Erik Gruenwedel

6 days ago | mediaplaynews.com | Erik Gruenwedel

Paramount Global May 8 reported that it added 1.5 million paid subscribers to its Paramount+ streaming service in the first quarter, ended March 31. The platform ended the fiscal period with 79 million subs globally, up 11% from 71 million subs in the previous year period. The direct-to-consumer streaming business unit narrowed the quarterly operating loss to $109 million on revenue of $2 billion. That compared with an operating loss of $286 million on revenue of $1.88 billion last year.

1 week ago | mediaplaynews.com | Erik Gruenwedel

As U.S. streamers begin to embrace live sports, Warner Bros. Discovery is moving in the opposite direction focusing on exploiting proprietary intellectual property on its Max platform. While the recent NCAA college basketball tournament streamed select games on Max, the platform and sister business TNT Sports is losing the NBA after this season after 35 years.

1 week ago | mediaplaynews.com | Erik Gruenwedel

Warner Bros. Discovery, like most media companies operating subscription streaming services, has begun offering Max subscribers in the U.S. (who share their passwords) the option to add a third-party member for an additional $7.99 monthly fee. The option is available to standalone retail subscribers, with incremental revenue expected to hit the bottom line later this year, according to JB Perrette, CEO of global streaming and games at WBD.

1 week ago | mediaplaynews.com | Erik Gruenwedel

Warner Bros. Pictures may be dominating the domestic box office since April 1, but in the first three months of 2025, the studio saw revenue plummet 18% to $2.14 billion from $2.62 billion in the previous-year period. Adjust pre-tax earnings increased 41% to $259 million from $184 million in the prior year period. Theatrical revenue decreased 27% as a result of lower box office and home entertainment revenue, partially offset by higher intercompany content sales.

1 week ago | mediaplaynews.com | Erik Gruenwedel

Warner Bros. Discovery May 8  announced that it added 5.3 million paid streaming video subscribers across its Max and Discovery+ brands worldwide in the fiscal first quarter, ended March 31. The media giant ended period with 122.3 million subs, up 22.6 million subs from the previous-year period. WBD aims to top 150 million streaming subs globally by the end of 2026.