The union of HBO Max and Discovery+ is already causing pain from layoffs, and now the move is affecting some shows. Warner Bros. Discovery has: confirmed until Variety that it will remove 36 titles from HBO Max this week as it prepares to merge the Discovery+ platform. Most productions are not big, but they do contain recognizable HBO work such as the Sesame Street spin-off The Not Too Late Show with Elmo and the Peter Dinklage movie My dinner with Hervé. A handful of Cartoon Network shows are leaving.
In a statement, HBO Max said content would disappear from both services as it worked to bring the media libraries “together under one platform.” The provider hasn’t expanded its reasoning, though Variety noted that pulling the shows completely (rather than canceling future seasons) would help HBO Max avoid paying more royalties. Warner Bros. Discovery said it would find $3 billion in savings as part of the company merger.
As you might imagine, at least some affected producers aren’t happy – this not only cuts income, but can also prevent people from seeing their work unless it finds another home. Summer Camp Island creator Julia Pott noted that some episodes created during the pandemic will never see the light of day. Warner Bros. Discovery has “no respect for artists,” she said.
The combination of HBO Max and Discovery+ is expected to launch in the summer of 2023. While it’s not clear whether Warner Bros. Discovery will drop more shows or otherwise cut costs, this last step won’t be reassuring if you were hoping your favorite series would make it. the jump to unified service.
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