Although an introductory video at Wednesday’s Warner Bros Discovery streaming event included clips of NBA star LeBron James and CNN host Anderson Cooper, the rest of the presentation was strikingly sports- and news-free. Sports and news are “vibrant parts” of the company that “will be key to our long-term streaming strategy,” Zaslav said in his opening remarks. As Major League Soccer’s deal with Apple has shown, leagues are pushing to control more of their streaming rights in the future. Pressed on the topic during an interview on CNBC after the streaming event, Zaslav once again demurred. The company is also facing a looming renewal decision on NBA rights, which are likely to cost billions to reup.

Source: CNN April 13, 2023 16:01 UTC