Discovery’s Stream Dream: From 20 Million to 22 Million in Just 3 Months! ๐บโจ
TL;DR; Discovery ends 2021 on a high note with a whooping 22 million streaming subscribers. The jump is mainly thanks to Discovery+. The revenue is up, but there are some hits and misses financially. Also, BIG merger news! WarnerMedia might soon be on the Discovery team. ๐ค
Hold onto your remote controls, folks! Discovery, the channel that brought you all those late-night documentaries about sharks and aliens, is now swimming in the digital sea ๐ with a big catch.
They wrapped up 2021 boasting an impressive 22 million streaming subscribers. That’s like adding the entire population of Sri Lanka to their fan club in just a year. ๐ But, where are all these subscribers tuning in from? Well, the big hint is Discovery+. Though they played a little hard to get with the exact numbers. ๐
Money talk ๐ฐ – Fourth quarter turned out quite unpredictable for Discovery. Some Wall Street geniuses predicted earnings of 83 cents per share with $3.12 billion in revenue. But hereโs the gag: Discovery took a swing and… kind of missed? They landed at 8 cents per share, but hey, they brought in $3.187 billion in revenue. That’s like missing the bullseye but still hitting the dartboard. ๐ฏ And while their revenue went up by 10%, expenses did a sneaky +1% and ended at 11%. Can we blame the costs of their upcoming merger with WarnerMedia for that? Maybe. ๐คท
Speaking of which, David Zaslav, the Big Boss at Discovery, is hyped about the merger. And why wouldn’t he be? Combining powers with WarnerMedia sounds like a superhero team-up straight out of a blockbuster. ๐ฆธ๐ฅ Can we expect Batman to star in the next Shark Week?
Zaslav praises 2021 for being an โexceptional yearโ. With global advertising revenues soaring by 10%, almost $4 billion of cold hard cash in the vault, and shining achievements like broadcasting Winter and Summer Olympic Games across Europe, things are looking peachy. ๐
And the highlight of the party? The $43 billion merger with WarnerMedia. Just waiting for a “yea or nay” from Discoveryโs shareholders. The countdown has begun for an investor day on March 11. But here’s the spicy bit: Zaslav will be the captain of this new ship. โ๏ธ
But wait! What’s that? ๐ฐ The U.S. stock market is reopening soon and the stock prices? Discovery closed at $28.21 per share. And for those who really want to dive deep, you can tune into an 8 a.m. ET conference call with Zaslav and the crew.
Disclaimer: This article does not offer investment advice. Always consult with a professional before making any investment decisions.
๐ฅ Hot Take ๐ฅ: In an age where every channel and their grandmother is launching a streaming service, Discoveryโs rising numbers and the WarnerMedia merger could make them a formidable player in the streaming wars. What do you think? Will Discovery become the next binge-watching hotspot? ๐ฟ๐ What shows are you hoping for in this mega merger? Do let us know! ๐