:Warner Bros. Discovery India
{{Short description|Division of Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Warner Bros. Discovery India
| logo = Warner Bros. Discovery.svg
| former_name = Turner Broadcasting System India (1989–2020)
Warner Media Entertainment Networks India (2020–2022)
| trade_name =
| type = Division
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor = WarnerMedia India (2019-2022)
Discovery India (1995–2022)
| successor =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995}}
{{start date and age|2022}} {{small|(merger with Discovery India)}}
| location = India
| key_people =
| area_served = India
| products = {{Ubl|Broadcasting|cable television|video streaming}}
| owner =
| parent = Warner Bros. Discovery International
| divisions =
| subsid =
}}
Warner Bros. Discovery India also known as (WBD or WBDI) is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific that operates several television channels in India. The division is responsible for delivering a range of content across various genres, catering to diverse audience interests. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery India manages the Discovery+ streaming service, which offers on-demand access to a variety of programming.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=HBO Max and Discovery+ to Merge as Streaming Platform ‘Max’: Report |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/hbo-max-discovery-plus-bundle-platform-merger-streaming-service-new-name-tiers-david-zaslav-warner-bros-3940807 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Gadgets 360 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=www.ETTelecom.com |title=WarnerMedia, Discovery complete merger, become Warner Bros Discovery - ET Telecom |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/warnermedia-discovery-complete-merger-become-warner-bros-discovery/90738281 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=ETTelecom.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=What the WarnerMedia-Discovery deal means for India |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/amp/media-others-news/what-the-warnermedia-discovery-deal-means-for-india-113035.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media}}
The company was initially established as two separate entities: Turner International India and Discovery India, both launched in 1995. Following the merger of their parent companies in the United States, these two entities subsequently combined to form Warner Bros. Discovery India, thereby consolidating their operations in the Indian media market.
History
=Turner International India (TimeWarner)=
In 1995 Turner came to India with the launch of Cartoon Network, the first kids channel in India.
In 2004 the company launched Pogo.{{Cite web |date=2003-11-25 |title=Turner International India to launch 24-hour kids' channel, POGO |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/media/7709_turner-international-india-to-launch-24-hour-kids-channel-pogo |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=afaqs!}}
Turner's CNN International only reached the urban population in India. To reach the Indian masses Turner Broadcasting System together with an Indian company, Global Broadcast News (currently TV18 Broadcast Limited), launched the channel in India as CNN-IBN (now known as CNN-News18) on 18 December 2005. The channel was completely run by TV18 Broadcast Limited, which only used the Cable News Network (CNN) brand name.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-27 |title=IBNLive, CNN-IBN {{!}} PreventionWeb |url=https://www.preventionweb.net/organization/ibnlive-cnn-ibn |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=www.preventionweb.net |language=en}}
The company launched WB Channel on 15 March 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/turner-and-warner-bros-entertainment-entertain-india-launch-new-channel-wb|title=Turner And Warner Bros. Entertainment To Entertain India With The Launch Of A New Channel: WB|website=www.warnerbros.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-19|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051556/https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/turner-and-warner-bros-entertainment-entertain-india-launch-new-channel-wb|url-status=live}} The channel featured a mix of Hollywood films and (formerly) television dramas from the Warner Bros. Vault.
In 2009 Real TV was launched, Real was a Hindi entertainment channel launched by Turner International India in a 50:50 joint venture with Alva Brothers Entertainment on 2 March 2009 based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The channel ceased all its operations in March 2010 due to low GRPs and minimum viewership. Also, the channel lacked sponsors and new shows since September 2009 and aired re-runs of its former shows.{{cite web | url=http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/26282_What-keeps-9X-and-Real-up-and-running | title=What keeps 9X and Real up and running? | publisher=afaqs | date=16 February 2010 | accessdate=17 December 2015 | last=Sangeeta | first=Talwar}}[http://www.televisionpost.com/television/turner-launches-hindi-gec-via-local-jv-real-shutters-within-a-year/ Turner launches Hindi GEC via local JV Real shutters within a year]. Television post. 2 September 2013.[http://www.livemint.com/Companies/DuR1lCt4VGJmPOOz1qNwzN/Imagine-TV-to-shut-down-as-viewership-declines.html Imagine TV to shut down as viewership declines]. Livemint. Shuchi Bansal. April 2012.[http://www.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-business/-second-time-unlucky-5870 Second Time Unlucky]. The Hoot. 19 April 2012.[http://www.exchange4media.com/tv/imagine-is-not-realsteve-marcopoto-turner-broadcasting_42051.html Imagine is not Real: Steve Marcopoto, Turner Broadcasting]. Exchange4Media. Noor Fathima Warsia. Monday, 9 May 2011
On 8 December 2009, it was announced that Turner Asia Pacific Ventures (a wholly owned subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting System) had acquired a 92% stake in NDTV Imagine Ltd.{{cite web|url=http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/turner-buys-92-stake-in-ndtv-imagine|title=Turner buys 92% stake in NDTV Imagine|publisher=Biz Asia|date=2009-12-08|access-date=1 June 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905020726/http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/turner-buys-92-stake-in-ndtv-imagine|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=dead}} NDTV's 76 percent stake in NDTV Imagine would be given to Turner for $67 million, and the Time Warner company would acquire fresh equity worth $50 million to get 92% control. NDTV Imagine Ltd. ran NDTV Imagine, NDTV Lumiere and NDTV Imagine Showbiz television channels and film production transfer of shares, amounting to 85.68% of NDTV Imagine Ltd, by NDTV Networks Plc to Turner Asia Pacific Ventures.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/feb/feb179.php|title=Turner completes acquisition, NDTV Imagine becomes Imagine TV|publisher=Indian Television|date=2010-02-24}} The three channels will be under Turner General Entertainment Networks, a holding company that will infuse fresh capital to fund the network's growth. The 'NDTV' brand was dropped, and the channels were relabeled Imagine TV, Lumiere Movies and Imagine Showbiz. Imagine Showbiz was sold in January 2011 to Reliance Broadcast Network.
In 2015, the company launched Toonami.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=A. Staff |date=2015-02-26 |title=Turner launches children’s channel Toonami in India |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/i263bbKgSwGKfuWhBu97iP/Turner-launches-childrens-channel-Toonami-in-India.html |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=mint |language=en}}
Before the launch of HBO India, HBO Asia tried replicating the premium model in India. But then HBO decided it wasn't commercially viable, so the channel was launched in India and also in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/hbo-asia-may-expand-ad-supported-approach-156487|title=HBO Asia May Expand Ad-Supported Approach|last=Osborne|first=Magz|website=Multichannel|date=21 August 2000|language=en-us|access-date=2019-12-22|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222095549/https://www.multichannel.com/news/hbo-asia-may-expand-ad-supported-approach-156487|url-status=live}}
TiimeWarner in collaboration with Eros International launched HBO Defined and HBO Hits across India on 21 February 2013 on Tata Play, Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV. These channels were advertisement-free. Content on both channels included movies as well as most HBO original programming. When the channels launched, the main HBO channel stopped airing the original series.{{Cite news|url=http://www.exchange4media.com/IndustryBriefing/HBO-Defined-and-HBO-Hits-go-on-air_49965.html|title=HBO Defined and HBO Hits go on-air|work=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media|access-date=2018-01-23|language=en-US|archive-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070802/http://www.exchange4media.com/IndustryBriefing/HBO-Defined-and-HBO-Hits-go-on-air_49965.html|url-status=live}}
In 2015, HBO Asia had decided to exit the Indian market and license the channel to Turner International India previously it was handled by Asian feed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/is-hbo-giving-up-on-its-india-market-114121900008_1.html|title=Is HBO giving up on its India market?|last=Kohli-Khandekar|first=Vanita|date=2014-12-19|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-12-22|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222095544/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/is-hbo-giving-up-on-its-india-market-114121900008_1.html|url-status=live}} The channel was revamped in February 2016 after a survey conducted by the channel team to better suit the masses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/media/47116_hbo-india-gets-branding-packaging-revamp|title=HBO India gets branding, packaging revamp|website=afaqs!|access-date=2019-12-22|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222095547/https://www.afaqs.com/news/media/47116_hbo-india-gets-branding-packaging-revamp|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Malvania|first=Urvi|date=2016-02-24|title=HBO moves from niche to mass|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/management/hbo-moves-from-niche-to-mass-116022401099_1.html|access-date=2020-12-17|archive-date=4 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704063654/https://www.business-standard.com/article/management/hbo-moves-from-niche-to-mass-116022401099_1.html|url-status=live}} HBO Defined and HBO Hits would be handled by Star India, however HBO Defined and HBO Hits SD was shut down on 31 December 2015 while HBO Hits HD was replaced by HBO HD on 4 September 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.turner.com/pressroom/experience-magic-hbo-hd|title=#Experience The Magic with HBO HD!|date=2016-09-06|work=Turner|access-date=2018-01-23|language=en|archive-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070717/http://www.turner.com/pressroom/experience-magic-hbo-hd|url-status=live}}
On 15 May Toonami got shutown and Cartoon Network HD+ was launched on 18 May 2018.
= WarnerMedia =
After AT&T acquired Time Warner in the USA, the company became known as WarnerMedia worldwide.
On October 15, 2020, WarnerMedia announced that HBO and The WB channel would shut down on December 15, 2020. As a result, the HBO channel ceased to be available in India and Pakistan, while The WB channel was discontinued in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives.
HBO India closed down at midnight, with the last movie aired on the SD channel being Mad Max: Fury Road (which completed just one hour before the shutdown), and the last movie on the HD channel being Memoirs of a Geisha.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-18|title=Popular English film channels HBO and WB to be discontinued in India; find out why|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/television/report-popular-english-film-channels-hbo-and-wb-to-be-discontinued-in-india-find-out-why-2850660|access-date=2020-12-16|website=DNA India|language=en|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128171225/https://www.dnaindia.com/television/report-popular-english-film-channels-hbo-and-wb-to-be-discontinued-in-india-find-out-why-2850660|url-status=live}}
=Warner Bros. Discovery=
In July 2022, Discovery Communications and WarnerMedia merged in India. And announced a new team.{{Cite web |title=Arjun Nohwar named General Manager India of Warner Bros. Discovery, Megha Tata to move out - Exchange4media |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/people-movement-news/megha-tata-to-move-out-of-warner-bros-discovery-120726.html |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media |language=en}}
In 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery and Viacom18 announced a new multi-year agreement, making JioCinema India's new streaming home of HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros. content.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery and Viacom18 announce exclusive content partnership for India |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/media/warner-bros-discovery-and-viacom18-announce-exclusive-content-partnership-for-india |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=afaqs!}}
Units
- Discovery+
- Discovery School Super League
- CNN-News18- A 24-hour English news channel in partnership with GBN (a TV18 company)
- ZEDO
= Warner Bros. Pictures India =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Notes ! scope="col" | Ref. |
|---|
| 2008
|First Indian movie distributed by Warner Bros. India. |
| 2009
|Hindi movie |
| 2010
|Hindi movie |
| 2010
|Hindi movie |
| 2010
|Hindi movie |
| 2010
|Hindi movie |
=Former Units=
- Media Pro Enterprise India Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with Star Den Media Services Pvt. Ltd. Formed in May 2011, the company distributes the largest channel bouquet covering a total of 65 channels.
- Real (a 50/50 joint partnership between Turner and Alva Brothers.)
- Zee Turner Limited, a TV distribution company, in partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
Owned channels
{{main|List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India}}
=Operating channels=
{{#Section-h:List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India|Operating channels}}
=Defunct channels=
{{#Section-h:List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India|Defunct channels}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific}}
{{Warner Bros. Discovery}}
Category:Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific
Category:Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiaries
Category:Mass media companies of Singapore
Category:Mass media companies established in 1989
Category:Mass media companies established in 1994
Category:Television broadcasting companies of India
Category:Mass media companies of India