Warner Bros. Discovery 10-Q 2025-03-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025

OR

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-34177

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(212) 548-5555

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 o

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, a 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. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý

Total number of shares outstanding of each class of the Registrant’s common stock as of April 25, 2025:

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts)

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(unaudited; in millions)

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited; in millions, except par value)

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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 and financial condition. Additional context can also be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Form 10-K”).

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes a differentiated and comprehensive portfolio of content and products across television, film, streaming, interactive gaming, publishing, themed experiences, and consumer products through brands including: Discovery Channel, Max, CNN, DC Studios, TNT Sports, HBO, Food Network, TLC, TBS, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, and others.

We are home to one of the largest collections of owned content in the world with assets and intellectual property across sports, news, lifestyle, and entertainment in most languages and regions of the globe. We create some of the best-in-class content using our renowned library, beloved franchises, and acclaimed creative expertise to serve our audiences and consumers. Our asset mix strongly positions us to execute our key strategies: grow our streaming business globally, enhance our Studios segment, and manage our linear networks for the best possible success in order to create long-term value for our shareholders.

In December 2024, we announced that our board of directors had authorized the Company to implement a new corporate structure designed to enhance our strategic flexibility and create potential opportunities to unlock shareholder value. Under the new corporate structure, the Company will serve as the parent company for two distinct operating divisions: Streaming & Studios and Global Linear Networks. In the first quarter of 2025, we renamed our Direct-to-Consumer reportable segment to Streaming and our Networks reportable segment to Global Linear Networks. There were no changes to our reportable segments or the composition of our reportable segments as a result of these changes. We have included supplemental Streaming & Studios and Global Linear Networks division information and supplemental consolidating data within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

As of March 31, 2025, we classified our operations in three reportable segments:

• Streaming -** Our Streaming segment primarily consists of our premium pay-TV and streaming services.

• 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/streaming 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.

• Global Linear Networks -** Our Global Linear Networks segment primarily consists of our domestic and international television networks.

Our segment presentation is 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.

INDUSTRY TRENDS

Headwinds in the industry, such as continued pressures on linear distribution and declines in linear subscribers and continued softness in the U.S. linear advertising market, have had, and are expected to continue to have, a material impact on the operations and results of the Company, including a negative impact on the results of operations attributed to declines in linear advertising revenue. The increase of digital advertising available in the marketplace has also resulted in, and is expected to continue to result in, increased competition for advertising expenditures for both traditional linear networks and ad-supported tiers in streaming services. In addition, the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government and any retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments, including tariffs directly or indirectly applicable to our industry, may negatively impact our operations and results, including by leading to higher productions costs or decreased spending by advertisers whose expenditures are sensitive to such actions or to general economic conditions.

We continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of industry trends to our business; however, the full effects on our operations and results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Foreign Exchange Impacting Comparability

The impact of exchange rates on our business is an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons of our results. For example, our international revenues are favorably impacted as the U.S. dollar weakens relative to other foreign currencies, and unfavorably impacted as the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to other foreign currencies. We believe the presentation of results on a constant currency basis (“ex-FX”), in addition to results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP provides useful information about our operating performance because the presentation ex-FX excludes the effects of foreign currency volatility and highlights our core operating results. The presentation of results on a constant currency basis should be considered in addition to, but not a substitute for, measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The ex-FX change represents the percentage change on a period-over-period basis adjusted for foreign currency impacts. The ex-FX change is calculated as the difference between the current year amounts translated at a baseline rate, which is a spot rate for each of our currencies determined early in the fiscal year as part of our forecasting process (the “2025 Baseline Rate”), and the prior year amounts translated at the same 2025 Baseline Rate. In addition, consistent with the assumption of a constant currency environment, our ex-FX results exclude the impact of our foreign currency hedging activities, as well as realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Results on a constant currency basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The table below presents our consolidated results of operations (in millions).

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Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about our existing market risk are set forth in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in the 2024 Form 10-K. Our exposures to market risk have not materially changed since December 31, 2024.

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 March 31, 2025. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure 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 ensure 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 March 31, 2025, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, 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.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. 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, government regulations, or intellectual property, as well as disputes and matters involving counterparties to contractual agreements. A determination as to the amount of the accrual required for such contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgment about future events. The Company may not currently be able to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss for certain matters until developments in such matters have provided sufficient information to support an assessment of such loss. In the absence of sufficient information to support an assessment of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, no accrual for such contingencies is made and no loss or range of loss is disclosed. (See Note 15 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.) 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 currently believe that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future consolidated financial position, future results of operations, or cash flows.

Securities Class Action. On November 25, 2024, a securities class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Collura v. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-09027-KPF). The complaint named Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (“WBD”), Gunnar Wiedenfels, and David M. Zaslav as defendants and asserted claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. On February 21, 2025, the court appointed co-lead plaintiffs (Anthony Yuson and Michael Steinberg) and co-lead counsel (Pomerantz LLP and The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.) to represent the putative class. On May 7, 2025, the lead plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint against WBD, Gunnar Wiedenfels, and David M. Zaslav. The First Amended Complaint generally alleges that, between February 23, 2024 and August 7, 2024, defendants made false and misleading statements in SEC filings and other public disclosures relating to WBD’s negotiations with the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) concerning its contractual rights to broadcast the NBA’s content and the potential impact of a failure to renew the contract on its business, in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5, and seeks damages and other relief. The defendants have until July 11, 2025 to answer or move to dismiss.

Consolidated Derivative Action. Between December 20, 2024 and January 14, 2025, four shareholder derivative complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Roy v. Zaslav et al., No. 1:24-cv-09856-AT, Hollin v. Zaslav et al., No. 1:24-cv-09885-AT, KO v. Zaslav et al., No. 1:25-cv-00114-AT, and Herman, III v. Chen et al., No. 1:25-cv-00352-AT). Each complaint names certain current and former directors and officers of WBD as defendants and WBD as nominal defendant, and each complaint seeks damages and other relief. The complaints generally assert claims against the defendants, derivatively on behalf of WBD, for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty based on the same facts alleged in the Collura securities case described above. The complaints assert various common law causes of action, including breach of fiduciary duties, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties, abuse of control, unjust enrichment, gross mismanagement, and waste of corporate assets, as well claims for violations of Sections 14(a), 10(b), and 21D of the Exchange Act. On January 21, 2025, the court consolidated the four actions for all purposes under Case No. 1:24-cv-09856-AT, captioned as In re Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Derivative Litigation (the “Consolidated Derivative Action”). On February 19, 2025, the Court stayed the Consolidated Derivative Action pending resolution of a final decision on all motions to dismiss the operative complaint in the Collura securities action.

District of Delaware Derivative Action. On February 20, 2025, a fifth shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States District Court for Delaware (Harloff v. Zaslav, No. 1:25-cv-00207-JLH). The complaint named certain current and former directors and officers of WBD as defendants and named WBD as nominal defendant. The complaint asserted claims for breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, and gross mismanagement, based on the same facts alleged in the Collura securities case described above in addition to violations of Sections 14(a), 10(b), and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and sought damages and other relief. On March 13, 2025, the court denied the parties’ joint request to stay the proceedings pending resolution of the Collura securities class action and ordered the plaintiff to show cause as to why the case should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim over which the court has original jurisdiction. On March 31, 2025, the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, which the court so-ordered on April 2, 2025.

Investors should carefully review and consider the information regarding certain factors that could materially affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows as set forth under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s 2024 Form 10-K. 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.

Disclosure of Trading Arrangements

Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K requires the Company to disclose whether any director or officer of the Company has adopted or terminated (i) any trading arrangement that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c); and/or (ii) any written trading arrangement that meets the requirements of a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the following activity occurred requiring disclosure under Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K:

Bruce Campbell, Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, adopted a new Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement on March 13, 2025. This trading arrangement has a termination date of March 31, 2026. Under the trading arrangement, up to (i) 139,322 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options expiring on March 1, 2031 and (ii) 300,000 shares of common stock, for an aggregate of 439,322 shares of common stock, are available to be sold by the broker upon reaching pricing targets defined in the trading arrangement. The previously disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement adopted on September 11, 2023 terminated on March 3, 2025 in accordance with its terms.

Gunnar Wiedenfels, Chief Financial Officer, adopted a new Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement on March 4, 2025. This trading arrangement has a termination date of July 10, 2026. Under the trading arrangement, up to (i) 444,420 shares of common stock, (ii) 177,456 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options expiring on March 1, 2030, and (iii) 131,127 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options expiring on March 1, 2031, for an aggregate of 753,003 shares of common stock, are available to be sold by the broker upon reaching pricing targets defined in the trading arrangement. The previously disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement adopted on September 12, 2023 terminated on March 3, 2025 in accordance with its terms.

• Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

† Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the following formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, (v) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.