He points out that the AT&T deal that formed Warner Bros. Discovery in the first place helped set the template Zaslav and Wiedenfels are following into the future with Streaming & Studios and Global Networks.

Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two separate publicly traded companies – one oriented around the HBO Max streaming service and Warner Bros. studio, and the other around CNN and other television networks.

The moves come after the media giant revealed plans to split its global networks and streaming & studios businesses in mid-2026