The Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max streaming services has increased prices for all its streaming tiers effectively immediately for new customers. Existing customers will see hikes ranging from $1 to $2 a month when their plans renew in November.

Streaming services have been increasing prices in recent years in a bid to boost profits and drive consumers into ad-supported tiers that can be more easily monetized.

Those tactics have boosted profits at Netflix and pushed streaming operations at some companies like Disney into profit but has also increased churn and reduced customer satisfaction in streaming services. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Entertainment Study 2025 released in July of 2025, consumer satisfaction in video streaming stumbled 1% to a score of 78 (on a 100-point scale).

According to that survey, HBO Max remained unchained at 78.

The new prices for HBO Max plans as of October 21 are $10.99 for HBO Max Basic With Ads, up $1, $18.49 a month for HBO Max Standard, up $1.50, and $22.99 a month for HBO Max Premium, up $2.

The higher prices for the ad-free tiers seems designed to drive consumers into ad-supported plans.

Warner Bros. Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav has consistently maintained that the streaming service is "under priced."

NEW YORK—In the run-up to its previously announced plans to separate into two companies in mid-2026, Warner Bros Discovery has released the names of the two new companies and unveiled their executive leadership.

When the company separates next year, the assets that it has referred to as "Streaming & Studios," will be called Warner Bros. That new company will include Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, HBO Max and Warner Bros. Gaming Studios, as well as WBD’s film and television libraries.

The other company, which has been known as “Global Networks” will be named Discovery Global. The new Discovery Global will include worldwide entertainment, sports and news television brands including CNN, TNT Sports in the U.S., Discovery, and top free-to-air channels across Europe, as well as digital products such as the Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report. The properties of Discovery Global deliver content to 1.1 billion unique viewers in 68 local languages across 200 countries and territories, WBD said.

The leadership team at the newly created Warner Bros. will include David Zaslav, currently president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. He will serve as president and CEO; other top executives in the split-off Warner Bros. will be:

• Pam Abdy, co-chair and CEO, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
• Priya Aiyar, chief legal officer.
• Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max.
• Bruce Campbell, chief operating officer.
• Mike De Luca, co-chair and CEO, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
• Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. TV Group.
• Robert Gibbs, chief communications and public affairs officer.
• James Gunn, co-chairman and CEO, DC Studios.
• Lori Locke, chief accounting officer (reporting to the chief financial officer).
• JB Perrette, CEO, president of streaming and games.
• Peter Safran, co-chairman and CEO, DC Studios.
• Avi Saxena, chief technology officer (reporting to Perrette).

"We will proudly continue the more than century-long legacy of Warner Bros. through our commitment to bringing culture-defining stories, characters and entertainment to audiences around the world," said Zaslav. "Over the past several years, we have made important strides across the business, launching and investing in a profitable, global streaming service and reinvigorating our studios to return them again to an industry leading position. With our unmatched portfolio of storytelling IP coupled with our incredible creative partners, and now an executive team of proven, bold, and committed creative and corporate leaders, we are in a strong position to launch and continue to meaningfully grow a company worthy of our storied past."

The leadership team at Discovery Global includes Gunnar Wiedenfels, currently CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery, who will serve as President and CEO. Other top executives include:

• David Duvall, chief technology officer.
• Amy Girdwood, chief people and culture officer.
• Ryan Gould, president, U.S. ad sales GTM (reporting to Zeiler).
• Anil Jhingan, Chief Development Officer
• Kasia Kieli, president and MD, Poland, and CEO, TVN.
• Fernando Medin, president, International.
• Scott Miller, president, distribution (reporting to Zeiler).
• Fulvia Nicoli, executive vice president, content strategy and insights (reporting to Zeiler).
• Brian Rauch, chief accounting officer (reporting to Woodford).
• Luis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO, TNT Sports.
• Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide.
• Sue Underwald, chief legal officer.
• Bobby Voltaggio, president, U.S. ad sales platform monetization (reporting to Zeiler).
• Fraser Woodford, chief financial officer.
• Gerhard Zeiler, president, U.S., U.K. and Germany, Discovery+, and chief content officer.

"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," Wiedenfels said.

Warner Bros. announced that it has begun searches for both the CFO and chief people and culture officer roles.

Discovery Global reported that it is looking to hire a chief communications and public affairs officer.

NEW YORK—Discovery, Inc. has announced the future executive leadership team when the $43 billion merger is closed to create Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

With the deal set to close on Monday April 11, a number of senior WarnerMedia executives left the company in recent days, including WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar. 

The new leadership team will also have a flatter organizational structure with many businesses reporting directly to David Zaslav, the future CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. 

“We are so excited to bring the heritage and legacies of these two great companies together by creating Warner Bros. Discovery, and I am proud that our new executive management team blends world-class leaders from both organizations as we take our first step toward one single cohesive, collaborative culture,” Zaslav said. “Today’s announcement combines a strong team of professional managers in a simpler organizational structure, with fewer layers, more accountability and a singular strategic focus as a global pure-play content company. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves with this team so that, together, we can write this next exciting chapter. These accomplished leaders will create a place where creatives, talent and all of our people in every corner of the globe can do their best work and inspire audiences everywhere with the magic, joy and wonder of world-class storytelling, news and sports.”  

Unless otherwise noted, the members of the new team listed below will report directly to Zaslav: 

• Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer, having held the same role at Discovery, Inc. 
• Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max.   
• Bruce Campbell will assume the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, with responsibility for US advertising sales, distribution revenue and content licensing; global corporate development and strategy; global streaming platform agreements; and the company’s legal affairs. He previously served as Discovery’s Chief Development, Distribution and Legal Officer.   
• Channing Dungey continues as Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group. 
• Toby Emmerich continues as Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, with responsibility for Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC-based films and Warner Bros. Feature Animation. 
• Kathleen Finch will assume a newly created role of Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, a new, consolidated organization comprising the company’s more than 40 US Networks. Nancy Daniels, Chief Content Officer, Discovery Factual Networks, will report to Finch, as will Brett Weitz, General Manager, TBS, TNT and truTV, and Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, on the network side of his responsibilities. Finch will retain oversight for the Discovery Lifestyle Networks.  
• David Leavy will be Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, overseeing key business functions and groups, including corporate relations, global government relations and public policy, corporate marketing, global communications, corporate research, events and social responsibility.  
• Chris Licht will serve as Chairman & CEO of CNN Global, as previously announced.  
• Lori Locke will serve as Chief Accounting Officer, a position she held at Discovery. Locke will report to CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels, whose role was previously announced. 
• JB Perrette, formerly President and CEO, Discovery Streaming and International, will assume the role of CEO and President, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment, with responsibility for HBO Max and discovery+, as well as all direct-to-consumer and gaming around the world. David Haddad, President Warner Bros. Games, will report to Perrette.   
• Savalle Sims will continue as General Counsel, a position she held at Discovery, reporting to Campbell.  
• Gunnar Wiedenfels will continue as Chief Financial Officer, as previously announced. In addition to overseeing finance, he will have oversight of the Company’s global enterprise technical operations as well as real estate and facilities.  
• Gerhard Zeiler will serve as President, International, with responsibility for the Company’s businesses across more than 200+ countries and territories. He has held the same role for WarnerMedia, and now adds responsibility for Discovery’s significant international footprint. With respect to direct-to-consumer and international content distribution strategy, Zeiler and his team will have a dotted line to Perrette.  

Discovery said that the Company will name a new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at a later date. The role will report jointly to the CEO, and Chief People and Culture Officer. 

The company also reported that it was actively searching to fill the role of Chair and CEO for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, reporting to the CEO. Lenny Daniels, President, Turner Sports and Patrick Crumb, President, Regional Sports Networks, will report into this position.

NEW YORK — Discovery and the PGA Tour today announced a strategic alliance aimed at creating a multiplatform home for golf that will present fans around the world with access to exciting moments, players and championships.

“The long-term partnership between the PGA Tour and Discovery will create the new global home of golf, including delivering over 2,000 hours of live content year-round and this prestigious sport’s greatest moments, stories and athletes,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO, of Discovery.

The 12-year relationship, which begins next year, includes multiplatform live rights outside the United States, to all PGA Tour media properties, which account for about 2,000 hours of content per year, according to a joint announcement. Those properties include six tours operating under the PGA Tour umbrella and about 150 tournaments each year, including The Players Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs and the Presidents Cup.

[Read: Discovery to Shut London Playout Hub]

Discovery will spend more than $2 billion over 12 years to license PGA Tour international media rights and build a global OTT platform outside the United States. The alliance also covers linear rights in 220 markets and territories, it said.

“Following our successful first Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Discovery will contribute its strong global distribution and promotional infrastructure, in-market relationships, global sports expertise with direct-to-consumer platforms and brands to create a valuable new long-term home of golf offering in every market outside the U.S.,” said Zaslav.

The alliance will build a dedicated PGA Tour-branded OTT video streaming service, leveraging Discovery’s direct-to-consumer product and platform expertise, to be home to the Eurosport Player.

Discovery also will broadcast the PGA Tour on its pay-TV and free-to-air channels as well as digital and short-form platforms. It will work with PGA Tour to capture access to the action and leverage the non-live and library rights for all media platforms.

“This is an exciting next step for the PGA Tour, which presents a tremendous opportunity to accelerate and expand our media business outside the United States, better service our international broadcast partners, and drive fan growth with a deeply experienced strategic global partner,” said Jay Monahan, commissioner, PGA Tour.

More information is available on the PGA Tour website.

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