Warner Bros. Establishes Digital Networks Division

BURBANK: Warner Bros. has formed a new division dedicated to building the studio’s owned digital and OTT video services.

Warner Bros. Digital Networks will bolster the company’s owned OTT activities, including DramaFever and Warner Archive Instant, an SVOD service offering classic Warner Bros. titles. It will also manage the company’s investments in the gamer network Machinima; Uninterrupted, the partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter; and Ellen Digital Ventures, a partnership with Ellen DeGeneres. The unit will be working to expand Warner Bros.’ OTT footprint by launching new offerings, growing current company-owned services and forming strategic alliances.

Warner Bros. Digital Networks will be led by Craig Hunegs, who adds the title of president of Warner Bros. Digital Networks to his current responsibilities as president of business and strategy for Warner Bros. Television Group. Hunegs reports to Kevin Tsujihara, the chairman and CEO of Warner Bros.

“In today’s on-demand world, OTT gives us a really effective means to directly provide consumers the programming they want,” said Tsujihara. “By forming Warner Bros. Digital Networks, we’ll be able to operate more nimbly as we continue to develop and deliver on our digital strategy which will complement our industry-leading distribution business.”

Hunegs added, “Warner Bros. has a tremendous opportunity to have a more direct relationship with our audiences. We’re building a great team and we’re off to a strong start developing new streaming services. We’ll have more to announce in the coming months.”