Major cost-cutting moves continue, with the company reportedly working on HBO and . According to , most of the layoffs are in streaming services.
Layoffs represent about 14% of the workforce at both companies. HBO Max’s nonfiction team is downsizing, which isn’t surprising given the influx of reality and documentary programming from the business-exploring side. Leadership may think it’s redundant for HBO Max to have its own reality division. As pointed out by , children’s programming will also be less of a priority for HBO Max, as the live-action family originals division has been cut.
Despite rumors that many HBO Max originals will be axed as part of budget cuts and changing tactics, according to , which is not the case. The publication noted that the streaming service’s leadership is expanding its lineup of originals, even as the number of nonfiction and live-action family projects has dwindled. No projects were canceled as part of today’s layoffs.
Warner Bros. Discovery recently Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt , listed on HBO Movies of Max Exclusive Movies. The company reportedly put the films on hold for tax cuts.
Additionally, HBO Max’s cast and international team have been downsized. Teams dealing with third-party content acquisitions have also been affected. Meanwhile, other Warner Bros. Discovery divisions are also said to be laying off staff. Engadget has reached out to HBO Max for comment.
WarnerMedia and Discovery form Warner Bros. Discovery. The cost-cutting effort quickly unfolded, with the company announcing it would come just weeks after the streaming service launched. Next year, the company will move to a single platform. It’s unclear what the unified streaming service will be called, although it may retain the HBO Max name, or it could simply be named “Max,” according to a report.
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