Warner Bros. Discovery reveals names for split company

After revealing the company would split in two last month, Warner Bros. Discovery have announced what each new entity will be called.

In a press release issued on Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that the “Streaming & Studios” division of the company, which will house assets like the film studio, HBO Max, and the company’s movie and television library, will simply be called Warner Bros. following the split. The other part of the company, which will house Warner Bros. Discovery’s current suite of legacy television assets including TNT Sports, CNN, Discovery, international networks, and the popular Bleacher Report brand, will now be called Discovery Global.

As had been previously reported, current Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who will lead the new Warner Bros. entity, will “significantly reduce his target annual compensation” after the split, per Todd Spangler of Variety. Current Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels, who will head Discovery Global post-split, will see his pay package increase “to reflect his expanded responsibilities.”

With no clear streaming solution, Wiedenfels and Discovery Global will face an uphill battle to retain live sports rights post-split. TNT Sports’ current deals with MLB and the NHL expire in 2028. Of course, the network’s NBA rights expired after last season. That means the network could hypothetically be without any major North American professional sports league in as soon as three years.

However, Wiedenfels remains optimistic. “As we prepare for the launch of Discovery Global, our enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead only grows thanks to our leading portfolio of beloved brands and programming, our worldwide footprint for adults, kids and families, and now the experienced and talented leadership team who will ensure strong operational execution to drive strategic investments and deliver compelling content to global audiences,” he said in a statement.