Combined HBO Max and Discovery+ to launch in 2023 as Warner Bros. Discovery rejects AT&T strategy
LA TimesDiscovery gave more details about its plan to combine streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+ into one offering, as the company seeks a more disciplined strategy to succeed in the streaming wars amid wild speculation about its future. At the same time, HBO Max is getting content from “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network starting next month, in a preview of what the combined streaming service could look like. “Batgirl,” starring Leslie Grace, was commissioned while Warner Bros. was under the control of AT&T and led by WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who wanted to use original movies to increase HBO Max’s subscriber count. The company also scrapped an animated “Scoob!” sequel that was planned for HBO Max and unceremoniously removed multiple straight-to-streaming films from the service, including Seth Rogen’s “An American Pickle” and Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches.” The moves sparked much concern among artists worried about the status of their own projects, said talent sources who spoke anonymously to protect relationships. Referring to the tactic of releasing direct-to-streaming films, Zaslav said “we’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it.” Zaslav, one of the highest paid executives in corporate America, is seeking $3 billion in cost savings from the merger and more layoffs are expected as the restructuring of HBO Max continues.