothers Pictures was founded on April 4, 1923, and it is one of the major studios in Hollywood. The studio handles production and distribution of films, and finances or co-finances their films. They collaborate with other studios such as Village Roadshow Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment and RatPac-Dune Entertainment. The studio is known for producing  award winning films such as The Dark Knight, Inception and Argo. [1]

Key Executives

Greg Silverman

Courtesy of Deadline

Silverman is the President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production for Warner Brothers Pictures. Appointed in June 2013, he oversees the studio’s development activities, global production and budget. He also works with the studio’s senior management to seek opportunities for the company. [2]

Steven S. Spira

Courtesy of Variety

Spira is the President, Worldwide Business Affairs for Warner Brothers Pictures. Promoted on January 2004, he is responsible for overseeing the business aspects of the studio’s operations that include development, production and distribution of films. [3]

Sue Kroll

Courtesy of Film Independent

Kroll is the President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Brothers Pictures. She oversees the strategic creation and marketing campaigns for the studio’s international releases. [4]

Recent Releases

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Courtesy of Movie Wallpapers

 

Continuing the success of Peter Jackson’s epic fantasy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Warner Brothers Pictures released its latest sequel on December 2, 2013, just in time for the award season. The film follows the titular character, Bilbo Baggins as he continues his journey with the dwarves to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel of the same name, this anticipated sequel is the second film in the The Hobbit franchise. [5]

The film’s release was the fourth best opening weekend for the month of December, slightly behind the first Hobbit film. On Metacritic, the film received an average review score of 66 out of 100, which indicates generally favorable reviews from critics. Many critics have highlighted the overall improvement from the first film in the series, but still criticized the length. [7]

It has grossed over $950 million at the worldwide box office to this date, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2013. The Desolation of Smaug received 3 nominations at this year’s Academy Awards, including best visual effects.  [6]

The LEGO Movie

Courtesy of Forbes

 

This 3D animated film is this year’s unexpected hit. Starring the voices of Christ Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and Will Arnett, the film tells the story of an ordinary LEGO construction worker, mini-figure who joins a quest to stop an evil tyrant from destroying their world. [8]

The film’s mass appeal to both children and adults contributed to the film’s success at the box office. The studio has already announced a sequel for the film, potentially starting a new franchise for Warner Bros. As of now, the sequel is set to be released in 2017. Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan were hired to pen the script for the sequel, but it is still unknown whether writer/director of the first film, Phil Lord and Chris Miller will return. The plot is also still yet to be determined. [9]

The film received an average review score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating an universal acclaim from critics. The film’s release was the second best opening weekend for the month of February, behind Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Grossing over $400 million to this date on a $60 million budget, the film is projected to continue its success in Blu-Ray and DVD sales. [10] [11]

300: Rise of an Empire

Courtesy of Nerdlocker

 

7 years after the release of their blockbuster film, 300, the studio finally released the long anticipated sequel on March 7 of this year. The film was initially scheduled to be released last August, but due to unknown circumstances, the film was pushed back to March of this year. Based on Frank Miller’s yet to be published graphic novel Xerxes, the film tells a story of Greek general Themistokles, and his charge against the Persian forces led by Xerxes and Artemisia. Zack Synder, who directed the first film in the series, served as the writer and producer for this film. [12]

As of April, the film has grossed over $300 million on a $110 million budget. 67.9% of the total gross comes from the international market. Compared to its predecessors, the film is not as successful, but still on a good track thanks to the international market. On the critic side, the film had a similar average review score with its predecessor, scoring 48 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating mixed or average reviews. Fans of the first film have criticized the storyline, but praised the visual style. [13] [14]

86th Academy Awards

Courtesy of International Business Times

In addition to the financial success for Warner Brothers Pictures, the studio also collected 21 nominations at the 86th Academy Awards, personal best for Warner Brothers. Gravity, which was released last October, tied with American Hustle for most nominations. By the end of the night, Gravity won seven awards, including Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron, who was the first Hispanic director to ever win in the category. Spike Jonze’ Her also received 5 nominations, including Best Picture. The film eventually won Best Writing for an original screenplay. The studio won a total of 10 Oscars by the end of the night. [15]

Financial

In 2013, Warners Brothers Pictures had the most successful theatrical year in company history, taking the number one spot in domestic, international and worldwide box office. The studio cumulated $1.893 billion in domestic box office, and $3.145 in international box office, surpassing the $5 billion mark, which is the first for the studio and only the second time that the feat has been achieved by any studio in Hollywood. Bolstered by the successes of films like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Gravity, and Man of Steel, Warners Brothers was able to beat other major competitors like Disney. [1] [16] [17]

Coming Soon…

Warner Brothers Pictures will be releasing Transcendence, starring Johnny Depp, and directed by cinematographer, Wally Pfister, making his directional debut. Pfister is a usual collaborator of Christopher Nolan, known for The Dark Knight and Inception. As of now, the critical reception has mostly been negative, which can greatly impact the box office result. Hoping to continue their success from last year, they will be releasing more blockbusters as we approach the summer season. Godzilla, Edge of Tomorrow and Jupiter Ascending are other films that are slated to be released later this year. [18]

 

Sources

[1] Warner Bros. Pictures

[2] Greg Silverman

 [3] Steven S. Spira

[4] Sue Kroll

[5] The Hobbit IMDB

[6] The Hobbit Box Office Mojo

[7] The Hobbit Metacritic

[8] The LEGO Movie IMDB

[9] Cinema Blend, The LEGO Movie Sequel 

[10] The LEGO Movie Metacritic

[11] The LEGO Movie Box Office Mojo

[12] 300: Rise of an Empire on IMDB

[13] 300: Rise of an Empire Box Office Mojo

[14] 300: Rise of an Empire Metacritic 

[15] The Hollywood Reporter Oscar Coverage

[16] Warner Bros. Leads Global Market Share

[17] Comingsoon.net Warner Bros. Pictures  2013 Box Office

[18] Deadline Hollywood coverage on WonderCon