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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Business
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (“Warner Bros. Discovery”, “WBD”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) 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, HBO 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.
In June 2025, the Company announced its plans to separate the Company, in a tax-free transaction, into two publicly traded companies (the “Separation”), Warner Bros. and Discovery Global. Warner Bros. will primarily consist of our Streaming and Studios reportable segments and include Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max, as well as its film and television libraries. Discovery Global will primarily consist of our Global Linear Networks reportable segment and include premier entertainment, sports and news television brands around the world including CNN, TNT Sports in the U.S., and Discovery, free-to-air channels across Europe, and digital products such as Discovery+ and Bleacher Report. The Company remains on track to complete the Separation by mid-2026, subject to closing and other conditions, including final approval by the Warner Bros. Discovery Board (the “Board”), receipt of tax opinions with respect to the tax-free nature of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and market conditions. There can be no assurance that the Separation will occur in accordance with the expected plans or anticipated timeline, or at all.
In October 2025, the Company announced that the Board will evaluate a broad range of strategic options, including continuing to advance the Separation, a transaction for the entire company or separate transactions for Warner Bros. and/or Discovery Global, as well as an alternative separation structure that would enable a merger of Warner Bros. and spin-off of Discovery Global. There is no deadline or definitive timetable set for completion of the strategic alternatives review process. There can be no assurance that this process will result in the Company pursuing a transaction or other outcome or that the Company will be able to execute any strategic alternative that is identified and pursued.
In the first quarter of 2025, the Company renamed its Direct-to-Consumer reportable segment to Streaming and its Networks reportable segment to Global Linear Networks. There have been no changes to the Company’s reportable segments or the composition of our reportable segments as a result of these announcements.
As of September 30, 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.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained, including variable interest entities (“VIE”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions between consolidated entities have been eliminated.
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
These consolidated financial statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they reflect all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary to state fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with U.S. GAAP applicable to interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or future periods. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Form 10-K”).
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Recent Accounting and Reporting Pronouncements
Income Taxes
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance updating the disclosure requirements for income taxes, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance prospectively and is currently evaluating the impact it will have on its annual tax disclosures that will be included in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses
In November 2024, the FASB issued guidance updating the disclosure requirements for income statement expenses, primarily through disaggregation of certain types of expenses presented on the income statement. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments may be applied either: (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date, or (2) retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its disclosures.
Credit Losses
In July 2025, the FASB issued guidance which provides a practical expedient to simplify the estimation of expected credit losses by assuming that current conditions as of the balance sheet do not change for the remaining life of the asset. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted, and the standard is to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting for Internal-Use Software
In September 2025, the FASB issued guidance which amends the existing standard for internal-use software to remove all references to prescriptive and sequential software development project stages. Under this guidance, eligible software development costs will begin capitalization when management has authorized and committed to funding the software project, and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. This guidance may be applied prospectively, retrospectively, or with a modified transition approach, and is effective for all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Derivatives and Hedging and Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In September 2025, the FASB issued guidance that amends existing standards for derivatives and hedging (“Topic 815”) and revenue from contracts with customers (“Topic 606”). The guidance refines the scope of Topic 815 to clarify which contracts are subject to derivative accounting. The guidance also provides clarification under Topic 606 for share-based payments from a customer in a revenue contract. This guidance may be applied prospectively or with a modified retrospective approach, and is effective for all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.