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Warner Bros. Discovery India

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Warner Bros. Discovery India
FormerlyTurner Broadcasting System India (1989–2020)
Warner Media Entertainment Networks India (2020–2022)
Company typeDivision
PredecessorWarnerMedia India (2019-2022)
Discovery India (1995–2022)
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
2022; 2 years ago (2022) (merger with Discovery India)
HeadquartersIndia
Area served
India
Products
ParentWarner Bros. Discovery International

Warner Bros. Discovery India also known as (WBD or WBDI) is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific that operates several television channels in India. The division is responsible for delivering a range of content across various genres, catering to diverse audience interests. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery India manages the Discovery+ streaming service, which offers on-demand access to a variety of programming.[1][2][3]

The company was initially established as two separate entities: Turner International India and Discovery India, both launched in 1995. Following the merger of their parent companies in the United States, these two entities subsequently combined to form Warner Bros. Discovery India, thereby consolidating their operations in the Indian media market.

History

Turner International India (TimeWarner)

In 1995 Turner came to India with the launch of Cartoon Network, the first kids channel in India.

In 2004 the company launched Pogo.[4]

Turner's CNN International only reached the urban population in India. To reach the Indian masses Turner Broadcasting System together with an Indian company, Global Broadcast News (currently TV18 Broadcast Limited), launched the channel in India as CNN-IBN (now known as CNN-News18) on 18 December 2005. The channel was completely run by TV18 Broadcast Limited, which only used the Cable News Network (CNN) brand name.[5]

The company launched WB Channel on 15 March 2009.[6] The channel featured a mix of Hollywood films and (formerly) television dramas from the Warner Bros. Vault.

In 2009 Real TV was launched, Real was a Hindi entertainment channel launched by Turner International India in a 50:50 joint venture with Alva Brothers Entertainment on 2 March 2009 based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The channel ceased all its operations in March 2010 due to low GRPs and minimum viewership. Also, the channel lacked sponsors and new shows since September 2009 and aired re-runs of its former shows.[7][8][9][10][11]

On 8 December 2009, it was announced that Turner Asia Pacific Ventures (a wholly owned subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting System) had acquired a 92% stake in NDTV Imagine Ltd.[12] NDTV's 76 percent stake in NDTV Imagine would be given to Turner for $67 million, and the Time Warner company would acquire fresh equity worth $50 million to get 92% control. NDTV Imagine Ltd. ran NDTV Imagine, NDTV Lumiere and NDTV Imagine Showbiz television channels and film production transfer of shares, amounting to 85.68% of NDTV Imagine Ltd, by NDTV Networks Plc to Turner Asia Pacific Ventures.[13] The three channels will be under Turner General Entertainment Networks, a holding company that will infuse fresh capital to fund the network's growth. The 'NDTV' brand was dropped, and the channels were relabeled Imagine TV, Lumiere Movies and Imagine Showbiz. Imagine Showbiz was sold in January 2011 to Reliance Broadcast Network.

In 2015, the company launched Toonami.[14]

Before the launch of HBO India, HBO Asia tried replicating the premium model in India. But then HBO decided it wasn't commercially viable, so the channel was launched in India and also in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives.[15]

TiimeWarner in collaboration with Eros International launched HBO Defined and HBO Hits across India on 21 February 2013 on Tata Play, Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV. These channels were advertisement-free. Content on both channels included movies as well as most HBO original programming. When the channels launched, the main HBO channel stopped airing the original series.[16]

In 2015, HBO Asia had decided to exit the Indian market and license the channel to Turner International India previously it was handled by Asian feed.[17] The channel was revamped in February 2016 after a survey conducted by the channel team to better suit the masses.[18][19] HBO Defined and HBO Hits would be handled by Star India, however HBO Defined and HBO Hits SD was shut down on 31 December 2015 while HBO Hits HD was replaced by HBO HD on 4 September 2016.[20]

On 15 May Toonami got shutown and Cartoon Network HD+ was launched on 18 May 2018.

WarnerMedia

After AT&T acquired Time Warner in the USA, the company became known as WarnerMedia worldwide.

On October 15, 2020, WarnerMedia announced that HBO and The WB channel would shut down on December 15, 2020. As a result, the HBO channel ceased to be available in India and Pakistan, while The WB channel was discontinued in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives.[21]

HBO India closed down at midnight, with the last movie aired on the SD channel being Mad Max: Fury Road (which completed just one hour before the shutdown), and the last movie on the HD channel being Memoirs of a Geisha.[21]

Warner Bros. Discovery

In July 2022, Discovery Communications and WarnerMedia merged in India. And announced a new team.[22]

In 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery and Viacom18 announced a new multi-year agreement, making JioCinema India's new streaming home of HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros. content.[23]

Units

  • Discovery+
  • Discovery School Super League
  • CNN-News18- A 24-hour English news channel in partnership with GBN (a TV18 company)
  • ZEDO

Warner Bros. Pictures India

Year Film Notes Ref.
2008 Saas Bahu Aur Sensex First Indian movie distributed by Warner Bros. India. [24]
2009 Chandni Chowk to China Hindi movie [25]
2010 Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge Hindi movie [26]
2010 Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Hindi movie [27]
2010 Phas Gaye Re Obama Hindi movie [27]
2010 Utt Pataang Hindi movie [27]

Former Units

  • Media Pro Enterprise India Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with Star Den Media Services Pvt. Ltd. Formed in May 2011, the company distributes the largest channel bouquet covering a total of 65 channels.
  • Real (a 50/50 joint partnership between Turner and Alva Brothers.)
  • Zee Turner Limited, a TV distribution company, in partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises.

Owned channels

Main article: List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India

Operating channels

Warner Bros. Discovery India currently owns and operates 18 TV channels (12 SD, 6 HD) across English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali.

Channel Logo Launched Language(s) Category SD/HD availability Notes Reference
Cartoon Network 1 May 1995 (1995-05-01) English
Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Kannada 		Kids SD & HD (as Cartoon Network HD+) 1st kids channel in India and oldest among other sister channels. [28][29]
Pogo 1 January 2004 (2004-01-01) Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Kannada
Marathi 		SD [30]
Cartoon Network HD+ 18 May 2018 (2018-05-18) Hindi
English
Tamil
Telugu 		HD & SD (as Cartoon Network) Different feed from Cartoon Network. [31]
CNN International 1 January 2000 (2000-01-01) English News SD [32]
Discovery Channel 15 August 1995
5 March 2010 (HD feed) 		Hindi
English
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Kannada
Bengali
Marathi 		Wildlife and Information SD & HD [32][33]
Animal Planet 29, March 1999 (SD Feed)

23, July 2014 (HD feed)

Hindi
English
Tamil 		[34]
TLC October 2004 (SD)

2 June 2014 (HD)

English and Hindi Knowledge and Lifestyle Formerly Discovery Travel & Living [32][35]
Discovery Science January, 2010 SD [32]
Discovery Turbo [32]
Investigation Discovery 1 June 2014 (SD)

31 January 2018 (HD)

General Entertainment Formerly

Discovery Jeet (2018-2019) and Jeet Prime (2019-2020).

[32][36]
Discovery Kids 7 August 2012 (2012-08-07) Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Kannada
Marathi 		Kids [37][38]
Eurosport

6 February 2017 (SD & HD)

English Sports SD & HD Formerly

Dsport.

[32][39]
DTamil 1 April 2003 Tamil Wildlife and Information SD Formerly Discovery12 and Discovery Tamil. [32][40]

Defunct channels

Channel Discontinued Launched Replaced By Language SD/HD availability Category Reference
Real March 2010 (2010-03) 2 March 2009 Hindi SD General Entertainment [41][42]
Imagine Showbiz September 2011 15 August 2008 Music [41][42]
Imagine TV 11 May 2012 21 January 2008 General Entertainment [41][42]
Lumiere Movies 5 July 2012 English and Hindi Movies [43]
HBO Defined 31 December 2015 21 February 2013 English [44]
HBO Hits Hindi and English SD & HD [45]
HBO Hits HD HBO HD [45]
Investigation Discovery 12 February 2018 1 June 2014 Discovery Jeet General Entertainment [46]
Toonami 15 May 2018 26 February 2015 Cartoon Network HD+ SD Kids [47]
Jeet Prime 13 January 2020 12 February 2018 Investigation Discovery SD & HD General Entertainment [48]
WB Channel 15 December 2020 15 March 2009 English SD Movies [49]
HBO 22 March 2000 SD & HD [49]

References

  1. ^ "HBO Max and Discovery+ to Merge as Streaming Platform 'Max': Report". Gadgets 360. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  2. ^ www.ETTelecom.com. "WarnerMedia, Discovery complete merger, become Warner Bros Discovery - ET Telecom". ETTelecom.com. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. ^ "What the WarnerMedia-Discovery deal means for India". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Turner International India to launch 24-hour kids' channel, POGO". afaqs!. 25 November 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ "IBNLive, CNN-IBN | PreventionWeb". www.preventionweb.net. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Turner And Warner Bros. Entertainment To Entertain India With The Launch Of A New Channel: WB". www.warnerbros.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ^ Sangeeta, Talwar (16 February 2010). "What keeps 9X and Real up and running?". afaqs. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  8. ^ Turner launches Hindi GEC via local JV Real shutters within a year. Television post. 2 September 2013.
  9. ^ Imagine TV to shut down as viewership declines. Livemint. Shuchi Bansal. April 2012.
  10. ^ Second Time Unlucky. The Hoot. 19 April 2012.
  11. ^ Imagine is not Real: Steve Marcopoto, Turner Broadcasting. Exchange4Media. Noor Fathima Warsia. Monday, 9 May 2011
  12. ^ "Turner buys 92% stake in NDTV Imagine". Biz Asia. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Turner completes acquisition, NDTV Imagine becomes Imagine TV". Indian Television. 24 February 2010.
  14. ^ Writer, A. Staff (26 February 2015). "Turner launches children's channel Toonami in India". mint. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  15. ^ OSBORNE, MAGZ (21 August 2000). "HBO Asia May Expand Ad-Supported Approach". Multichannel. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  16. ^ "HBO Defined and HBO Hits go on-air". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  17. ^ Kohli-Khandekar, Vanita (19 December 2014). "Is HBO giving up on its India market?". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  18. ^ "HBO India gets branding, packaging revamp". afaqs!. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  19. ^ Malvania, Urvi (24 February 2016). "HBO moves from niche to mass". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  20. ^ "#Experience The Magic with HBO HD!". Turner. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Popular English film channels HBO and WB to be discontinued in India; find out why". DNA India. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Arjun Nohwar named General Manager India of Warner Bros. Discovery, Megha Tata to move out - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Warner Bros. Discovery and Viacom18 announce exclusive content partnership for India". afaqs!. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  24. ^ "WarnerBros.com | Warner Bros. Pictures India Enters Into An Exclusive Three Film Pact With People Tree Films | Press Releases". www.warnerbros.com. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  25. ^ Shackleton2007-08-22T06:21:00+01:00, Liz. "Warner Bros enters Hindi-language film production". Screen. Retrieved 3 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Nayar, Ravi (14 June 2018). "4 famous Hollywood studios that've collaborated with Indian Film Production Houses". Medium. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  27. ^ a b c "6 Hollywood Production Houses That Have Come To Bollywood". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Cartoon Network - How has Cartoon Network been able to run successfully in the Indian Television - Studocu". Studocu. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Warner Bros. Discovery DTH Entertainment Pack @ Rs. 15/- | Cartoon Network India". Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Turner International India to launch 24-hour kids' channel, POGO". afaqs!. 25 November 2003.
  31. ^ "Cartoon Network HD+ launched in India".
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h Warner Bros Discovery Network | Buy @₹15/month | Contact your Cable/DTH Operator Now!, retrieved 7 August 2023
  33. ^ "Discovery Channel to complete 20 Years in India". 2015.
  34. ^ Warner Bros. Discovery Channels | Entertainment Pack at Only Rs. 15/Month | Animal Planet India, retrieved 7 August 2023
  35. ^ "TLC to replace Discovery Travel and Living from 1 September". Indian Television Dot Com. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Investigation Discovery launched in India". Business Standard.
  37. ^ Warner Bros Discovery Network | Buy @₹15/month | Contact your Cable/DTH Operator Now!, retrieved 7 August 2023
  38. ^ Choudhary, Vidhi (31 July 2012). "Discovery Networks launches Discovery Kids in India". mint. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  39. ^ Arasu, Basil Kannagi (17 March 2020). "MIB permits Discovery Communications India to launch Eurosport in India; renames DSport & DSport HD to Eurosport & Eurosport HD". dreamdth.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Discovery Networks goes full throttle; launches Discovery Channel Tamil". afaqs!. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  41. ^ a b c "Real reviewsbiz plan, downsizes ops". ITV Team. Indian Television.com. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  42. ^ a b c "Turner shuts down Imagine TV". Rediff team. Rediff. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Lumiere Movies to shutdown".
  44. ^ "Experience the magic with HBO HD!". Turner. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  45. ^ a b "Experience the magic with HBO HD!". Turner. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  46. ^ Bansal, Shuchi (22 December 2017). "Karan Bajaj: A winning discovery". mint. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  47. ^ Bureau, Adgully (20 April 2018). "Curtains down on Turner India's kids' channel Toonami from May 15". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  48. ^ "Jeet had reached 140 million on launch day". [dead link‍]
  49. ^ a b "Popular English film channels HBO and WB to be discontinued in India; find out why". DNA India. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
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