Warner Bros. Discovery 10-K 2022-12-31
Filed 2023-02-24. 23 sections, 656K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
| FORM | 10-K | ||||
| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
OR
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-34177

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 35-2333914 | ||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||
| 230 Park Avenue South | 10003 | ||||||||||
| New York, New York | (Zip Code) | ||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) |
(212) 548-5555
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbols | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
| Series A Common Stock | WBD | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ý | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý
The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the last sales price of such stock, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, which was June 30, 2022, was approximately $32 billion.
Total number of shares outstanding of each class of the Registrant’s common stock as of February 9, 2023 was:
| Series A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | 2,430,029,982 |
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain information required in Item 10 through Item 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our business, marketing and operating strategies, integration of acquired businesses, new service offerings, financial prospects and anticipated sources and uses of capital. Words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “strategy,” “target” and similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like “could,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “will” and “would,” among other terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be accomplished. The following is a list of some, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated:
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potential unknown liabilities, adverse consequences or unforeseen increased expenses associated with the WarnerMedia Business or our efforts to integrate the WarnerMedia Business;
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inherent uncertainties involved in the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of financial forecasts;
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our level of debt, including the significant indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of the WarnerMedia Business, and our future compliance with debt covenants;
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more intense competitive pressure from existing or new competitors in the industries in which we operate;
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reduced spending on domestic and foreign television advertising, due to macroeconomic trends, industry trends or unexpected reductions in our number of subscribers;
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industry trends, including the timing of, and spending on, sports programming, feature film, television and television commercial production;
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market demand for foreign first-run and existing content libraries;
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negative publicity or damage to our brands, reputation or talent;
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uncertainties associated with product and service development and market acceptance, including the development and provision of programming for new television and telecommunications technologies, and the success of our HBO Max and discovery+ streaming products;
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realizing direct-to-consumer subscriber goals;
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general economic and business conditions, including the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and political unrest in the international markets in which we operate;
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the possibility or duration of an industry-wide strike, player lock-outs or other job action affecting a major entertainment industry union, athletes or others involved in the development and production of our sports programming, television programming, feature films and interactive entertainment (e.g., games) who are covered by collective bargaining agreements;
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disagreements with our distributors or other business partners;
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continued consolidation of distribution customers and production studios;
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theft of our content and unauthorized duplication, distribution and exhibition of such content;
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threatened or actual cyber-attacks and cybersecurity breaches; and
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changes in, or failure or inability to comply with, laws and government regulations, including, without limitation, regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and similar authorities internationally and data privacy regulations and adverse outcomes from regulatory proceedings.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which change over time, are based on management’s expectations and assumptions at the time the statements are made and are not guarantees of future results.
These risks have the potential to impact the recoverability of the assets recorded on our balance sheets, including goodwill or other intangibles. Additionally, many of these risks are amplified by and may, in the future, continue to be amplified by the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Management’s expectations and assumptions, and the continued validity of any forward-looking statements we make, cannot be foreseen with certainty and are subject to change due to a broad range of factors affecting the U.S. and global economies and regulatory environment, factors specific to Warner Bros. Discovery and other factors described below under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in our forward-looking statements and from our historical financial results due to the factors discussed in this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or disclosed in our other SEC filings. These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties, and other factors speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto, or any other change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Item 1. Business.
For convenience, the terms “Warner Bros. Discovery”, “WBD”, the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to refer to both Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and collectively to Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.
Merger with the WarnerMedia Business of AT&T
On April 8, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), Discovery, Inc. (“Discovery”) completed its merger (the “Merger”) with the WarnerMedia business (the “WarnerMedia Business”, “WM Business” or “WM”) of AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”) and changed its name to Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. On April 11, 2022, the Company’s shares started trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol WBD.
The Merger was executed through a Reverse Morris Trust type transaction, under which WM was distributed to AT&T’s shareholders via a pro rata distribution, and immediately thereafter, combined with Discovery. (See Note 3 and Note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Prior to the Merger, WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. distributed $40.5 billion to AT&T (subject to working capital and other adjustments) in a combination of cash, debt securities, and WM's retention of certain debt. Discovery transferred purchase consideration of $42.4 billion in equity to AT&T shareholders in the Merger. In August 2022, the Company and AT&T finalized the post-closing working capital settlement process, pursuant to section 1.3 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, which resulted in the Company receiving a $1.2 billion payment from AT&T in the third quarter of 2022 in lieu of adjusting the equity issued as consideration in the Merger. AT&T shareholders received shares of WBD Series A common stock (“WBD common stock”) in the Merger representing 71% of the combined Company and the Company's pre-Merger shareholders continued to own 29% of the combined Company, in each case on a fully diluted basis.
Discovery was deemed to be the accounting acquirer of the WM Business for accounting purposes under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”); therefore, Discovery is considered the Company’s predecessor and the historical financial statements of Discovery prior to April 8, 2022, are reflected in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the Company’s historical financial statements. Accordingly, the financial results of the Company as of and for any periods prior to April 8, 2022 do not include the financial results of the WM Business and current and future results will not be comparable to historical results.
Description of Business
Warner Bros. Discovery is a premier global media and entertainment company that combines the WarnerMedia Business’s premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery’s leading non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses, thus offering audiences a differentiated portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film, streaming and gaming. Some of our iconic brands and franchises include Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, DC, HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, HGTV, Food Network, TNT, TBS, TLC, OWN, Warner Bros. Games, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings.
We are home to a powerful creative engine and one of the largest collections of owned content in the world and have one of the strongest hands in the industry in terms of the completeness and quality of assets and intellectual property across sports, news, lifestyle, and entertainment in virtually every region of the globe and in most languages. Additionally, we serve audiences and consumers around the world with content that informs, entertains, and, when at its best, inspires.
Our asset mix positions us to drive a balanced approach to creating long-term value for shareholders. It represents the full entertainment eco-system, and the ability to serve consumers across the entire spectrum of offerings from domestic and international networks, premium pay-TV, streaming, production and release of feature films and original series, related consumer products and themed experience licensing, and interactive gaming.
We generate revenue from the sale of advertising on our networks and digital platforms (advertising revenue); fees charged to distributors that carry our network brands and programming, including cable, direct-to-home (“DTH”) satellite, telecommunication and digital service providers, as well as through direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) subscription services (distribution revenue); the release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, the licensing of feature films and television programs to various television, subscription video on demand (“SVOD”) and other digital markets, distribution of feature films and television programs in the physical and digital home entertainment market, sales of console games and mobile in-game content, sublicensing of sports rights, and licensing of intellectual property such as characters and brands (content revenue); and other sources such as studio tours and production services (other revenue).
Impact of COVID-19
We continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of our business and geographies; however, the nature and full extent of COVID-19’s effects on our operations and results are not yet known and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. Certain key sources of revenue for the Studios segment, including theatrical revenues, original television productions, studio operations, and themed entertainment, have been adversely impacted by governmentally imposed shutdowns and related labor interruptions and constraints on consumer activity, particularly in the context of public entertainment venues, such as cinemas and theme parks.
Segments
In connection with the Merger, the Company reevaluated and changed its segment presentation during 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we classified our operations in three reportable segments:
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Studios** - Our Studios segment primarily consists of the production and release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, production and initial licensing of television programs to third parties and our networks/DTC services, distribution of our films and television programs to various third party and internal television and streaming services, distribution through the home entertainment market (physical and digital), related consumer products and themed experience licensing, and interactive gaming.
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Networks** - Our Networks segment primarily consists of our domestic and international television networks.
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DTC** - Our DTC segment primarily consists of our premium pay-TV and streaming services.
Our segment presentation aligns with our management structure and the financial information management uses to make decisions about operating matters, such as the allocation of resources and business performance assessments. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. Financial information for our segments and the geographical areas in which we do business is set forth in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 23 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Studios
WBD’s Studios business includes the Warner Bros. Pictures Group (“WBPG”), DC Studios, Warner Bros. Television Group (“WBTVG”), Global Brands and Experiences (“GBE”) (consumer products, themed entertainment, brand licensing, and publisher DC Comics), content licensing, home entertainment, studio operations, and interactive gaming.
WBPG is comprised of Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Warner Animation Group. WBPG partners with inspiring storytellers to create filmed entertainment for a global audience.
The recently launched DC Studios, tasked with developing properties licensed from DC Comics for film and television, continues the tradition of high-quality storytelling for the DC Universe across all audio-visual media, while building a sustainable growth business out of the iconic franchise.
WBTVG consists of Warner Bros. Television, the Company’s flagship television production unit for live-action scripted programming, as well as Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, which produces unscripted and alternative programming through its four production units: Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, Telepictures, Warner Bros. International Television Production and Shed Media. WBTVG also includes Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.
Among the Studios’ content highlights for 2022 are The Batman, Elvis, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Black Adam on the film side and TV titles such as Abbott Elementary, Ted Lasso, The Sandman, The Flight Attendant, Young Sheldon, The Voice, The Bachelor franchise, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and Batwheels.
Beyond its production operations, the Studios segment includes various businesses that facilitate consumer interaction with the intellectual property it creates.
GBE is the global division that drives opportunities for consumers to engage with leading entertainment brands and franchises. Through its strategic franchise development group and global commercial businesses, GBE creates lasting connections to WBD’s iconic characters, talent, and storytelling. GBE operates Global Consumer Products, Themed Entertainment and Brand Licensing, and world-renowned comic and publishing powerhouse DC Comics.
Global distribution of most of WBD’s award-winning content is handled by Content Sales, which provides content for viewers across streaming, cable, satellite and broadcast networks, local television stations, and airlines. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment oversees the global distribution of content through physical goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online, and mobile channels.
The Studios segment also includes Warner Bros. Games, a worldwide publisher, developer, licensor, and distributor of content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile, and PC-based gaming for both internal and third-party game titles. There are currently 11 wholly owned game development studios under the Warner Bros. Games umbrella.
Part of the Worldwide Studio Operations group, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood attract visitors from around the world, giving fans the opportunity to get closer to the entertainment they love. In addition, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter is set to open later in 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, content and other revenues were 94% and 6%, respectively, of total revenues for this segment.
Networks
WBD’s linear network operations include 30 U.S. general entertainment, lifestyle, and news networks, as well as a host of international networks and global and regional sports networks.
General entertainment networks in the U.S. include TNT, cable’s #1 entertainment network; TBS, a top-rated destination for television among young adults; and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), which presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free. WBD’s other entertainment networks include OWN, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and truTV among many others.
Leading the lifestyle category are Magnolia Network, comprised of a collection of inspiring original series curated by Chip and Joanna Gaines featuring some of the U.S.’s most talented names in home and design, food, gardening and the arts; HGTV, with relatable stories, real estate and renovation experts and home transformations; and Food Network, which connects viewers to the power and joy of food. Additional lifestyle networks include Travel Channel, Science Channel, TLC, and Hogar de HGTV among many others.
CNN has been the #1 English-language news brand globally in multiplatform reach since at least 2018. In 2022, CNN had more unique digital visitors than any other news source in the U.S. and globally.
WBD Sports is a global leader in premium sports content across multiple platforms, engaging fans in the U.S. and internationally. WBD Sports’ U.S. portfolio includes the National Basketball Association (“NBA”), Major League Baseball (“MLB”), National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”), National Hockey League (“NHL”), and United States Soccer Federation (“USSF”). WBD Sports Europe features Eurosport, a leading sport destination and the home of the Olympic Games in Europe, as well as the Global Cycling Network (“GCN”), and Global Mountain Bike Network (“GMBN”). In 2022, Eurosport UK combined with BT Sport to create an extensive collection of live sports coverage for fans in the UK and Ireland.
WBD Sports’ owned-and-operated platforms include Bleacher Report, Eurosport.com, House of Highlights, HighlightHER, and a full suite of digital and social brands. TNT Sports is WBD’s sports content brand in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Several regional sports networks, serving fans live sports in select U.S. markets, are also owned and/or operated by WBD Sports in the U.S.
In addition to the global networks described above, we operate networks internationally. TVN operates a portfolio of free-to-air and pay-TV lifestyle, entertainment, and news networks in Poland.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, advertising, distribution, content, and other revenues were 43%, 50%, 6%, and 1%, respectively, of total revenues for this segment.
DTC
WBD’s DTC business includes our streaming services, such as HBO Max and discovery+, and premium pay-TV services, such as HBO. Our streaming services are available on most mobile and connected TV devices. As of December 31, 2022, we had 96.1 million DTC subscribers1.
HBO is one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world, serving iconic, award-winning programming through the HBO linear channels and our DTC streaming platform, HBO Max.
HBO Max is a streaming platform that offers best in class quality entertainment, delivering an array of series, movies, and specials from the iconic brands of HBO, Warner Bros., and DC, as well as third-party series and blockbuster films. The platform launched in the U.S. in May 2020 and introduced a lower priced, advertising-supported tier in June 2021. Currently available in over 60 countries across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, HBO Max began its global rollout launching in markets across Latin America and the Caribbean in the summer of 2021, followed by European launches in the Nordics, Iberia, the Netherlands and Central and Eastern Europe regions.
discovery+ is WBD’s non-fiction, real-life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular passion verticals, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; science, tech, and the environment; and a slate of high-quality documentaries.
HBO Max and discovery+ currently feature both ad-free and ad-lite versions. We expect to rebrand and relaunch the HBO Max product in the U.S. during the first half of 2023 with an expanded content offering, including some of the content available on discovery+. A rollout of this expanded product is expected to follow in Latin America later in the year. European markets are planned to follow in 2024, with additional launches in key Asia-Pacific territories and some new European markets anticipated later in 2024. We expect to have both an ad-lite and an ad-free version of the expanded product in many markets. The company also intends to continue offering the standalone discovery+ service in the U.S. and international markets.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, advertising, distribution, and content revenues are 5%, 88%, and 7%, respectively, of total revenues for this segment.
COMPETITION
Providing content across various distribution platforms is a highly competitive business worldwide. We experience competition for the development and acquisition of content, distribution of our content, sale of commercial time on our networks and viewership. There is competition from other production studios, other television networks, and online-based content providers for the acquisition of content and creative talent such as writers, producers and directors. Our ability to produce and acquire popular content is an important competitive factor for the distribution of our content, attracting viewers and the sale of advertising. Our success in securing popular content and creative talent depends on various factors such as the number of competitors providing content that targets the same genre and audience, the distribution of our content, viewership, and the production, marketing and advertising support we provide.
Our networks compete with other television networks, including broadcast, cable and local, for the distribution of our content and fees charged to cable television operators, DTH satellite service providers, and other distributors that carry our content. Our ability to secure distribution agreements is necessary to ensure the retention of our audiences. Our contractual agreements with distributors are renewed or renegotiated from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Growth in the number of networks distributed, consolidation and other market conditions in the cable and satellite distribution industry, and increased popularity of other platforms may adversely affect our ability to obtain and maintain contractual terms for the distribution of our content that are as favorable as those currently in place. The ability to secure distribution agreements is dependent upon the production, acquisition and packaging of original content, viewership, the marketing and advertising support and incentives provided to distributors, the product offering across a series of networks within a region, and the prices charged for carriage.
1 We define a “DTC Subscription” as:
(i) a retail subscription to discovery+, HBO or HBO Max for which we have recognized subscription revenue, whether directly or through a third party, from a direct-to-consumer platform; (ii) a wholesale subscription to discovery+, HBO, or HBO Max for which we have recognized subscription revenue from a fixed-fee arrangement with a third party and where the individual user has activated their subscription; (iii) a wholesale subscription to discovery+, HBO or HBO Max for which we have recognized subscription revenue on a per subscriber basis; and (iv) users on free trials who convert to a subscription for which we have recognized subscription revenue within the first seven days of the calendar month immediately following the month in which their free trial expires.
We may refer to the aggregate number of DTC Subscriptions as “subscribers.”
The reported number of “subscribers” included herein and the definition of “DTC Subscription” as used herein excludes: (i) individuals who subscribe to DTC products, other than discovery+, HBO and HBO Max, that may be offered by us or by certain joint venture partners or affiliated parties from time to time; (ii) a limited number of international discovery+ subscribers that are part of non-strategic partnerships or short-term arrangements as may be identified by the Company from time to time; (iii) domestic and international Cinemax subscribers, and international basic HBO subscribers; and (iv) users on free trials except for those users on free trial that convert to a DTC Subscription within the first seven days of the next month as noted above.
Our networks and streaming services, which include HBO Max and discovery+ compete for the sale of advertising with other television networks, including broadcast, cable, local networks, and other content distribution outlets for their target audiences and the sale of advertising. Our success in selling advertising is a function of the size and demographics of our audiences, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the audience of each network, the perceived quality of the network and of the particular content, the brand appeal of the network and ratings as determined by third-party research companies, prices charged for advertising and overall advertiser demand in the marketplace.
Our networks and streaming services also compete for their target audiences with all forms of content and other media provided to viewers, including broadcast, cable and local networks, streaming services, pay-per-view and VOD services, online activities and other forms of news, information and media entertainment.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We are one of the world’s leading creators, owners and distributors of intellectual property. Our intellectual property assets include copyrights in films, television programs, software, comic books and mobile apps; trademarks in names, logos and characters; patents or patent applications for inventions related to products and services; websites; and licenses of intellectual property rights of various kinds from third parties. We have made and will continue to make investments in developing technology platforms to support our digital products and DTC offerings, including HBO Max and discovery+, and consider these platforms to be intellectual property assets as well.
We are a global media and entertainment company and the protection of our content and brands is of primary importance. To protect our intellectual property assets, we rely upon a combination of copyright, trademark, patent, unfair competition, and internet/domain name statutes and laws, and contract provisions. However, there can be no assurance of the degree to which these measures will be successful. Moreover, effective intellectual property protection may be either unavailable or limited in certain foreign territories, and new legislative or regulatory initiatives could impact our operations.
We seek to limit unauthorized use of our intellectual property through a combination of approaches. However, the steps taken to prevent the infringement of our intellectual property by unauthorized third parties may not be effective. Piracy, which encompasses the theft of our signals, and the unauthorized use of our intellectual property in the digital environment, continues to present a threat to revenues from products and services based on our intellectual property. Piracy also includes the unauthorized use of our intellectual property on physical goods. We have a team dedicated to disrupting and curbing piracy and other forms of intellectual property infringement and use external vendors to detect and remove infringements. We also engage with intermediaries that facilitate piracy, leverage our membership in a range of industry groups, and initiate enforcement actions, including litigation, to address piracy issues. In general, policing unauthorized use of our products and services and related intellectual property is difficult and costly.
Third parties may challenge the validity or scope of our intellectual property from time to time, and the success of any such challenges could result in the limitation or loss of intellectual property rights. Irrespective of their validity, such claims may also result in substantial costs and diversion of resources which could have an adverse effect on our operations.
REGULATORY MATTERS
Our businesses are subject to and affected by regulations of U.S. federal, state and local government authorities, and our international operations are subject to laws and regulations of the countries and international bodies, such as the E.U., in which we operate. Content networks, such as those owned by us, are regulated in certain limited respects by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), including some regulations that only apply to content networks affiliated with a cable television operator. Other FCC regulations, although imposed on cable television operators and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) operators and other distributors, affect content networks indirectly. The rules, regulations, policies and procedures affecting our businesses are constantly subject to change. These descriptions are summary in nature and describe only the most significant regulations we face; they do not purport to describe all present and proposed laws and regulations affecting our businesses.
Program Access
The Communications Act (the “Act”) and the FCC’s program access rules prevent a satellite-delivered content vendor in which a cable operator has an “attributable” ownership interest from discriminating against unaffiliated multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”), such as cable and DBS operators, in the rates, terms and conditions for the sale or delivery of content networks, on the basis of the non-affiliation. These rules permit the unaffiliated MVPD to initiate a complaint to the FCC against content networks if it believes this rule has been violated.
Program Carriage
The Act and the FCC’s program carriage rules prohibit distributors from favoring their affiliated content networks over unaffiliated, similarly situated content networks in the rates, terms and conditions of carriage agreements between content networks and cable operators or other MVPDs. Recent regulatory changes and court decisions make it more difficult for us to challenge a distributor’s decision to decline to carry one of our content networks or discriminate against one of our content networks.
“Must-Carry”/Retransmission Consent
The Act imposes “must-carry” regulations on cable systems, requiring them to carry the signals of most local broadcast television stations in their market if they elect mandatory carriage. DBS systems are also subject to their own must-carry rules. The FCC’s implementation of “must-carry” obligations requires cable operators and DBS providers to give broadcasters preferential access to channel space and favorable channel positions. This reduces the amount of channel space that is available for carriage of our content networks by cable and DBS operators. The Act also gives broadcasters the choice of opting out of must-carry and invoking the right to retransmission consent, which refers to a broadcaster’s right to require MVPDs, such as cable and satellite operators, to obtain the broadcaster’s consent before distributing the broadcaster’s signal to the MVPDs’ subscribers, often at a substantial cost that reduces the content funds available for independent programmers not affiliated with broadcasters, such as us.
Accessibility, Children’s Advertising Restrictions, Emergency Alerts and CALM Act
Certain of our content networks and some of our IP-delivered video content must provide closed-captioning and audio description of some of their programming and comply with other regulations designed to make our content more accessible to persons with disabilities. The U.S. Congress, the FCC, and the U.S. Department of Justice periodically consider proposals to implement additional accessibility requirements, some of which would increase our obligations substantially. Our content networks intended primarily for children 12 years of age and under must comply with certain limits on the amount and type of permissible advertising, and certain regulations extend to our digital products when they are referenced by web address in our content networks. We may not include emergency alert tones or signals in our content. Commercials embedded in our networks’ television content stream also must adhere to certain standards for ensuring that those commercials are not transmitted at louder volumes than our program material.
Obscenity Restrictions
Network distributors are prohibited from transmitting obscene content, and our distribution agreements generally require us to refrain from including such content on our networks.
Regulation of Digital Services
We operate a variety of free, advertising-based and subscription-based digital products and streaming services providing information and entertainment to consumers in the U.S. and international markets via web, mobile and connected TV platforms. In some cases, those products and services are provided directly to consumers, and in other cases, they can be used and/or purchased through a third-party distributor, such as Xfinity or Hulu. Our digital products and services are subject to federal and state regulation in the U.S. relating to the privacy and security of personal information collected from our users, including laws pertaining to the acquisition of personal information from children under 16. Some examples of these laws include the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the federal Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). Many additional U.S. state and federal regulations impose data security and data breach obligations on the Company. These laws and their public and private enforcement are continually evolving, with several comprehensive U.S. state privacy laws effective in 2023, many more introduced and expected to pass in the coming year, and novel litigation theories related to privacy advancing in the courts. Additional federal and state laws and regulations apply or may be adopted with respect to our digital products and services, covering such issues as data privacy and security, child safety, oversight of user-generated content, advertising, competition, pricing, content, copyrights and trademarks, access by persons with disabilities, distribution, taxation and characteristics and quality of products and services. The scope of regulation may differ depending on how these products and services are used and/or purchased. In addition, the FCC from time to time considers whether some or all digital services should be considered MVPDs and regulated as such.
Intellectual Property Laws and Regulations
Our intellectual property assets are discussed under “Business – Intellectual Property” above. Our content, whether distributed over broadcast, cable, DBS, wireless, or internet-based services, or through other means, is protected under intellectual property law, including copyright, trademark, patent, unfair competition, and internet/domain name statutes and laws and license agreements. Changes to these laws and regulations could either strengthen or weaken our ability to license and protect our content and combat its theft or misuse.
Foreign Laws and Regulations
The foreign jurisdictions in which our products and services are offered have, in varying degrees, laws and regulations governing our businesses, including relating to the production, monetization and distribution of content. By way of example, our digital offerings available to consumers in international jurisdictions are subject to laws and regulations relating to, without limitation, consumer protection, data privacy and security, advertising, competition, intellectual property, and content limitations.
Similar to the U.S., new laws and regulations in international jurisdictions may be adopted with respect to our intellectual property, products and services. In particular, we face increased efforts in international jurisdictions to regulate streaming services, which may constrain our offerings. Further, international laws and regulations around intellectual property could limit our ability to license and protect our content, as well as impose additional burdens on our business.
HUMAN CAPITAL
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately 37,500 employees, including full-time and part-time employees of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and consolidated ventures. Our employees are located in 54 different countries, with 56% located in the U.S. and 44% located outside of the U.S.
We are a talent-driven business, aiming to attract, develop, and motivate top talent throughout our company. To support these objectives, our human resources programs are designed to provide competitive, locally-relevant benefits, performance-based pay, and nonfinancial support and incentives. We also strive to enhance our culture through efforts aimed at making our workplace diverse, engaging and inclusive, and to develop our talent to prepare them for critical roles and leadership positions for the future. We also provide opportunities for our employees to make an impact in their communities through social good initiatives around the world.
Some examples of our human resources programs and initiatives are described below.
Compensation
Our compensation philosophy is to pay for performance, encourage excellence and reward employees who innovate and deliver high-quality results. Our compensation programs are designed to implement our compensation philosophy by:
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paying competitively, across salary grades and geographies;
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applying compensation policies in an internally consistent manner; and
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incentivizing our employees to deliver on our short- and long-term objectives.
Benefits
We provide an array of benefits and programs that support our employees in their personal and professional lives. Highlights include:
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local medical, dental, and vision plans in many countries around the world to support our employees with access to health care, supplementing any state-provided health care;
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on-site wellness centers in our New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and London offices, a fully-equipped fitness center in our New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta offices, and access to virtual fitness classes and wellbeing programs;
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family support programs, including on-site childcare in certain offices, childcare locator services, back-up childcare, maternity/paternity leave, adoption assistance and elder care;
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tools and resources to support the mental wellbeing of our employees and their families, including mental health counselors in our on-site wellness centers and a confidential, dedicated line for employees to contact and speak with a counselor in the event they need mental health support;
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products and services to support employees’ financial wellbeing, including life, accident, and disability insurance plans, discount benefits, financial planning tools, a 401(k) savings plan in the U.S. and retirement/pension plans in over 20 countries, with competitive contributions from the Company for employees at all levels;
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offering an employee stock purchase plan, which allows certain employees globally (where legislation permits) an opportunity to buy WBD common stock at a discounted price through convenient after-tax payroll deductions with no commission charges; and
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flexible working arrangements around the globe to enable our employees to better balance work and personal commitments.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DE&I”)
Our DE&I objective is to seek out diversity, remove barriers, and create space for all to share ideas and be heard. DE&I at WBD is overseen by our Chief Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. We implement our DE&I initiatives and pipeline programs through global, regional and corporate councils that partner with internal and external stakeholders across our brands, business units and regions. We have also established a Creative Diversity Council to address DE&I in our content production businesses. We seek to support our employees through the sponsorship of 16 Business Resource Groups (“BRGs”) globally, comprised of over 40 chapters. BRGs are intended to enable employees with shared pursuits, purpose, identities, and interests to lead, contribute and build community for all.
Learning and Development
Our Global Learning & Development (“L&D”) team provides learning opportunities for employees around the world. The L&D team uses a variety of delivery methods suitable to the content and audience, including live in-person sessions, virtual workshops, webinars, and asynchronous online learning through our global learning management platform. The L&D team also provides tuition reimbursement for eligible courses.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
All of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and all amendments to such filings are available free of charge at the investor relations section of our website, ir.wbd.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our annual report, corporate governance guidelines, code of business ethics, audit committee charter, compensation committee charter, and nominating and corporate governance committee charter are also available on our website. In addition, we will provide a printed copy of any of these documents, free of charge, upon written request to: Investor Relations, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., 230 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003. Additionally, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains quarterly, annual and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including the Company.
We also routinely post on our website news releases, announcements and other statements about our business and results of operations, some of which may contain information that may be deemed to be material to investors. Therefore, we encourage investors to monitor our website and review the information we post there.
The information contained on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference herein.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our securities involves risk. In addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, you should consider the following risk factors before investing in our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe not to be material may also adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Acquisition of the WarnerMedia Business
We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs following the Merger.
On April 8, 2022, we completed the Merger in which we acquired the business, operations and activities that constitute the WarnerMedia Business from AT&T. We incurred significant costs in connection with the signing and closing of the Merger, and expect to continue to incur approximately $1.0 - $1.5 billion of cash costs relating to organization restructuring, facility consolidation activities and other contract termination costs, which costs we believe will be necessary to realize the anticipated cost synergies from the Merger. Additional unanticipated costs may also be incurred in connection with the integration of the legacy business, operations and activities of Discovery prior to the Merger (the “Discovery Business”) and the WarnerMedia Business. No assurances of the timing or amount of synergies able to be captured, or the timing or amount of costs necessary to achieve those synergies, can be provided. Some of the factors affecting the costs associated with the integration phase of the Merger include the resources required in integrating the WarnerMedia Business with the Discovery Business and the length of time during which transition services are provided to us by AT&T. The amount and timing of any such charges could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the results of operations of the WarnerMedia Business following the Merger continue to be below management’s expectations, we may not achieve the increases in revenues and net earnings that management expects as a result of the Merger.
In connection with our comprehensive business and strategic review which commenced following the Merger, we determined that certain WarnerMedia Business budget projections that were made available to us prior to the closing of the Merger varied from what we now view as the WarnerMedia Business’s baseline post-closing. Because we derive a majority of our revenues and net earnings from the WarnerMedia Business, if the results of operations of the WarnerMedia Business continue to be below management’s expectations, we may not achieve the increases in revenue and net earnings expected as a result of the Merger. Significant factors that could negatively impact the results of operations of the WarnerMedia Business, and therefore harm our results of operations, include:
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more intense competitive pressure from existing or new competitors;
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fluctuations in the exchange rates in the jurisdictions in which the WarnerMedia Business operates;
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increases in promotional and operating costs for the WarnerMedia Business;
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a decline in the viewership or consumption of content provided by the WarnerMedia Business; and
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additional material variations in the results of operations of the WarnerMedia Business from expectations or projections of such results of operations, any or all of which may prove to be incorrect or inaccurate.
We may not realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger because of difficulties related to integration, the achievement of such synergies, and other challenges faced by the combined Company.
The Discovery Business and the WarnerMedia Business previously operated independently, and there can be no assurances that our businesses can be combined in a manner that allows for the achievement of any or all anticipated financial or other benefits. If we are not able to successfully integrate the WarnerMedia Business with the Discovery Business, the anticipated benefits of the Merger may not be realized fully, if at all, or may take longer than expected to be realized. Our integration efforts could result in a loss of key Discovery Business or WarnerMedia Business employees, loss of customers, disruption of either or both of the Discovery Business’s or the WarnerMedia Business’s ongoing businesses or unexpected issues, higher than expected costs and an overall post-completion process that takes longer than originally anticipated. Specifically, the following issues, among others, must be addressed in combining the Discovery Business and the WarnerMedia Business in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger:
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integrating the Discovery Business and the WarnerMedia Business in the time frame currently anticipated;
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maintaining existing agreements with customers, distributors, providers, talent and vendors and avoiding delays in entering into new agreements with prospective customers, distributors, providers, talent and vendors;
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integrating the businesses’ administrative, accounting and information technology infrastructure;
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integrating employees and attracting and retaining key personnel, including talent;
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managing the expanded operations of a significantly larger and more complex company, particularly in light of the Discovery Business’s limited prior experience in running a studio or producing scripted content;
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aligning the businesses’ DTC streaming services for global customers; and
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resolving potential unknown liabilities, adverse consequences and unforeseen increased expenses associated with the Merger.
Even if the Discovery Business and the WarnerMedia Business are integrated successfully, the full benefits of the Merger may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame or at all.
Further, following the Merger, the size and complexity of the business of the combined Company increased significantly. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to manage this expanded business, which could pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new, complex operations and associated increased costs. All of these factors could materially adversely affect our stock price, business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our consolidated indebtedness increased substantially following completion of the Merger. We have a significant amount of debt and may incur significant amounts of additional debt, which could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to react to changes in our business.
Our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2022 was approximately $49.3 billion, of which $363 million is current. We had outstanding debt prior to the Merger and upon completion of the Merger, we became responsible for approximately $41.5 billion of additional debt (at par value), including debt that was issued by WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. in connection with its separation from AT&T as well as preexisting debt of the WarnerMedia Business. In addition, we have the ability to draw down on a $6.0 billion revolving credit facility in the ordinary course, which would have the effect of further increasing our debt to the extent drawn. We are also permitted, subject to certain restrictions under our existing debt agreements, to obtain additional long-term debt and working capital lines of credit to meet future financing needs. This would have the effect of further increasing our leverage.
As a result of our increased indebtedness, our corporate or debt-specific credit rating could be downgraded, which may increase our borrowing costs or subject us to more restrictive covenants when we incur new debt in the future, which could reduce profitability and diminish operational flexibility.
Our substantial leverage could have significant negative consequences on our financial condition and results of operations
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
The Company’s headquarters are located in New York City at 230 Park Ave. South. The Company owns and leases approximately 21 million square feet of offices; studios; technical, production and warehouse spaces; communications facilities; and other properties in numerous locations in the U.S. and around the world for its businesses. Each property is considered to be in good condition, adequate for its purpose, and suitably utilized according to the individual nature and requirements of the relevant operations housed within. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2022 with respect to the Company’s principal properties:
| Location | Principal Use | Approximate Square Footage | Type of Ownership; Expiration Date of Lease | |||||||||||||||||
| New York, NY 230 Park Ave South | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 360,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2037. | |||||||||||||||||
| New York, NY 30 Hudson Yards | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 1,500,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2034. | |||||||||||||||||
| Burbank, CA The Warner Bros. Studios | Studios | 2,600,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Leavesden, UK Leavesden Studios | Studios | 1,300,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta, GA 1050 Techwood Dr. | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 1,170,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta, GA One CNN Center | Studios, Networks, & Corporate | 1,150,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2024. | |||||||||||||||||
| Burbank, CA Second Century Tower 1 & 2 | Studios & Corporate | 800,000 | Leased; Tower 1 lease expires in 2037 & Tower 2 lease expires in 2039. |
| Location | Principal Use | Approximate Square Footage | Type of Ownership; Expiration Date of Lease | |||||||||||||||||
| Santiago, Chile Pedro Montt 2354 | Studios & Networks | 610,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Knoxville, TN Knoxville Office & Tech Center | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 344,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Culver City, CA Ivy Station | Networks & DTC | 244,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2036. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warsaw, Poland TVN Warsaw HQ | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 198,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| London, England Warner House | Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 135,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2034. | |||||||||||||||||
| Buenos Aires, Argentina 599 & 533 Defensa St. | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 129,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| London, England Old Street | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 116,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2034. | |||||||||||||||||
| Paris, France LaMiral Zac Forum Seine | Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 116,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2031. | |||||||||||||||||
| Seattle, WA 1099 Stewart Street | DTC | 112,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2025. | |||||||||||||||||
| London, England Chiswick Park, Bldg. 2 | Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 102,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2034. | |||||||||||||||||
| Washington, DC 820 First St. | Studios & Networks | 71,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2031. | |||||||||||||||||
| Auckland, New Zealand 2 & 3 Flower St. | Studios, Networks, DTC, & Corporate | 57,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2025. | |||||||||||||||||
| Sterling, VA 45580 Terminal Dr. | Studios, Networks, & DTC | 54,000 | Owned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Silver Spring, MD 8403 Colesville Rd. | Networks & Corporate | 47,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2030. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tokyo, Japan 1-2-9, Nishi-Shinbashi | Networks & DTC | 47,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2028. | |||||||||||||||||
| Singapore, Singapore 1 Fusionopolis Walk | Networks & DTC | 40,000 | Leased; Lease expires in 2026. |
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, in the normal course of its operations, the Company is subject to various litigation matters and claims, including claims related to employees, stockholders, vendors, other business partners or intellectual property. However, a determination as to the amount of the accrual required for such contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. Although the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty and the impact of the final resolution of these matters on the Company's results of operations in a particular subsequent reporting period is not known, management does not believe that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, future results of operations, or cash flows.
Between September 23, 2022 and October 24, 2022, two purported class action lawsuits (Collinsville Police Pension Board v. Discovery, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-08171; Todorovski v. Discovery, Inc., et a., Case No. 1:22-cv-09125) were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints name Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., Discovery, Inc., David Zaslav, and Gunnar Wiedenfels as defendants. The complaints generally allege that the defendants made false and misleading statements in SEC filings and in certain public statements relating to the Merger, in violation of Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The complaints seek damages and other relief. On November 4, 2022, the court consolidated the Collinsville and Todorovski complaints under case number 1:22-CV-8171, and on December 12, 2022, the court appointed a lead plaintiff and lead counsel. The Company intends to vigorously defend these litigations.
On December 2, 2022, a purported class action and derivative lawsuit (Monroe County Employees’ Retirement System, Plumbers Local Union No. 519 Pension Trust Fund, and Davant Scarborough v. David M. Zaslav, et al., Case No. 2022-1115-JTL) was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Monroe County Action”). The Monroe County Action names certain of the Company’s directors and officers, Advance/Newhouse Partnership and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (collectively, “Advance/Newhouse”), and AT&T as defendants. The Monroe County Action generally alleges that former directors and officers of Discovery and Advance/Newhouse breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Merger, and that AT&T aided and abetted these alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The Monroe County Action seeks damages and other relief.
Also on December 2, 2022, a separate purported class action lawsuit (Bricklayers Pension Fund of Western Pennsylvania v. Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Case No. 2022-1114-JTL) was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Bricklayers Action”). The complaint in the Bricklayers Action names Advance/Newhouse and certain of the Company’s current and former directors as defendants and generally alleges that former directors of Discovery and Advance/Newhouse breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Merger, and that Advance/Newhouse aided and abetted these alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The Bricklayers Action seeks damages and other relief.
On January 11, 2023, the Delaware Court of Chancery consolidated the Monroe County Action and the Bricklayers Action under the caption In re Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Stockholders Litigation, Consolidated Case No. 2022-1114-JTL. The Company intends to vigorously defend these litigations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Executive Officers of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
As of February 24, 2023, the following individuals are the executive officers of the Company.
David M. Zaslav, President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director
Age: 63
Executive Officer since 2007
Mr. Zaslav has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Mr. Zaslav served as Discovery’s President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2007 until April 2022 and a common stock director of Discovery from September 2008 until April 2022.
Gunnar Wiedenfels, Chief Financial Officer
Age: 45
Executive Officer since 2017
Mr. Wiedenfels has served as our Chief Financial Officer since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Mr. Wiedenfels served as Discovery, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from April 2017 until April 2022.
Bruce L. Campbell, Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer
Age: 55
Executive Officer since 2008
Mr. Campbell has served as our Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, he served as Discovery’s Chief Development, Distribution and Legal Officer. Mr. Campbell has served in several senior executive roles at Discovery, including as Chief Distribution Officer from October 2015 to April 2022, Chief Development Officer from August 2010 to April 2022, General Counsel from December 2010 to April 2017, Digital Media Officer from August 2014 to October 2015 and President, Digital Media & Corporate Development from March 2007 to August 2010.
David Leavy, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Age: 53
Executive Officer since 2014
Mr. Leavy has served as our Chief Corporate Affairs Officer since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, he served as Discovery’s Chief Corporate Operating Officer from June 2019 to April 2022 and prior to that, its Chief Corporate Operations and Communications Officer from March 2016 to June 2019. Mr. Leavy has served in several other senior executive roles since joining in March 2000.
Lori Locke, Chief Accounting Officer
Age: 59
Executive Officer since 2019
Ms. Locke has served as our Chief Accounting Officer since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Ms. Locke served as Discovery’s Chief Accounting Officer from June 2019 to April 2022. Prior to joining Discovery, Ms. Locke served as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer for Gannett Co., Inc., a media company, from June 2015 to May 2019.
Jean-Briac Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Games
Age: 51
Executive Officer since 2014
Mr. Perrette has served as our CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, he served as President and CEO of Discovery International (formerly referred to as Discovery Networks International) from June 2016 until April 2022, and served as President of Discovery Networks International from March 2014 to June 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Perrette served as Discovery’s Chief Digital Officer from October 2011 to February 2014.
Adria Alpert Romm, Chief People and Culture Officer
Age: 67
Executive Officer since 2008
Ms. Romm has served as our Chief People and Culture Officer since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Ms. Romm served as Discovery’s Chief People and Culture Officer from April 2019 to April 2022. Prior to that, Ms. Romm served as Discovery’s Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer from March 2014 to March 2019 and Discovery’s Senior Executive Vice President of Human Resources from March 2007 to February 2014.
Savalle C. Sims, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Age: 52
Executive Officer since 2017
Ms. Sims has served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Ms. Sims served as Discovery’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel from April 2017 until April 2022. Prior to that, Ms. Sims served as Discovery’s Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel from December 2014 to April 2017 and Discovery’s Senior Vice President, Litigation and Intellectual Property from August 2011 to December 2014.
Gerhard Zeiler, President, International
Age: 67
Executive Officer since 2022
Mr. Zeiler has served as our President, International since the closing of the Merger on April 8, 2022. Prior to the closing, Mr. Zeiler served as President of WarnerMedia International from August 2020 to April 2022 and prior to that, Chief Revenue Officer of WarnerMedia from March 2019 to August 2020. Mr. Zeiler was President of Turner Broadcasting System International from May 2012 to February 2019.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
WBD common stock is listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “WBD”.
As of February 9, 2023, there were approximately 715,364 record holders of WBD common stock. This amount does not include the number of shareholders whose shares are held of record by banks, brokerage houses or other institutions, but includes each such institution as one shareholder.
We have not paid any cash dividends on WBD common stock and we have no present intention to do so. Payment of cash dividends, if any, will be determined by our board of directors after consideration of our earnings, financial condition and other relevant factors such as our credit facility's restrictions on our ability to declare dividends in certain situations.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total shareholder return, calculated on a dividend-reinvested basis, for (a) WBD common stock (which began trading on April 11, 2022) and Discovery Series A common stock, Series B convertible common stock, and Series C common stock (which ceased trading on April 8, 2022), (b) the Standard and Poor's 500 Stock Index (“S&P 500 Index”), (c) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Media and Entertainment Industry Group Index (“S&P 500 Media & Entertainment Index”), and (d) a peer group of companies (the “Prior Peer Group”) for the five years ended December 31, 2022. The Prior Peer Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company common stock, Paramount Global Class B common stock, Fox Corporation Class A common stock, and AMC Networks Inc. Class A common stock. The graph assumes $100 was invested in each of Discovery Series A common stock, Series B convertible common stock, and Series C common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 500 Media & Entertainment Index, and the stocks of the Prior Peer Group on December 31, 2017, and that $100 was invested in WBD common stock on April 11, 2022, the date on which it began trading. Note that historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance*.* The change from our Prior Peer Group to the S&P 500 Media & Entertainment Index was made to better reflect our business subsequent to the Merger.

NOTE: Peer group indices use beginning of period market capitalization weighting.
NOTE: Index Data: Copyright Standard and Poor’s, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
NOTE: Prepared by Zacks Investment Research, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright 1980-2023.
| December 31, | April 8, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WBD | $ | 100.00 | $ | 38.80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISCA | $ | 100.00 | $ | 110.55 | $ | 146.30 | $ | 134.46 | $ | 105.19 | $ | 109.17 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISCB | $ | 100.00 | $ | 135.08 | $ | 146.21 | $ | 130.65 | $ | 119.96 | $ | 98.59 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISCK | $ | 100.00 | $ | 109.02 | $ | 144.03 | $ | 123.71 | $ | 108.17 | $ | 115.35 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 | $ | 100.00 | $ | 95.62 | $ | 125.72 | $ | 148.85 | $ | 191.58 | $ | 181.13 | $ | 156.88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Media & Entertainment Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 90.25 | $ | 121.08 | $ | 159.27 | $ | 202.18 | $ | 170.27 | $ | 113.40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior Peer Group | $ | 100.00 | $ | 100.13 | $ | 129.45 | $ | 153.94 | $ | 134.50 | $ | 119.40 | $ | 77.93 |
Item 6. [Reserved].
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is a supplement to and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. This section provides additional information regarding our businesses, current developments, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, contractual commitments, critical accounting policies, and estimates that require significant judgment and thus have the most significant potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. This discussion and analysis is intended to better allow investors to view the company from management's perspective.
This section provides an analysis of our financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. A discussion of our results of operations and liquidity for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 can be found under Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed on February 24, 2022, which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our Investor Relations website at ir.wbd.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference herein.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
On April 8, 2022, Discovery, a global media company that provides content across multiple distribution platforms, including linear, free-to-air, and broadcast television, authenticated GO applications, digital distribution arrangements, content licensing arrangements, and DTC subscription products, completed its Merger with the WM Business of AT&T and changed its name from “Discovery, Inc.” to “Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.” On April 11, 2022, our shares started trading on Nasdaq under the trading symbol WBD. (See Note 3 and Note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.)
Warner Bros. Discovery is a premier global media and entertainment company that combines the WarnerMedia Business’s premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery’s leading non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses, thus offering audiences a differentiated portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film, streaming and gaming. Some of our iconic brands and franchises include Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, DC, HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, HGTV, Food Network, TNT, TBS, TLC, OWN, Warner Bros. Games, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings. For a discussion of our global portfolio see our business overview set forth in Item 1, “Business” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In connection with the Merger, we have announced and taken actions to implement projects to achieve cost synergies for the Company. We finalized the framework supporting our ongoing restructuring and transformation initiatives during 2022, which include, among other things, strategic content programming assessments, organization restructuring, facility consolidation activities, and other contract termination costs. We expect that we will incur approximately $4.1 - $5.3 billion in pre-tax restructuring charges. Of the total expected pre-tax restructuring charges, we expect total cash expenditures to be $1.0 - $ 1.5 billion. We incurred $3.8 billion of pre-tax restructuring charges during the year ended December 31, 2022. While our restructuring efforts are ongoing, the restructuring program is expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2024.
In connection with the Merger, we reevaluated and changed our segment presentation and reportable segments during 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we classified our operations in three reportable segments:
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Studios,** consisting primarily of the production and release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, production and initial licensing of television programs to third parties and our networks/DTC services, distribution of our films and television programs to various third party and internal television and streaming services, distribution through the home entertainment market (physical and digital), related consumer products and themed experience licensing, and interactive gaming;
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Networks,** consisting principally of our domestic and international television networks; and
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DTC,** consisting primarily of our premium pay-TV and streaming services.
Our segment presentation was aligned with our management structure and the financial information management uses to make decisions about operating matters, such as the allocation of resources and business performance assessments. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.
During 2022, we exited our operations in Russia and removed all of our channels and services from the market. We do not expect these actions to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
For further discussion of financial information for our segments and the geographical areas in which we do business, our content development activities, and revenues, see our business overview set forth in Item 1, “Business” and Note 23 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Impact of COVID-19
We continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of our business and geographies; however, the nature and full extent of COVID-19’s effects on our operations and results are not yet known and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. Certain key sources of revenue for the Studios segment, including theatrical revenues, original television productions, studio operations, and themed entertainment, have been adversely impacted by governmentally imposed shutdowns and related labor interruptions and constraints on consumer activity, particularly in the context of public entertainment venues, such as cinemas and theme parks.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The discussion below compares our actual and pro forma combined results, as if the Merger occurred on January 1, 2021, for the year ended December 31, 2022 to the year ended December 31, 2021. Management believes reviewing our combined operating results in addition to actual operating results is useful in identifying trends in, or reaching conclusions regarding, the overall operating performance of our businesses. Our Studios, Networks, DTC, Corporate, and inter-segment eliminations information is based on the historical operating results of the respective segments and include, where applicable, adjustments for (i) additional costs of revenues from the fair value step-up of film and television library, (ii) additional amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets, (iii) additional depreciation expense from the fair value of property and equipment, (iv) transaction costs and other one-time non-recurring costs, (v) additional interest expense for borrowings related to the Merger and amortization associated with fair value adjustments of debt assumed, (vi) changes to align accounting policies, (vii) elimination of intercompany activity, and (viii) associated tax-related impacts of adjustments.
Adjustments do not include costs related to integration activities, cost savings or synergies that have been or may be achieved by the combined businesses. Pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what our results would have been had we operated the combined businesses since January 1, 2021 and should not be taken as indicative of the Company’s future consolidated results of operations.
Actual amounts for the year ended December 31, 2022 include results of operations for Discovery for the entire period and
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Our financial position, earnings and cash flows are exposed to market risks and can be affected by, among other things, economic conditions, interest rate changes, foreign currency fluctuations, and changes in the market values of investments. We have established policies, procedures and internal processes governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage our exposure to such risks.
Interest Rates
We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through our actual and potential borrowing activities. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we had access to a $6.0 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility. We had no outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2022. We also have access to a commercial paper program, which had no outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2022. The interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility is based on a floating rate based on the applicable currency of the borrowing plus a margin. The revolving credit facility matures in June 2026, with the option for up to two additional 364-day renewal periods. As of December 31, 2022, we had $44.8 billion of fixed-rate senior notes, at par value.
Our current objectives in managing exposure to interest rate changes are to limit the impact of interest rates on earnings and cash flows. To achieve these objectives, we may enter into derivative instruments, effectively converting fixed rate borrowings to variable rate borrowings indexed to benchmark interest rates in order to reduce the amount of interest paid, or to limit the impact of volatility in interest rates on future issuances of fixed rate debt. (See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.)
As of December 31, 2022, the fair value of our outstanding senior notes, including accrued interest, was $38.0 billion. The fair value of our long-term debt may vary as a result of market conditions and other factors. A change in market interest rates will impact the fair market value of our fixed rate debt. The potential change in fair value of these senior notes from a 100 basis-point increase in quoted interest rates across all maturities, often referred to as a parallel shift in the yield curve, would be a decrease in fair value of approximately $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2022.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
We transact business globally and are subject to risks associated with changing foreign currency exchange rates. Market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows, and future earnings. We operate from hubs in EMEA, Latin America, and Asia, with net earnings reinvested locally and working capital requirements met from existing liquid funds. To the extent such funds are not sufficient to meet working capital requirements, drawdowns in the appropriate local currency are available from intercompany borrowings or from our revolving credit facility. The earnings of certain international operations are expected to be reinvested in those businesses indefinitely.
The functional currency of most of our international subsidiaries is the local currency. We are exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries’ respective functional currencies (“non-functional currency risk”). Such transactions include affiliate and ad sales arrangements, content arrangements, equipment and other vendor purchases, and intercompany transactions. Changes in exchange rates with respect to amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheets related to these items will result in unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses based upon period-end exchange rates. We also record realized foreign currency transaction gains and losses upon settlement of the transactions. Moreover, we will experience fluctuations in our revenues and expenses solely as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
We also are exposed to unfavorable and potentially volatile fluctuations of the U.S. dollar, which is our reporting currency, against the currencies of our operating subsidiaries when their respective financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of equity. Any increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against any foreign functional currency of one of our operating subsidiaries will cause us to experience unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses with respect to amounts already invested in such foreign currencies. Accordingly, we may experience a negative impact on our net income, other comprehensive (loss) income and equity with respect to our holdings solely as a result of changes in foreign currency.
The majority of our foreign currency exposure is tied to Europe and Latin America. We may enter into derivative instruments that change in value as foreign currency exchange rates change to hedge certain exposures associated with affiliate revenue, the cost of producing or acquiring content, certain intercompany transactions, or in connection with forecasted business combinations. These contracts hedge forecasted foreign currency transactions in order to mitigate fluctuations in our earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our objective in managing exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to reduce volatility of earnings and cash flows. Most of our non-functional currency risks related to our revenue, operating expenses and capital expenditures were not hedged as of December 31, 2022. We generally do not hedge against the risk that we may incur non-cash losses upon the translation of the financial statements of our subsidiaries and affiliates into U.S. dollars. (See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.)
Derivatives
We may use derivative financial instruments to modify our exposure to exogenous events and market risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We do not use derivatives unless there is an underlying exposure. While derivatives are used to mitigate cash flow risk and the risk of declines in fair value, they also limit potential economic benefits to our business in the event of positive shifts in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We do not hold or enter into financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. (See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.)
Market Values of Investments and Liabilities
In addition to derivatives, we had investments in entities accounted for as equity method investments, equity investments, and other highly liquid instruments, such as money market funds and mutual funds, that are accounted for at fair value. We also have liabilities, such as deferred compensation, that are accounted for at fair value (See Note 10 and Note 14 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Investments in mutual funds include both fixed- and floating-rate interest earning securities that carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed-rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted by a rise in interest rates, while floating-rate securities may produce less income than predicted if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, our income from such investments may decrease in the future. Liabilities carried at fair value, such as deferred compensation, may experience capital gains that result in increased liabilities and expenses as the capital gains occur. We may enter into derivative financial instruments to hedge the risk of these market value changes. (See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.)
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company’s management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 based on the framework set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its evaluation, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
On April 8, 2022, Discovery completed its Merger with the WM Business. In accordance with the SEC’s guidance that a recently acquired business may be omitted from the scope of management’s assessment for up to one year from the date of acquisition, the Company’s management has excluded the WM Business from its evaluation of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, total assets of the WM Business represented 29% of consolidated total assets of the Company, and total revenues of the WM business represented 66% of total revenues of the Company.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes and schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting is set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended December 31, 2022, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
PART III
Certain information required in Item 10 through Item 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“2023 Proxy Statement”), which shall be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act within 120 days of our fiscal year end.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information regarding our directors, compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, and our Audit Committee, including committee members and its financial expert, will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Delinquent Section 16 Reports,” if applicable, and “Corporate Governance – Board Meetings and Committees – Audit Committee,” respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our executive officers is set forth in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.” as permitted by General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that is applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. Our board of directors approved an updated Code in January 2023 and reviews it regularly. A copy of the Code and any amendments or waivers that would be required to be disclosed under applicable SEC rules are available free of charge at our Investor Relations website at ir.wbd.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference herein. In addition, we will provide a printed copy of the Code, free of charge, upon written request to: Investor Relations, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., 230 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information regarding executive compensation will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation – Executive Compensation Tables,” which are incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding compensation policies and practices as they relate to our risk management, director compensation, and compensation committee interlocks and insider participation will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Other Compensation-Related Matters – Risk Considerations in our Compensation Programs,” “Corporate Governance – Director Compensation,” and “Corporate Governance – Board Meetings and Committees – Compensation Committee,” respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the compensation committee report will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the caption “Executive Compensation – Compensation Committee Report” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the caption “Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management – Principal Stockholders” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management – Directors and Executive Officers,” which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Corporate Governance – Transactions with Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance – Director Independence,” respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Information regarding principal accountant fees and services will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement under the captions “Audit Matters – Audit Firm Fees and Services” and “Audit Matters – Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures,” which are incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1) The following consolidated financial statements of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. are filed as part of Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(2) Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Changes in valuation and qualifying accounts consisted of the following (in millions):
| Beginning of Year | Additions | Other (a) | Deductions | End of Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses(b) | $ | 54 | 165 | — | (96) | $ | 123 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance(c) | $ | 305 | 1,617 | — | (73) | $ | 1,849 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 59 | 21 | — | (26) | $ | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance | $ | 257 | 80 | — | (32) | $ | 305 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 54 | 30 | (2) | (23) | $ | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance | $ | 307 | 51 | — | (101) | $ | 257 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) Amount relates to the impact of the adjustment recorded for adoption of ASU 2016-13. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) Increase in the allowance for credit losses is related to the acquisition of WM in the current year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (c) Additions to the deferred tax valuation allowance include $343 million related to the acquisition of WM in the current year. |
All other financial statement schedules required to be filed pursuant to Item 8 and Item 15(c) of Form 10-K have been omitted as the required information is not applicable, not material, or is set forth in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) The following exhibits are filed or furnished as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601 of SEC Regulation S-K and Item 15(b) of Form 10-K:
| EXHIBITS INDEX | ||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)† | |||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith)† | |||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (filed herewith)† | |||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)† | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
- Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
**Exhibits, schedules and annexes have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K and will be supplementally provided to the SEC upon request.
***Certain provisions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K and will be supplementally provided to the SEC upon request.
****Other instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries may be omitted from Exhibit 4 in accordance with Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K. Copies of any such agreements will be supplementally provided to the SEC upon request.
†Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the following formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, (v) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not Applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC. (Registrant) | ||||||||||||||
| Date: February 24, 2023 | By: | /s/ David M. Zaslav | ||||||||||||
| David M. Zaslav | ||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ David M. Zaslav | President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| David M. Zaslav | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Gunnar Wiedenfels | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Gunnar Wiedenfels | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Lori C. Locke | Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Lori C. Locke | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Robert R. Bennett | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Robert R. Bennett | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Li Haslett Chen | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Li Haslett Chen | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr. | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr. | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Richard W. Fisher | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Richard W. Fisher | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Paul A. Gould | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Paul A. Gould | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Debra L. Lee | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Debra L. Lee | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Dr. John C. Malone | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Dr. John C. Malone | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Fazal Merchant | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Fazal Merchant | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Steven A. Miron | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Steven A. Miron | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Steven O. Newhouse | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Steven O. Newhouse | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Paula A. Price | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Paula A. Price | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Geoffrey Y. Yang | Director | February 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Geoffrey Y. Yang |