Movies - TV
The Layoffs Have Officially Begun at HBO Max
By JEREMY MATHAI
Sweeping changes are coming to HBO Max following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, and with it, the streaming service will combine with Discovery+ in 2023. This union has employees bracing, as the company will no doubt eliminate redundant positions and reduce costs wherever they can, and Variety reports downsizing has already begun, with 14% of employees expected to be laid off.
These sorts of reorganizational developments and layoffs occur during corporate mergers, and David Zaslav, the new CEO, is known for favoring cutthroat and ruthless business decisions that benefit the company. These decisions will most likely have a ripple effect that may cause artists to choose not to work with the studio going forward.
In addition to this positional restructuring, HBO Max’s other divisions will also undergo an organizational overhaul that could affect Max Original series. This will affect the type of programming on the streaming platform and the international, acquisitions, and casting teams, as Warner is now handling the majority of significant acquisition moves from now on.