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WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY AND CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCE EARLY RENEWAL AGREEMENT THAT FURTHER REIMAGINES THE FUTURE OF VIDEO

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Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Charter Communications have announced a groundbreaking multi-year distribution partnership that integrates linear video and streaming services. This early renewal agreement aims to evolve the video ecosystem by offering more value and flexibility in video bundles. Key highlights include:

1. Max's ad-supported service will be available to Spectrum's Select customers at no extra charge.
2. The deal includes WBD's linear network portfolio and establishes Max as a 'preferred partner' for Spectrum's DTC offerings.
3. Charter plans full deployment of its DTC distribution to broadband customers in 2025.
4. The partnership aims to provide nearly $60 per month of retail DTC value in Spectrum's bundle proposition.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) e Charter Communications hanno annunciato una partnership di distribuzione innovativa di più anni che integra servizi video lineari e di streaming. Questo accordo di rinnovo anticipato mira a evolvere l'ecosistema video offrendo maggiore valore e flessibilità nei pacchetti video. I punti salienti includono:

1. Il servizio supportato dagli annunci di Max sarà disponibile per i clienti Select di Spectrum senza alcun costo aggiuntivo.
2. L'accordo include il portfolio di reti lineari di WBD e stabilisce Max come 'partner preferito' per le offerte DTC di Spectrum.
3. Charter prevede il pieno dispiegamento della sua distribuzione DTC ai clienti broadband nel 2025.
4. La partnership mira a fornire quasi $60 al mese di valore DTC al dettaglio nella proposta di pacchetto di Spectrum.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) y Charter Communications han anunciado una asociación de distribución innovadora a largo plazo que integra servicios de video lineales y de streaming. Este acuerdo de renovación anticipada busca evolucionar el ecosistema de video al ofrecer más valor y flexibilidad en los paquetes de video. Los puntos clave incluyen:

1. El servicio con anuncios de Max estará disponible para los clientes Select de Spectrum sin costo adicional.
2. El acuerdo incluye el portafolio de redes lineales de WBD y establece a Max como 'socio preferido' para las ofertas DTC de Spectrum.
3. Charter planea el despliegue total de su distribución DTC a clientes de banda ancha en 2025.
4. La asociación busca proporcionar casi $60 al mes en valor DTC al por menor en la propuesta de paquete de Spectrum.

워너 브라더스 디스커버리(WBD)와 차터 커뮤니케이션스(Charter Communications)가 획기적인 다년 분배 파트너십을 발표했습니다. 이 파트너십은 선형 비디오와 스트리밍 서비스를 통합합니다. 이 조기 갱신 계약은 비디오 번들에서 더 많은 가치와 유연성을 제공하기 위해 비디오 생태계를 발전시키는 것을 목표로 합니다. 주요 하이라이트는 다음과 같습니다:

1. 맥스의 광고 지원 서비스가 스펙트럼의 셀렉트 고객에게 추가 비용 없이 제공됩니다.
2. 이 거래에는 WBD의 선형 네트워크 포트폴리오가 포함되며, Max를 스펙트럼의 DTC 오퍼링에 대한 '선호 파트너'로 설정합니다.
3. 차터는 2025년까지 브로드밴드 고객에게 DTC 배급을 전면 배포할 계획입니다.
4. 이 파트너십은 스펙트럼의 패키지 제안에서 월 $60의 소매 DTC 가치를 제공하는 것을 목표로 합니다.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) et Charter Communications ont annoncé un partenariat de distribution révolutionnaire pluriannuel qui intègre des services vidéo linéaires et de streaming. Cet accord de renouvellement anticipé vise à faire évoluer l'écosystème vidéo en offrant plus de valeur et de flexibilité dans les forfaits vidéo. Les points clés incluent :

1. Le service financé par la publicité de Max sera disponible pour les clients Select de Spectrum sans frais supplémentaires.
2. L'accord inclut le portefeuille de réseaux linéaires de WBD et établit Max comme 'partenaire privilégié' pour les offres DTC de Spectrum.
3. Charter prévoit le déploiement complet de sa distribution DTC auprès des clients à large bande en 2025.
4. Le partenariat vise à fournir près de $60 par mois de valeur DTC au détail dans la proposition de forfait de Spectrum.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) und Charter Communications haben eine bahnbrechende mehrjährige VertriebsPartnerschaft angekündigt, die lineare Video- und Streaming-Dienste integriert. Diese vorzeitige Erneuerungsvereinbarung zielt darauf ab, das Video-Ökosystem weiterzuentwickeln, indem mehr Wert und Flexibilität in Video-Paketen angeboten wird. Zu den Hauptpunkten gehören:

1. Der durch Werbung unterstützte Service von Max wird für Spectrum's Select-Kunden ohne zusätzliche Kosten verfügbar sein.
2. Der Deal umfasst das lineare Netzwerkportfolio von WBD und etabliert Max als 'bevorzugten Partner' für Spectrum’s DTC-Angebote.
3. Charter plant die vollständige Einführung der DTC-Verteilung für Breitbandkunden im Jahr 2025.
4. Die Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, nahezu $60 pro Monat an Einzelhandels-DTC-Wert im Bündelangebot von Spectrum bereitzustellen.

Positive
  • Early renewal of distribution agreement, indicating strong partnership
  • Expansion of Max's ad-supported service to millions of Spectrum Select customers
  • Inclusion of Max and Discovery+ in Spectrum TV Select packages at no extra charge
  • Establishment of Max as a 'preferred partner' for Spectrum's DTC offerings
  • Potential for increased revenue through broader distribution of WBD content
Negative
  • Financial terms of the agreement not disclosed, making it difficult to assess the direct impact on WBD's revenue

Insights

This partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Charter Communications represents a significant shift in the media landscape. By integrating linear TV and streaming services, they're adapting to changing viewer habits and creating a more competitive bundle. The inclusion of Max (Ad Lite) and Discovery+ in Spectrum's TV Select packages adds substantial value, potentially reducing churn and attracting new subscribers.

The deal's early renewal, nearly a year ahead of schedule, signals both companies' eagerness to secure their positions in a rapidly evolving market. For WBD, this ensures wider distribution of its content and ad-supported platforms. For Charter, it strengthens its bundle offerings, potentially improving customer retention in an increasingly cord-cutting environment.

This move could pressure other media companies and cable providers to forge similar partnerships, accelerating the convergence of traditional TV and streaming services. Investors should watch for potential impacts on subscriber growth, ARPU and content licensing revenues in upcoming quarters.

This strategic partnership has positive financial implications for both companies. For Warner Bros. Discovery, it secures a stable revenue stream from Charter while expanding the reach of its ad-supported platforms. This could lead to increased advertising revenues and potentially higher subscriber numbers for Max and Discovery+.

For Charter Communications, the enhanced content offering could improve customer retention and potentially attract new subscribers, positively impacting its Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). The addition of $60 per month in retail DTC value to its bundles significantly boosts its competitive position without incurring direct costs.

While financial terms weren't disclosed, the long-term nature of the agreement provides stability for both companies. Investors should monitor future earnings reports for impacts on subscriber growth, content licensing revenues and advertising income. This deal could serve as a template for future industry partnerships, potentially reshaping the economics of content distribution.

This partnership showcases the ongoing convergence of traditional cable and streaming technologies. Charter's plan to fully deploy DTC distribution to broadband customers by 2025 indicates a significant technological shift in how content is delivered. The integration of linear TV, DVR, VOD and streaming services through Xumo's unified search and discovery platform represents a major advancement in user experience.

The agreement's emphasis on ad-supported streaming aligns with industry trends towards hybrid monetization models. This could accelerate the development of more sophisticated ad-tech solutions for targeted advertising across multiple platforms. The partnership also positions both companies to better compete with tech giants entering the streaming space.

Investors should consider the long-term technological implications, including potential investments in infrastructure, content delivery networks and data analytics capabilities. This deal could spark further innovation in how media content is distributed and consumed, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape in the coming years.

Partnership Between Two of the Largest Media and Distribution Companies Combines Linear Video and Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Services for Maximum Customer Value 

NEW YORK and STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 12, 2024  /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD) and Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced a groundbreaking, multi-year distribution partnership that re-imagines the future of video by fully integrating linear video and streaming services. With this early renewal, the agreement further evolves the video ecosystem with more value and flexibility in video bundles, deeper libraries and more choice to better align with customers' current viewing preferences. 

"This innovative partnership with Charter recognizes the value of our linear content and the investments we've made in premium original programming, sports and news, while also significantly expanding the distribution of Max's ad-supported service to Spectrum's millions of Select customers," said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. "We did this agreement together nearly a year early to set a framework for the future and to provide more consumers access to our unparalleled content offering while giving the industry more resilience as it evolves. We are pleased this achieves each of our company's objectives."

Charter, the industry leader in customer package flexibility, hybrid direct-to-consumer (DTC) linear models and soon-to-launch DTC to broadband distribution, has joined forces with WBD, the global leader in premium original programming, film, news and sports. This transformational agreement now provides the premium service of Max (Ad Lite), including all HBO and Max content as well as Discovery+, across all Spectrum TV Select packages at no extra charge to customers, through a mutually beneficial new arrangement between the two companies. The addition of Max and Discovery+ represents a game-changer for Spectrum's bundle proposition, which will offer nearly $60 per month of retail DTC value included when added to Disney+, ESPN+, Paramount+, AMC+, BET+ and Vix.   

"This strategic relationship with WBD further evolves the linear and broadband video distribution model and supports Spectrum's efforts to provide flexible packages, whether through hybrid linear-DTC full video relationships, smaller video packages with DTC add-ons, or a suite of a-la-carte or bundled DTC options for broadband customers," said Chris Winfrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand. "The inclusion of the ad-supported version of Max and Discovery+ in our most popular packages at no additional cost ensures we provide the most value to our customers, particularly when combined with the utility of Xumo, which seamlessly integrates live linear, DVR and VOD, DTC, and SVOD content with unified search and discovery for the best overall customer experience. WBD's creativity and commitment to a healthier video ecosystem further enables us to deliver on our core principles to create value and choice for customers." 

This long-term agreement favorably extends Spectrum's carriage of WBD's linear network portfolio, including TNT, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, TLC, Discovery, TBS, Adult Swim and Investigation Discovery, backed by the largest video distributor serving the biggest media markets. The deal also establishes Max as a "preferred partner" for Spectrum when marketing and selling DTC apps and bundles to broadband subscribers, creating a significant opportunity that will reach Charter's full video and broadband customer base. Spectrum plans for a full deployment of its DTC distribution to broadband customers in 2025, following the 2024 deployment of its DTC inclusion and upgrade offers. Spectrum's DTC distribution plan will include separate pricing, packaging and billing capabilities for DTC video services to broadband customers. 

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.  

About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

About Charter  
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator with services available to more than 57 million homes and businesses in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.

For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise® provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The Company also distributes award-winning news coverage and sports programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.

 

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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.

FAQ

What is the new agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Charter Communications?

The agreement is a multi-year distribution partnership that integrates linear video and streaming services, offering more value and flexibility in video bundles. It includes the addition of Max's ad-supported service to Spectrum's Select customers at no extra charge.

When will Charter (CHTR) fully deploy its DTC distribution to broadband customers?

Charter plans for a full deployment of its DTC distribution to broadband customers in 2025, following the 2024 deployment of its DTC inclusion and upgrade offers.

How much retail DTC value will Spectrum's bundle proposition offer?

The new agreement aims to provide nearly $60 per month of retail DTC value in Spectrum's bundle proposition, including services like Max, Discovery+, Disney+, ESPN+, Paramount+, AMC+, BET+, and Vix.

Which WBD linear networks are included in the agreement with Charter (CHTR)?

The agreement extends Spectrum's carriage of WBD's linear network portfolio, including TNT, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, TLC, Discovery, TBS, Adult Swim, and Investigation Discovery.

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