‘The Single Dumbest Decision Made By Any Corporation’: HBO Max to Remove Dozens of Shows Starting This Week

  Rassegna Stampa
image_pdfimage_print

Panic ensued when Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max would be merging with streaming platform Discovery+ in Summer 2023, with many fans and viewers speculating that their favorite titles would be scrapped in wake of the changes.

SOPA Images | Getty Images

Now it appears that these fears were not unfounded as a spokesperson for HBO Max confirmed that nearly 36 titles would be removed from HBO Max starting this week.

“As we work toward bringing our content catalogs together under one platform, we will be making changes to the content offering available on both HBO Max and discovery+,” a statement by HBO Max’s obtained by Variety states. “That will include the removal of some content from both platforms.”

So far, 20 of the titles set to be removed are HBO Max originals, including “Generation”, “Summer Camp Island” and “Infinity Train”, all of which are a devastating blow to the platform.

You can see the full list of titles that will be leaving the streaming platform here.

In addition to content leaving the platform, rumors swirled earlier this month that mass layoffs were coming to HBO and HBO Max amid the announcement of the merger with Discovery+ in a panic that was also well-founded.

Earlier this week, an internal company memo viewed by Insider revealed that the company would be letting go around 70 employees, or 14% of the company’s total workforce.

“Unfortunately, the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, and it is up to us to continue to refine our model to chart a course for long term success,” HBO Content Chief Casey Bloys told employees via the memo. “These decisions have been extremely painful to make. We operate in an environment where we must adapt in real-time to industry and company exigencies. None of this lessens the blow of parting ways with such talented, trusted, hardworking, and celebrated teammates. I extend to each of them my deepest appreciation as they transition to their next opportunity.”

The layoffs will affect a multitude of divisions within the company, namely HBO Max’s Unscripted and Reality television department and Max Originals Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals.

A Q2 2022 earnings call on August 4 confirmed that HBO Max would be combining with Discovery+ to create a new platform in an announcement that was highly anticipated.

The new platform has yet to be named and will begin a U.S.-based rollout in Summer 2023, with Latin America and European rollouts to follow in the months after.

“HBO Max has a competitive feature set but has had performance and customer issuesDiscovery+ has best-in-class performance and consumer ratings, but more limited features,” Jean-Briac Perrette, CEO and President of Discovery Streaming & International, said on the company’s earnings call. “Our combined service will focus on delivering the best of both, market-leading features with world-class performance.”

Both HBO Max and Discovery+ will begin the integration process by cross-posting content on each platform. There was no clarification or confirmation on rumored job restructurings or layoffs.

Warner Bros. Discovery reported a $3.42 billion loss in Q2, sending stock plummeting 9% in after-hours trading.

Original story below, published August 4, 2022.

HBO Max has been a fan-favorite streaming service since its inception, cultivating a loyal viewership with original series, exclusive movies, and a catalog of vintage HBO network shows for fans to enjoy over and over again.

But ahead of the company’s first earnings report since it was merged in a $43 billion deal as a part of Warner Bros. Discovery, bad news seems to be looming for the popular streaming platform.

According to multiple sources cited by The Wrap, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to lay off a startling 70% of its business, with expectations that a major restructuring and new business direction will take place specifically for HBO Max and Discovery+.

Sources say that the restructuring will “result in a gutting of HBO Max” including mass layoffs and a rumored merger between HBO Max and Discovery+ into one combined streaming service, which would mean a big cut to scripted original series on HBO Max.

The news comes after several Max Exclusive movies (released and streaming exclusively on HBO Max) were removed over the past few weeks without any announcement or explanation, including “Moonshot,” “Superintelligence,” and “Locked Down.”

This comes in tandem with Warner Bros.’s announcement that the longly-anticipated “Batgirl” movie, which was set to premiere as a Max Original, was axed for what was reported as cost-cutting.

“The decision to not release ‘Batgirl’ reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement at the time of the announcement.

The drama has created a frenzy online, where fans of HBO Max have let their feelings be known.

Ahead of knowing which shows and movies are getting axed, rumors are swirling that a possible shift away from HBO Max originals means those shows could be more likely to be on the chopping block, versus HBO originals.

Popular shows in that category that could be getting the boot include the “Gossip Girl” reboot, “Our Flag Means Death”, “Titans” and “Doom Patrol,” among others.

Max Original “Peacemaker” is safe for now, according to director James Gunn, who assured fans via Twitter that they could “calm down” about a potential cancelation alongside a photo of the show’s Season 2 set.

Warner Bros. Discovery earnings are expected to be reported on Thursday.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/432736