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Warner Bros. Television Studios

Company type	Division
Industry	Television production and distribution
Founded	March 21, 1955 (1955-03-21)
Founder	William T. Orr
Headquarters	Burbank, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Television programming, including DC Comics adaptations
Owner	Warner Bros. Discovery
Parent	Warner Bros. Entertainment
Website	www.warnerbros.com/company/divisions/television

Warner Bros. Television Studios, commonly known as Warner Bros. Television (WBTV; previously the Warner Bros. Television Division), serves as the premier television production and distribution entity within the Warner Bros. Television Group, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment under the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) umbrella. Established on March 21, 1955, by William T. Orr, WBTV develops television programming including DC Comics adaptations through DC Studios and collaborates with The CW network alongside Paramount Skydance’s CBS Studios and CW Studios—each Paramount and WBD hold a 12.5% stake in The CW, while Nexstar Media Group possesses a 75% share. Additionally, WBTV handles distribution for WBD’s properties such as HBO, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim, partnering with CBS Media Ventures for The CW’s syndication.

By 2015, WBTV was recognized as one of the two largest global television production companies based on revenue and content library size, sharing this distinction with Sony Pictures Television.

As of May 2024, Warner Bros. Television is actively producing close to 40 scripted series across HBO Max, various external streaming platforms, cable outlets, and the five principal U.S. broadcast networks.

Origins and Expansion

Following World War II, television emerged as a formidable competitor to the traditional Hollywood studio system. Columbia Pictures led the way into television in 1947, soon followed by Paramount and Walt Disney. Warner Bros., however, initially resisted entering the TV market due to Jack L. Warner's opposition to early ventures, postponing their involvement until executive consensus was reached.

The formation of WB’s television division occurred on March 21, 1955, under the leadership of William T. Orr, Jack L. Warner’s son-in-law. Initially, ABC attempted to acquire WB’s film library; in response, WB sold rights to its pre-1950 films and cartoons to Associated Artists Productions in 1956. WB’s television debut came with Warner Bros. Presents on ABC—an anthology series adapting WB films such as Casablanca and introducing original western content like Cheyenne, starring Clint Walker. Notably, Cheyenne was television’s first one-hour western series and included promotional segments for upcoming WB movies.

Building on Cheyenne's success, WB replaced promotional segments with the anthology Conflict, which served as a launching pad for pilots like Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip. Subsequently, WBTV produced numerous series for ABC encompassing Westerns such as Maverick, Lawman, Colt .45, Bronco, and Sugarfoot; detective dramas including 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, Bourbon Street Beat, and Surfside 6; alongside programs like The Gallant Men and The Roaring Twenties, which incorporated stock footage from WB’s war and gangster films. The studio also created Jack Webb’s Red Nightmare for the U.S. Department of Defense.

These productions reflected WB’s earlier B-movie style—fast-paced shooting schedules utilizing stock footage, music from their extensive library, and actors bound by strict contracts working extensive hours for relatively low compensation.

During the 1960 Writers Guild strike, WB employed a strategy of reusing film and television storylines under the alias "W. Hermanos," effectively remaking existing content in new contexts.

Contract disputes led stars such as James Garner and Clint Walker to depart; Garner notably pursued a flourishing film career beyond WB. Other contracted actors who achieved varying levels of fame included Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Kelly, Will Hutchins, Peter Brown, Ty Hardin, Wayde Preston, John Russell, Donald May, Rex Reason, Richard Long, Van Williams, Roger Smith, Mike Road, Anthony Eisley, Robert Conrad, Robert McQueeney, Dorothy Provine, Diane McBain, Connie Stevens, Edd Byrnes, Troy Donahue, and Roger Moore—Moore eventually relocating to Europe to attain international acclaim.

WB also engaged established performers such as Ray Danton, Peter Breck, Jeanne Cooper, and Grant Williams who frequently guest-starred across multiple series.

Actors contracted with WB often appeared in studio films without additional remuneration; notable leads included Zimbalist Jr., Walker, Garner (who replaced Charlton Heston in Darby's Rangers), and Danton (who took over from Robert Evans in The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond). Ensemble casts featuring multiple WB TV actors appeared in films like The Chapman Report and Merrill's Marauders. Some stars also recorded music albums under Warner Bros. Records; for example Edd Byrnes and Connie Stevens achieved hits with novelty songs such as Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) (1959) and Stevens’ solo success with Sixteen Reasons.

This period also saw the rise of iconic theme music for Western series like Cheyenne and Maverick, composed by William Lava or David Buttolph with lyrics by Stan Jones or Paul Francis Webster. Crime dramas featured themes crafted by Jerry Livingston and Mack David.

In 1960 WBTV targeted younger viewers by bringing Warner Bros.’ cartoon characters into prime time via The Bugs Bunny Show, which combined post-1948 cartoons with newly produced introductions. That same year marked the launch of WWII drama The Roaring Twenties, intended as a less intense alternative to Desilu's The Untouchables, though it met with limited success.

WBTV continued expanding its Westerns and crime dramas portfolio; January 1962 saw the debut of its first sitcom,Room For One More, adapted from Anna Rose's memoirs previously made into a 1952 film starring Cary Grant. Despite featuring actors such as Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, it lasted only half a season. Later that year premiered WWII drama The Gallant Men, which ran for one season.

Until 1962 all WBTV productions were exclusively for ABC; that year they debuted the anthology series GE True on CBS.

In 1964 WBTV transformed its classic comedy into the sitcom No Time for Sergeants, starring Sammy Jackson as Will Stockdale. The following year introduced the Western spoof F Troop, headlined by Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch; despite only two seasons it remains a cult favorite within its genre.

Post-1963 saw a decline in reliance on contract stock players under Jack Webb’s leadership at WBTV; nevertheless many shows like F Troop and The F.B.I. continued filming at Warner Bros.’ studios.

Subsequent Developments

Between 1967 and 1971 the company’s sole ongoing production was the established series The F.B.I.. By 1970 several former 20th Century-Fox Television writers and producers—including Paul Monash and Rod Amateau—joined Warner Bros.’ ranks. In 1971 Warner Bros. returned to prime-time programming with NBC shows like Nichols and The Jimmy Stewart Show, plus CBS's comedy series The Chicago Teddy Bears. That year also marked a collaboration with animation studio Filmation for worldwide cartoon distribution.

In 1975 Warner Bros., in partnership with DC Comics, produced the television adaptation of Wonder Woman starring Lynda Carter. Following acquisition by Kinney National Company in 1967—and remaining part of Kinney after its 1969 purchase—Warner Bros secured an agreement with producer Bill Carruthers to develop game shows and taped programs that same year.

In 1976 Warner Bros. acquired The Wolper Organization known for hit shows like Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter. By 1978 producer Stan Margulies signed an exclusive three-year contract while Warner Bros arranged distribution agreements with notable producers including James Komack and Danny Arnold, expanding global program dissemination.

WBTV produced popular series such as The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979. In 1980 Woodruff Productions under Phillip Saltzman entered into a deal with Warner Bros., followed by Aaron Spelling’s company partnering on show distribution from 1982 until 1988.

On March 25, 1986 Ted Turner’s Turner Broadcasting System acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for $1.5 billion renaming it MGM Entertainment Company Inc.. Due to financing constraints Turner sold MGM's United Artists back to Kirk Kerkorian but had to divest MGM’s production/distribution assets to UA while retaining MGM’s pre-May 1986 film/TV library among other holdings. Later Warner Bros. Television developed new projects based on these properties.

Alan Shayne departed his presidency on June 1, 1986 after ten years to form Alan Shayne Productions affiliated with Warner Bros., focusing on made-for-TV movies/miniseries during the ’87–’88 season.

Before merging with Time Inc.,Warner Communications acquired Lorimar-Telepictures, completing this in January 1989; Lorimar Television was integrated into WBTV by July 1993 while Telepictures transitioned into a production company role.

In 1992 Witt/Thomas Productions signed with Warner Bros after ending its Disney affiliation; in 1993 Quincy Jones Entertainment merged with David Salzman Entertainment forming Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment under Time Warner/Warner Bros.. That year Lorimar Television was fully absorbed into WBTV; additionally Tom Arnold/Roseanne Barr's Wapello County Productions inked a deal with Warner Bros., which also partnered non-exclusively for two years with Bud Grant Productions.

By 1994 creators Kevin Bright,Marta Kauffman,and David Crane secured an exclusive contract with WBTV following their success with ‘’Friends’’. In 1996 WBTV collaborated with Universal Television on ABC’s short-lived ‘’Spy Game’’, involving producers Sam Raimi & Robert Tapert.

In 2001 WBTV gained full control over Hanna-Barbera properties via Warner Bros Animation focusing on franchises like ‘’Scooby-Doo’’ through direct-to-video features & new series including ‘’What's New Scooby-Doo?’’ (2002–2006) & ‘’Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!’’ (2006–2008). In 2006 select library content was made available online via AOL's IN2TV platform.

On June 11th ,2012 ,WBTV expanded its production slate by acquiring Alloy Entertainment. On June 2nd ,2014 ,Warner Bros Television Group purchased all non-U.S Eyeworks companies rebranding them as Warner Bros International Television Production, while Eyeworks USA remained independent.

As part of restructuring within WarnerMedia in 2020 ,Warner Bros Television was renamed Warner Bros Television Studios though original branding remains visible onscreen & trade name usage continues.

On November 30th ,2022 ,WBTV president Channing Dungey revealed ongoing discussions with Amazon regarding development of animated DC content exclusively for Amazon Prime Video streaming service.

Divisions

Beyond its primary Warner Bros Television Studios label ,the company operates several U.S.-based production units:

Current

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television is dedicated to alternative programming across cable ,streaming ,and broadcast platforms within Warner Bros Television Studios . Established April 2006 originally covering both scripted & unscripted projects ,its notable productions include franchises such as ‘’The Bachelor’’, ‘’The Voice’’, ‘’Pretty Little Liars’’ (and spin-offs ‘’Ravenswood’’ & ‘’Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists’’), ’’Ellen's Game of Games’’, ’’Fuller House’’, ’’The Masked Dancer’’, ’’Whose Line Is It Anyway?’’, ’’You’’, plus season one of ’’Pennyworth’’.

On August 10th ,2020 ,Warner Horizon split into two focused divisions :

• Warner Horizon Scripted Television merged operations with Warner Bros Television concentrating on scripted comedy & drama primarily for cable & subscription streaming.
• Warner Horizon Unscripted Television integrated into Warner Bros Unscripted & Alternative Television emphasizing reality TV ,documentaries & alternative formats across broadcast ,cable & streaming outlets.

Alloy Entertainment

Owned by Warner Bros Television Studios ,Alloy Entertainment functions as both book packager & production company . Its key titles encompass ‘’The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’’, ‘’Gossip Girl’’, ‘’The Vampire Diaries’’, ‘’Pretty Little Liars’’, ‘’The 100’’, ‘’The Sun Is Also a Star’’, ‘’Everything Everything’’, & ’’You’’.

Blue Ribbon Content

Founded in 2014 ,Blue Ribbon Content (BRC) serves as WBTV’s digital-first series unit named after classic "Blue Ribbon" reissues of ‘’Merrie Melodies’’ & ‘’Looney Tunes’’. Its live-action slate includes horror-comedy ‘’Critters: A New Binge’’ (Shudder), comedy ‘’Play It Again Dick’’ & horror-comedy ‘’The Pledge’’ (CW Seed). BRC also produces original movies like ‘’The Banana Splits Movie’’ & ‘’Critters Attack!’’ (distributed via Warner Bros Home Entertainment & Syfy), plus ’’Good Girls Get High’’ for AT&T's DirectTV Cinema platform . Upcoming projects feature mixed-media series ’’BizarroTV’’ for DC Universe & animated ’’Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons’’ for CW Seed .

Shed Media

Previously Shed Media US ,Shed Media is an American production outfit operating under Warner Bros Unscripted & Alternative Television since its founding in 2009 . Its credits include NBC's ’’Who Do You Think You Are?’’, Oxygen's ’’Criminal Confessions’’ & ’’Murder for Hire’’, Facebook Watch's ’’Huda Boss’’, Lifetime's ’’Supernanny’’, & Bravo's ’’The Real Housewives of New York City’’.

Telepictures

Acquired by Warner Communications in 1988 ,Telepictures now forms part of Warner Bros Television Studios . It produces daytime shows including ’’The Ellen DeGeneres Show’’, ’’Extra’’, ’’Judge Mathis’’, ’’The People’s Court’’, & ’’The Real’’. Primetime productions include NBC’s ’’Ellen’s Game of Games’’ & special event ’’Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways’’. Current projects involve Elizabeth Smart-led true crime series ’’Smart Justice’’ (Lifetime) & HBO Max competition show ’’Ellen’s Next Great Designer’’. Telepictures divested former property ’’TMZ on TV’’ to Fox Entertainment in 2021 .

Cartoon Network Studios

Main article: Cartoon Network Studios

Established in 1994 originally as part of Hanna-Barbera ,Cartoon Network Studios became independent following Hanna-Barbera's integration into Warner Bros Animation in 2001 . Based in Burbank California ,the studio creates animated programming for Cartoon Network ,Adult Swim ,Cartoonito ,and HBO Max . It has released one theatrical feature —‘'The Powerpuff Girls Movie'‘—distributed by Warner Bros Pictures ; due to its commercial underperformance theatrical releases ceased except for limited runs like ’‘Regular Show: The Movie'‘ . The studio also produces live-action programs for Adult Swim & formerly Cartoon Network using various alternate names .

Warner Bros Animation

Main article: Warner Bros Animation

Known primarily for iconic shorts such as ’‘Looney Tunes'‘ & ’‘Merrie Melodies'‘ ,Warner Bros Animation Inc., successor to ’‘Warner Bros Cartoons’’ which operated between1933-63 &1967-69,relaunched in1980 focusing on ’‘Looney Tunes’’ content . It absorbed Hanna-Barbera following corporate mergers involving Turner Broadcasting & Time Warner (later renamed WarnerMedia). Today it oversees TV & direct-to-video productions featuring characters from ’‘Looney Tunes,’‘ ’‘Tom and Jerry,‘‘ ’‘Scooby-Doo,‘‘ plus properties acquired from MGM & Hanna-Barbera .

Former Divisions

Warner Bros Kids Young Adults And Classics

Formerly known as Warner Bros Global Kids And Young Adults, Warner Bros Kids Young Adults And Classics (KYAC) was established March 4th ,2019 amid major restructuring at WarnerMedia. It operated until May 11th ,2022 .

This reorganization dissolved Turner Broadcasting System, transferring channels such as Cartoon Network ,Boomerang ,Adult Swim ,and Turner Classic Movies into Warner Bros Entertainment . These assets were consolidated under Global Kids & Young Adults division excluding TCM & Otter Media which moved under WarnerMedia Entertainment focusing on streaming development . KYAC oversaw family/kids/animation/young adult content across networks/studios including Warner Bros Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, & Williams Street .

On April 7th ,2020 Tom Ascheim was appointed president when division renamed to Global Kids Young Adults And Classics overseeing Cartoon Network Boomerang Adult Swim TCM .

On May 11th ,2022 Ascheim departed during restructuring at Warner Bros Discovery dissolving KYAC ; studios transitioned under Warner Bros Television while Kathleen Finch's U.S Networks Group assumed linear network oversight .

Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution

Formerly called Warner Bros Television Distribution, Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution manages television syndication/distribution operations for Warner Bros Television Studios .

Founded1961as Warner Bros Television Division, it adopted current name1989post-acquisitionofLorimar-Telepictures. In1991 former employeeKeith Samples left forming syndication firmRysher Entertainment, inheriting Lorimar staff . In1999WB secured off-network syndication rightsfor sitcom ‘‘Will & Grace‘‘ via dealwithNBC Enterprises .

International Operations

Australia

Originating as Eyeworks Australia in2004,it was rebranded ‘‘Warner Bros International Television Production Australia’’in2014 .

Eyeworks Australia produced titles including ‘‘Celebrity Splash‘‘,’‘Being Lara Bingle‘‘,’‘Gangs of Oz‘‘,’‘Territory Cops‘‘ . Post-rebrand WBITPA handles major franchises such as ‘‘The Bachelor Australia‘‘(from season four), spin-offs ‘‘The Bachelorette Australia‘‘(from season two), ‘‘Bachelor in Paradise‘‘ plus ‘‘First Dates‘‘,’‘Who Do You Think You Are?‘‘(season eight), ‘‘Dancing With The Stars‘‘(season sixteen),and ‘‘Masked Singer Australia‘‘ .

New Zealand

WBITVP New Zealand produces top local entertainment programs including ‘‘RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under‘‘,’‘The Bachelor NZ‘‘,’‘The Bachelorette NZ‘‘,’‘The Block NZ‘‘,’‘Celebrity Treasure Island‘‘,’‘Glow Up‘‘,’‘House Of Drag‘‘,and ‘‘Great Kiwi Bake Off‘‘ .

Spain

Acquired through Eyeworks takeover2014,the Spanish branch renamed ‘‘Warner Bros International Television Production España’’in December2015 . Key productions feature ‘‘Juego de juegos‘‘(based on ‘‘Ellen's Game of Games‘‘), ‘‘First Dates‘‘,’‘Pesadilla en la Cocina‘‘(adapted from ‘‘Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares‘‘), ‘‘¿Quién quiere ser millonario? (España)‘‘(from ‘‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?‘‘),and ‘‘Ven a cenar conmigo‘‘(based on ‘‘Come Dine With Me‘‘). The company co-produced drama ‘‘Brigada Costa del Sol‘‘ alongside Mediaset España&Netflix .

United Kingdom

Warner Bros Television Studios UK Founded originallyas Shed Productionsin1998,itwas acquiredby Time Warnersubsequently rebrandedas ‘‘Warner Bros Television Productions UK’’in2015 .

Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe On April7th2021 Cartoon Network Studios Europewas renamed Hanna-Barbera Studios Europereviving iconic brand previously usedon projects like ‘Scooby-Doo’, ‘Wacky Races’(2017 reboot),& ‘Yabba-Dabba Dinosaurs’. Initial offerings include new ‘Amazing World Of Gumball’-relatedseries&film.Future plans remain undisclosed .

Filmography

Main article: List of Warner Bros Discovery television programs § Warner_Bros_Television_Studios

Prominent productions from Warner Bros Television include ‘Wonder Woman’, ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’, ‘Big Bang Theory’, ‘Young Sheldon’, ‘Two And A Half Men’, ‘Friends’,and ‘Middle’.