Warner Bros. Television Studios

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
Key people	Channing Dungey (Chairwoman and CEO), Brett A. Paul (President)
Products	Television programming, series based on DC Comics properties
Parent	Warner Bros. Discovery
Website	warnerbros.com/tv

Warner Bros. Television Studios, commonly known as Warner Bros. Television (WBTV), serves as the premier television production and distribution division within the Warner Bros. Television Group, itself a segment of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Established on March 21, 1955, by founder William T. Orr, WBTV plays a central role in advancing WBD’s content initiatives by creating television programming, notably including series derived from DC Comics properties via DC Studios.

By revenue and library size, WBTV ranks among the top two global television producers alongside Sony Pictures Television as of 2015. It additionally functions as the distribution hub for WBD entities such as HBO, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim. WBTV collaborates with CBS Media Ventures to distribute content for The CW network, in which WBD and Paramount each maintain a 12.5% ownership share, while Nexstar Media Group holds the majority 75%.

Based at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, WBTV encompasses various subsidiaries like Alloy Entertainment, Cartoon Network Studios, Shed Media, and Warner Bros. Animation. Its operations span scripted and unscripted productions as well as domestic television distribution.

As of May 2024, WBTV’s strategy centers on delivering close to 40 scripted titles for HBO Max (WBD’s Max streaming platform), alongside projects for external streaming services, cable channels, and major U.S. broadcast networks. Under the direction of Chairwoman and CEO Channing Dungey and President Brett A. Paul, the company sustains its competitive edge through diversified international operations and a wide-ranging content catalog.

Financial results from 2015 reveal WBTV generated US$5.62 billion in revenue with an operating income of US$344 million, underscoring its robust standing and growth trajectory within the television production industry.

Website: https://www.warnerbros.com/tv

Origins and Early Expansion

In the aftermath of World War II, the surge of television during the late 1940s and early 1950s posed significant challenges to Hollywood’s traditional studio system. Columbia Pictures led the initial transition into TV in 1947, soon followed by Paramount and Walt Disney, who capitalized on television’s emerging opportunities.

Initially hesitant about television’s commercial viability, Warner Bros., under Jack L. Warner’s leadership, delayed entry into the medium until a dedicated TV division was formed on March 21, 1955. This division was headed by Warner’s son-in-law William T. Orr. ABC initially pursued acquisition of Warner Bros.’ film library; however, WB sold its pre-1950 film rights to Associated Artists Productions in 1956. The company officially commenced TV production with the anthology series Warner Bros. Presents on ABC, featuring episodes adapted from Warner Bros.’ films such as Casablanca and Kings Row, alongside original programming like the Western Cheyenne, which achieved significant popularity.

Building on Cheyenne's success, WB replaced promotional segments with the anthology series Conflict, which served as a launching pad for pilots including Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip. WBTV then produced numerous series primarily for ABC, emphasizing Westerns like Maverick, Lawman, and Bronco, as well as crime dramas including 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Many productions utilized stock footage and music from Warner Bros.’ extensive archives to maintain a brisk production pace reminiscent of their earlier B-movie style.

During the 1960 Writers Guild strike, WBTV sustained output by covertly adapting film storylines under pseudonyms. Several prominent actors such as James Garner and Clint Walker departed over contract disagreements; Garner notably transitioned to a flourishing film career thereafter. Other contracted talents included Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, and Edd Byrnes—some of whom also recorded charting songs for Warner Bros. Records like Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb).

WBTV’s productions were distinguished by memorable theme compositions crafted by William Lava, David Buttolph, Jerry Livingston, among others—elements that contributed significantly to their cultural resonance.

In 1960, WBTV targeted younger demographics by introducing Warner Bros.’ cartoons such as Bugs Bunny into prime time slots with The Bugs Bunny Show. The studio expanded into sitcom territory with series like Room For One More (1962) and ventured into adaptations of classic films including No Time for Sergeants (1964). The Western parody F Troop (1965) gained cult status despite its brief duration.

WBTV’s exclusive relationship with ABC concluded in 1962 when it debuted GE True on CBS. By the mid-1960s, Jack Webb assumed leadership at WBTV but faced challenges replicating earlier achievements. Nevertheless, Warner Bros. continued producing notable programs filmed at their studios such as F Troop and The F.B.I..

Later years

Between 1967 and 1971, Warner Bros. Television predominantly focused on continuing the series The F.B.I.. Around 1970, several former writers and agents from 20th Century-Fox Television, including Paul Monash and Rod Amateau, joined Warner Bros. The company resumed producing prime-time shows in 1971 with NBC’s Nichols and The Jimmy Stewart Show, as well as CBS’s The Chicago Teddy Bears. That same year, Warner Bros. formed a partnership with animation studio Filmation, gaining worldwide distribution rights to their cartoon catalog.

In 1975, in collaboration with DC Comics, Warner Bros. produced the television series Wonder Woman, featuring Lynda Carter in the lead role. Meanwhile, National was acquired by Kinney National Company in 1967; Kinney also purchased Warner Bros. in 1969. That year, Warner Bros. secured a contract with producer Bill Carruthers to develop game shows and other videotaped programming.

The acquisition of The Wolper Organization occurred in 1976, bringing under Warner Bros.’ umbrella productions such as Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter. By 1978, producer Stan Margulies inked a three-year exclusive agreement following his success with the miniseries Roots. Additionally, Warner Bros. established deals with prominent producers including James Komack, Danny Arnold, and the trio Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West to distribute their programs globally.

Warner Bros. Television launched the well-known series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979. In 1980, Woodruff Productions, led by Phillip Saltzman, entered into a development partnership with the studio. By 1982, a distribution agreement was reached between Warner Bros. and Aaron Spelling’s production company, which lasted until 1988.

On March 25, 1986, Ted Turner's Turner Broadcasting System acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for $1.5 billion but soon sold MGM’s United Artists division back to Kirk Kerkorian for approximately $480 million. Due to financial difficulties related to debt obligations, Turner later sold MGM's production and distribution units to United Artists for $300 million within the same year. The MGM studio lot and laboratory facilities were sold to Lorimar-Telepictures. Turner retained ownership of MGM’s film and television libraries produced before May 1986 along with associated assets. Subsequently, Warner Bros. Television developed new projects based on properties owned by Turner Entertainment.

On June 1, 1986, Alan Shayne stepped down from his presidency after a decade to establish Alan Shayne Productions in collaboration with Warner Bros., focusing on made-for-TV movies and miniseries scheduled for the 1987–88 season.

Prior to merging with Time Inc., Warner Communications acquired Lorimar-Telepictures, completing the transaction in January 1989; by July 1993, Lorimar Television was fully integrated into WBTV. Telepictures continued operating as a separate production entity.

In 1992, Witt/Thomas Productions transitioned from Disney to sign a television contract with Warner Bros. The following year saw Quincy Jones Entertainment merge with David Salzman Entertainment to form Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment under Time Warner's umbrella. That same year, Lorimar Television merged into WBTV, bringing executives such as Leslie Moonves onboard. Additionally in 1993, Warner Bros. collaborated with Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr through Wapello County Productions and entered into a two-year non-exclusive agreement with Bud Grant Productions.

By 1994, creators of Friends, Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane secured an exclusive deal with Warner Bros., reinforcing the studio’s prominence in producing successful sitcoms. In 1996, Warner Bros. joined forces with Universal Television on ABC’s short-lived series Spy Game, involving producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert.

In 2001, WBTV took over full distribution rights for Hanna-Barbera properties via Warner Bros. Animation, producing new Scooby-Doo content including direct-to-video films and series such as What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002–2006) and Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! (2006–2008). In 2006, WBTV capitalized on its extensive catalog by making shows like Welcome Back, Kotter available for free streaming through AOL's IN2TV platform.

On June 11, 2012, WBTV expanded its holdings by acquiring Alloy Entertainment, recognized for youth-oriented content including Gossip Girl. On June 2, 2014, Warner Bros. Television Group purchased all Eyeworks companies outside the United States and rebranded them as Warner Bros. International Television Production; Eyeworks USA remained independent.

As part of WarnerMedia's restructuring efforts aimed at business growth and operational efficiency in 2020, Warner Bros. Television was renamed Warner Bros. Television Studios while maintaining its original trade name on-screen.

On November 30, 2022, WBTV president Channing Dungey revealed ongoing discussions with Amazon regarding the production of animated DC Comics content for Amazon Prime Video’s streaming platform—highlighting strategic initiatives to broaden digital content offerings across global markets.

Divisions

Alongside Warner Bros. Television Studios, the organization manages multiple production units based in the United States:

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television serves as the division within Warner Bros. Television Studios dedicated to producing alternative programming for television, cable, and streaming platforms. Established in April 2006, it originally handled both scripted and unscripted projects. Its notable works include the The Bachelor series, The Voice, Pretty Little Liars and its related spin-offs, Ellen's Game of Games, Fuller House, The Masked Dancer, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, You, and the inaugural season of Pennyworth.

On August 10, 2020, Warner Bros. Television Group reorganized Warner Horizon into two distinct branches:

• Warner Horizon Scripted Television—merged with Warner Bros. Television to emphasize scripted comedy and drama productions targeting cable and streaming audiences.
• Warner Horizon Unscripted Television—folded into Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television, focusing on reality programming, documentaries, and alternative genres across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.

This restructuring optimized operational specialization and capitalized on Warner Bros.' strengths in varied content creation for worldwide markets.

Alloy Entertainment

Alloy Entertainment operates as a book packaging and production entity under Warner Bros. Television Studios. Its prominent titles include The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, The 100, The Sun Is Also a Star, Everything, Everything, and You. Alloy's extensive catalog bolsters Warner Bros.' influence within the youth-focused scripted content segment.

Blue Ribbon Content

Founded in 2014, Blue Ribbon Content (BRC) represents Warner Bros. Television Studios' division for digital series production, named after the classic "Blue Ribbon" animation reissues. BRC specializes in original live-action digital content, including horror-comedy shows like Critters: A New Binge for Shudder and comedic series such as Play It Again, Dick for CW Seed. Its film lineup features titles like The Banana Splits Movie and Critters Attack!. Upcoming initiatives encompass the mixed-media show BizarroTV for DC Universe and the animated project Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons for CW Seed, expanding Warner Bros.' digital content portfolio.

Shed Media

Since joining Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in 2009, Shed Media has specialized in unscripted programming. Its productions include NBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, Oxygen's Criminal Confessions and Murder for Hire, Facebook Watch's Huda Boss, Lifetime's Supernanny, and Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City. Shed Media enhances Warner Bros.' capabilities in reality television and documentary formats.

Telepictures

Telepictures, acquired by Warner Communications in 1988, continues as a vital subsidiary within Warner Bros. Television Studios. Its portfolio includes widely syndicated programs such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Extra, Judge Mathis, and The People's Court. Additionally, Telepictures produces NBC primetime content like Ellen's Game of Games along with forthcoming projects including Lifetime’s Elizabeth Smart-led series Smart Justice and HBO Max’s competition series titled Ellen's Next Great Designer. The company divested its previous production, TMZ on TV, selling it to Fox Entertainment in 2021 as part of a strategic realignment within Warner Bros.’ television assets.

Cartoon Network Studios

Cartoon Network Studios is a U.S.-based production company serving as the main animation studio for Cartoon Network and its affiliated channels. Established in 1994 as part of Hanna-Barbera, it gained independence in 2001 following the integration of Hanna-Barbera into Warner Bros. Animation. Operating out of Burbank, California, the studio produces animated series and shorts for Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, and HBO Max. Its sole theatrical release to date is The Powerpuff Girls Movie, distributed by sister company Warner Bros. Pictures; the film's modest box office results prompted a shift away from theatrical projects, with Regular Show: The Movie receiving only a limited cinema release. Additionally, the studio creates live-action content for Adult Swim and formerly Cartoon Network under various alternate names.

Warner Bros. Animation

Warner Bros. Animation Inc. is a prominent American animation studio recognized for its work on Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. It is the successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, which produced these shorts from 1933 to 1963 and briefly resumed between 1967 and 1969. The animation division was reestablished by Warner Bros. in 1980 with a focus on Looney Tunes franchises. After the 1996 merger between Turner Broadcasting System (owner of pre-1950 Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies) and Time Warner (later WarnerMedia), the studio incorporated Warner Bros. Cartoons, Warner Bros. Feature Animation, and since March 2001, took over operations from Hanna-Barbera.

Currently, Warner Bros. Animation concentrates on television and direct-to-video productions featuring iconic characters from Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby-Doo, including those properties acquired through MGM via Turner Entertainment as well as Hanna-Barbera.

Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics

Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics (KYAC), formerly known as Warner Bros. Global Kids and Young Adults, was a division within Warner Bros. established on March 4, 2019, amid a significant restructuring of parent company WarnerMedia. The division was dissolved on May 11, 2022.

This reorganization eliminated the Turner Broadcasting System division, transferring channels such as Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, and Turner Classic Movies into Warner Bros. Entertainment under the newly formed Global Kids & Young Adults unit. Meanwhile, digital media firm Otter Media was separated to manage the development of HBO Max.

KYAC oversaw content aimed at families, children, animation enthusiasts, and young adults, encompassing Cartoon Network’s programming blocks (Adult Swim, Toonami, Cartoonito, ACME Night), Boomerang, Turner Classic Movies, along with studios including Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Williams Street.

On April 7, 2020, Tom Ascheim was named president of KYAC (then called Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics), taking charge of these networks and production entities.

Following a leadership restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery on May 11, 2022, Ascheim exited his role; the division was disbanded with studios reassigned to Warner Bros. Television while Kathleen Finch’s U.S. Networks Group assumed responsibility for linear networks.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution serves as the division responsible for television distribution and broadcast syndication within Warner Bros. Television Studios. Established in 1961 under the name Warner Bros. Television Division, it adopted its present title in 1989 after acquiring Lorimar-Telepictures. This unit oversees the global distribution of Warner Bros.' television programming, thereby strengthening the company's syndication market presence.

In 1991, Keith Samples, a former employee who joined through the Lorimar acquisition, departed to launch the TV syndication enterprise Rysher Entertainment. By 1999, Warner Bros. had obtained off-network syndication rights for the sitcom Will & Grace from NBC Enterprises, broadening its collection of widely syndicated shows.

Australia

Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (WBITPA), initially established as Eyeworks Australia in 2004 and rebranded in 2014, is known for producing a variety of successful television formats. Under the Eyeworks banner, projects included Celebrity Splash!, Being Lara Bingle, Gangs of Oz, and Territory Cops. Following the rebranding, WBITPA assumed production responsibilities for key franchises such as The Bachelor Australia starting from its fourth season, along with spin-offs like The Bachelorette Australia (from season two) and Bachelor in Paradise. The division also produces reality series including First Dates, season eight of Who Do You Think You Are?, season sixteen of Dancing with the Stars, and The Masked Singer Australia. These productions highlight Warner Bros.' strategic influence and business expansion within the Australian TV sector.

New Zealand

WBITVP New Zealand is behind some of the nation’s leading 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 The Great Kiwi Bake Off.

Spain

Following its acquisition through the 2014 Eyeworks purchase, Warner Bros. International Television Production España underwent rebranding in December 2015. Its slate features localized adaptations of prominent formats such as Juego de juegos (based on Ellen's Game of Games), First Dates, Pesadilla en la Cocina (adapted from Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares), and ¿Quién quiere ser millonario? (España) (originating from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). Additionally, this branch co-produced the drama series Brigada Costa del Sol in partnership with Mediaset España and Netflix, reinforcing its foothold in Spanish-language content markets.

United Kingdom

Warner Bros. Television Studios UK Initially launched as Shed Productions in 1998, this British subsidiary was acquired by Time Warner in 2010 and rebranded as Warner Bros. Television Productions UK in 2015, thereby expanding Warner Bros.' presence in scripted television production within the UK.

Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe In April 2021, Cartoon Network Studios Europe was renamed Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, reviving the historic brand for its European operations. This strategic revival taps into Hanna-Barbera's rich animation heritage, with early projects including a new series and film based on The Amazing World of Gumball. The studio plans to leverage classic franchises such as Scooby-Doo and Wacky Races, positioning itself for growth within the European animation industry.

Filmography

Warner Bros. Television is responsible for the creation and distribution of acclaimed series including Wonder Woman, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Two and a Half Men, Friends, and The Middle.