This Week in Startups $WBD shakeup, streaming earnings, Locket raises $12.5M, Lina Khan/FTC sues Meta | E1526
Aug 5, 2022
The chaos at Warner Bros. Discovery takes center stage, revealing how leadership changes and HBO Max's future are in jeopardy. A deep dive into the merits of streaming versus box office success raises eyebrows about the company's direction. Locket, an intimate social app, secures a hefty $12.5M in funding, sparking conversations on the dynamics of human connections in a tech-driven world. Meanwhile, Lina Khan's FTC lawsuit against Meta adds an intriguing antitrust dimension to the debate about competition in the evolving digital landscape.
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Meeting Zaslav
- Jason Calacanis met David Zaslav, the Discovery CEO, six years ago.
- Calacanis was impressed by Zaslav's commanding presence and forward-thinking vision.
Batgirl's Fate
- Warner Bros. Discovery's canceling of the "Batgirl" film, despite a $90 million investment, raises questions about its quality.
- Test audience scores were average, but other successful films have had similar scores, suggesting other factors.
Zaslav's Strategy
- Zaslav's strategy seems to prioritize cost-cutting and streamlining, potentially merging HBO Max and Discovery Plus.
- He aims to maximize revenue by prioritizing theatrical releases for films, viewing streaming-only releases as less profitable.
