Welcome back to Cheddar is closing bell, everyone
a warnermedia making big headlines this week as
the media and entertainment conglomerates merger with Discovery,
gaining approval from the Justice Department yesterday.
Well A TNT has publicly said it does expect the
deal to close in the second quarter of this year,
paving the way for the creation of a
heavy heavy hitter in streaming and cable content.
Joining me now is patty hearst EVP
of consumer and digital platforms for warnermedia.
Patty thanks so much for coming on the show. We know that there has been
plenty of movement across warnermedia in recent weeks.
How are these events directing
the content strategy for your company?
You know, look, I don't,
I don't know that it's necessarily changing our content strategy.
I mean, we, we are a content company. That's what we do and there's change is upon us.
But I think it's all system goes, go on. Our end.
All systems go. And what is the strategy of moving forward for 2022?
Um, well, you know, it really depends on which which area you're talking about.
But you know,
I think the pervasive message you'll see across the board is our
focus is really on the consumer and what the consumer wants.
And we have really, over the last few years,
really focused heavily on putting the consumer at the center,
center of everything that is across the board from our theatrical,
our tv and even our digital, um,
instead of the old world of saying like we put out a movie and then, you know,
we just see what happens.
We actually really want to connect with our consumers on a daily basis.
And so our focus strategically across the board is around
that and around really bringing great content to the users.
Let's talk about CNN plus when can we expect the debut of CNN plus with
the news this morning that Jemele Hill
is going to be joining the subscription platform
as well as other recent announcements like chris Wallace,
You know, we're actually we're still on track for Q1, we're really excited,
I think the content slate is amazing and the product itself is amazing
and you will see that in Q1,
what's the strategy patty for the streaming news network?
Obviously there's big names behind this, there's celebrities behind this as well,
how are you going to get people to pay for this platform?
Look, I think, you know,
as well as I know content really drives so much and CNN has
always had a very long history of creating an incredible doctor documentaries,
incredible content and this will, you know,
will continue to bribe this this service I
think is going to ultimately provide the kind of
content consumers want and the kind of content that
consumers are going are going to pay for.
Um hmm Well, I know you're also focusing on some of these newer,
exciting technologies like N.
F. T. S.
And the metaverse, How can we expect to interact with those in your platforms.
You know, we are already doing a lot on both of those areas N. F. T. S. As an example.
Um The turner Sports launched and I think back in december,
a black lit golf game which really kind of think of it as like a fantasy
golf game where you're you can actually buy and sell your players on the open market.
We're using you know, obviously black chain and N. F. T. S. For that.
Um That's actually been really exciting D. C.
Which you know, there's such a beloved franchise we have,
we've started to do a lot around N.
F. T. S. As it relates to that like
offering unique D. C. Art that can be traded.
And so you'll see a lot from our franchises and continuing to do that.
Um And then you know,
I think it's always the question we're always looking at is how do we interact
better with our our fan base and what they want to do with N.
F. T. S.
And so I'm really excited about the potential of where that
can lead us and and collaborating better with our fan base.
But we are investing heavily in N. F. T. S.
Um And we will continue to just like any other media company and I
think the areas that we've chosen to kind of play with are pretty exciting
when patty will consumers and fans be able to interact, buy and sell and FTS.
Well they can today with black like golf and they can today with the D. C.
The the trials that we've done with dc and offering the unique dc
fan dc art and trading that and you'll see more and more.
So there is some stuff already out there today.
Now when it comes to developing virtual and digital reality,
there's all of this hype that Apple might be coming out with its own air glasses,
you know, facebook pivoting into the metaverse as well.
How do you find yourself patty interacting with some of these technology companies
and that might be providing the hardware that could advance and enhance
some of the viewership and consumer opportunities
at your company.
You know, I mean we already do a partner on this front.
Like I love this area,
this is the area that really speaks to my heart because I feel
like content the way it's consumed today is evolving and consumers want more.
And I think the whole idea of the metaverse in VR and incorporating all
that into experiences is really kind of
the next step of where we're taking everything
we have, for example are harry potter flagship store in new york.
Um that offers two different virtual reality experiences.
And we partnered on that with with with a
couple of companies with dreamscape immersive and key light.
Um The two experiences.
Um one is um you know,
one is is actually chaos at Hogwarts and it's
actually experiencing Hogwarts if you're a harry potter fan,
which I am, nothing compares to it.