Warner Horizon Unscripted Television

Warner Bros. Television Studios

Company type	Division
Industry	Television production and distribution
Predecessor	Warner Bros. Television Division
Founded	March 21, 1955 (1955-03-21)
Founder	William T. Orr
Headquarters	Burbank, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Channing Dungey (president, as of 2022)
Products	Television series production and distribution, including adaptations of DC Comics properties
Owner	Warner Bros. Discovery
Parent	Warner Bros. Television Group

Warner Bros. Television Studios, commonly known as Warner Bros. Television (WBTV; previously Warner Bros. Television Division), serves as the premier television production and distribution arm within the Warner Bros. Television Group, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Established on March 21, 1955, by founder William T. Orr, WBTV develops content including adaptations of DC Comics properties through DC Studios. It competes with Paramount Global’s CBS Studios and CW Studios, which jointly own The CW network alongside WBD (each holding a 12.5% stake), while Nexstar Media Group controls the remaining 75%. Additionally, WBTV handles distribution for various WBD entities such as HBO, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim, collaborating with CBS Media Ventures for The CW’s programming.

By 2015, WBTV had emerged as one of the largest television production entities worldwide in terms of revenue and content holdings, rivaling Sony Pictures Television. That year, the studio reported revenues of US$5.62 billion and an operating profit of US$344 million.

As of May 2024, WBTV is responsible for producing close to 40 scripted series that air across WBD’s Max streaming service (formerly HBO Max), external streaming platforms, cable channels, and five major U.S. broadcast networks, underscoring its extensive global reach and significant influence in television production and distribution.

Origins and Market Penetration

The post-World War II era saw television’s rapid expansion during the late 1940s and early 1950s, which disrupted the traditional Hollywood studio system. Columbia Pictures was among the pioneers entering television in 1947, followed by Paramount and Walt Disney Studios seizing opportunities in this emerging medium.

Initially hesitant to embrace television, Warner Bros., under Jack L. Warner’s leadership, rejected early overtures to enter the TV market in 1949. Eventually, the studio launched its television division on March 21, 1955, led by William T. Orr, Jack L. Warner’s son-in-law. In 1956, ABC approached Warner Bros. with an interest in acquiring its film library; WB sold rights to films made before 1950 and cartoons produced prior to 1948 to Associated Artists Productions. Warner Bros.’ formal foray into TV production began with Warner Bros. Presents, an anthology series airing on ABC that adapted Warner Bros.’ films such as Casablanca and Kings Row, alongside introducing the original Western Cheyenne. The latter became a breakout success and served to promote upcoming theatrical releases.

Following the success of Cheyenne, Warner Bros. shifted from film promotion anthologies to Conflict, an anthology series that showcased pilot episodes for hit programs like Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip. WBTV broadened its slate with Westerns including Maverick, Lawman, Colt .45, Bronco, and Sugarfoot, as well as crime dramas like 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, and Surfside 6. The studio also ventured into genre-specific series such as The Gallant Men and The Roaring Twenties, often incorporating stock footage from earlier war films and gangster movies.

WB’s production approach resembled its earlier B-movie practices: rapid shooting schedules, frequent reuse of stock footage and music from the Warner library, along with contracts binding talent under stringent terms with relatively low compensation.

During the 1960 Writers Guild strike, Warner Bros. maintained output by repurposing film storylines under pseudonyms—a testament to its cost-efficient production methods.

Notably, stars James Garner and Clint Walker departed due to contract disagreements; Garner subsequently pursued a flourishing film career outside Warner Bros. Other contracted performers such as Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, and Edd Byrnes gained prominence through their TV roles and occasional film appearances without salary increases. Several actors also recorded music for Warner Bros. Records, achieving hits like Edd Byrnes’ novelty track Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) and Connie Stevens’ Sixteen Reasons.

Memorable theme compositions by William Lava, David Buttolph, Jerry Livingston, and Mack David helped define WB’s Westerns and crime dramas culturally.

In 1960, WBTV sought to engage younger viewers by bringing Warner Bros.’ cartoon characters into prime time with The Bugs Bunny Show. That same year included efforts to diversify genres with series like The Roaring Twenties, though these met limited success.

Broadening beyond Westerns and crime dramas, WBTV introduced its first sitcom in January 1962: Room For One More, adapted from Anna Rose’s memoirs. Despite featuring notable actors such as Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, it lasted only half a season. Later that year saw the debut of WWII drama The Gallant Men, which similarly ran for just one season.

Until 1962, WBTV produced exclusively for ABC before debuting GE True on CBS.

During the 1964–65 period, WBTV transformed classic works into sitcoms such as No Time for Sergeants, starring Sammy Jackson as an inexperienced draftee, alongside launching the cult-favorite Western parody F Troop. Although these programs had brief runs, they contributed to broadening WB’s programming diversity.

By 1963, leadership changes brought Jack Webb to helm WBTV with mixed outcomes; however, many series continued filming at Warner Bros., including popular titles like F Troop and The F.B.I..

Later years

From 1967 until 1971, the company’s only production was the television series The F.B.I.. By 1970, several former writers and agents affiliated with 20th Century-Fox Television, such as Paul Monash and Rod Amateau, transitioned to Warner Bros. In 1971, Warner Bros. re-entered prime-time television with NBC’s Nichols and The Jimmy Stewart Show, as well as CBS’s The Chicago Teddy Bears. That same year, the studio formed a global distribution partnership with animation company Filmation for their cartoon content.

In 1975, Warner Bros., in collaboration with DC Comics and star Lynda Carter, produced the television series Wonder Woman. Following its acquisition by Kinney National Company in 1967, Warner Bros. secured an agreement with Bill Carruthers to develop game shows and other prerecorded programming.

The company grew through acquisitions and strategic agreements: in 1976, it purchased The Wolper Organization, recognized for shows like Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter. Two years later, producer Stan Margulies entered into an exclusive three-year contract. Warner Bros. also established distribution arrangements with notable producers including James Komack, Danny Arnold, and the trio of Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West.

In 1979, Warner Bros. Television debuted the hit series The Dukes of Hazzard. Subsequent years brought partnerships with Woodruff Productions in 1980 and Aaron Spelling’s production company in 1982, further broadening its production slate.

On March 25, 1986, Ted Turner acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for $1.5 billion but soon sold MGM’s United Artists division back due to financing difficulties. Turner retained MGM’s film and television library up to May 1986 along with other assets. Later on, Warner Bros. Television developed new projects based on properties owned by Turner Entertainment.

Alan Shayne stepped down as president on June 1, 1986, after serving for ten years; he then established Alan Shayne Productions in partnership with Warner Bros., focusing on made-for-TV movies for the 1987–88 season.

Prior to merging with Time Inc., Warner Communications acquired Lorimar-Telepictures, completing the purchase on January 12, 1989. Lorimar Television was integrated into Warner Bros. Television by July 1993, while Telepictures continued operating as a separate production entity.

During the early 1990s, Warner Bros. expanded its collaborations: Witt/Thomas Productions signed a television contract in 1992; Quincy Jones Entertainment merged with David Salzman Entertainment in 1993 to form Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment under Warner Bros.; that same year, Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr’s Wapello County Productions partnered with the studio. Additionally, Bud Grant Productions entered into a two-year non-exclusive agreement.

By 1994, creators of Friends, Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane secured an exclusive deal with Warner Bros., strengthening the studio’s foothold in successful sitcom productions. In 1996, Warner Bros. co-produced ABC’s Spy Game alongside Universal Television; however, it lasted only one season.

In 2001, distribution rights for Hanna-Barbera properties produced by Warner Bros. Animation—including Scooby-Doo—were transferred to Warner Bros. Television, which subsequently launched new series and direct-to-video films. In 2006, portions of its extensive library were made accessible online through AOL’s IN2TV platform.

On June 11, 2012, WBTV expanded its content creation capabilities by acquiring Alloy Entertainment. Later 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.

In 2020, amid a corporate restructuring by WarnerMedia, Warner Bros. Television was renamed Warner Bros. Television Studios while continuing to use its original trade name on-screen.

On November 30, 2022, WBTV president Channing Dungey revealed ongoing discussions with Amazon to develop animated DC projects for Amazon Prime Video, marking a strategic move to expand content offerings within streaming platforms.

Divisions

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

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television

Warner Horizon Unscripted Television serves as Warner Bros. Television Studios' division dedicated to alternative content for television, cable, and streaming platforms. Established in April 2006, it originally handled both scripted and unscripted projects. Its portfolio includes prominent titles such as the The Bachelor series, The Voice, Pretty Little Liars and its spin-offs, Ellen's Game of Games, Fuller House, The Masked Dancer, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, You, as well as the debut season of Pennyworth.

On August 10, 2020, a corporate reorganization within Warner Bros. Television Group split Warner Horizon into two separate units to enhance specialization:

• Warner Horizon Scripted Television was consolidated with Warner Bros. Television to focus exclusively on scripted comedy and drama productions for cable networks and streaming services.
• Warner Horizon Unscripted Television was absorbed into Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television, concentrating on reality programming, documentaries, and alternative formats across broadcast, cable, and streaming outlets.

This restructuring optimized the company's approach by addressing distinct segments within the television sector, thereby fostering business expansion and reinforcing competitive positioning amid shifting media environments.

Alloy Entertainment

Operating under Warner Bros. Television Studios, Alloy Entertainment is a book packaging and production entity. Its notable works encompass film and television adaptations such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, The 100, The Sun Is Also a Star, Everything, Everything, alongside the TV series You. Alloy's strategy capitalizes on popular young adult narratives to secure a strong foothold in both television and film markets.

Blue Ribbon Content

Founded in 2014, Blue Ribbon Content (BRC) functions as Warner Bros. Television Studios' digital series arm, emphasizing cutting-edge content for emerging distribution channels. BRC's productions include live-action series like Critters: A New Binge (Shudder), Play It Again, Dick and The Pledge (CW Seed), as well as original feature films such as The Banana Splits Movie and Critters Attack!. Future endeavors feature the mixed-media project BizarroTV for DC Universe and the animated series Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons for CW Seed, demonstrating BRC’s leading role in digital content innovation.

Shed Media

Since joining Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television in 2009, Shed Media has specialized in producing reality and documentary programming. Its acclaimed slate includes series like Who Do You Think You Are? (NBC), Criminal Confessions and Murder for Hire (Oxygen), Huda Boss (Facebook Watch), Supernanny (Lifetime), and The Real Housewives of New York City (Bravo). Shed Media’s dedication to unscripted content enhances Warner Bros.’ influence within alternative television sectors.

Telepictures

Telepictures has been a vital subsidiary of Warner Bros. Television Studios since its acquisition in 1988, specializing in producing daytime and syndicated content with significant market presence. Notable programs from the company include The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Extra, Judge Mathis, The People's Court, and The Real. Additionally, Telepictures is responsible for NBC’s primetime series Ellen's Game of Games and is developing new projects such as Lifetime’s Smart Justice and HBO Max’s competition series Ellen's Next Great Designer. In 2021, the company strategically divested its former successful property, TMZ on TV, selling it to Fox Entertainment.

Cartoon Network Studios

Cartoon Network Studios serves as the primary animation production entity for Cartoon Network and its affiliated channels in the United States. Established in 1994 as a division of Hanna-Barbera, it gained independence in 2001 following Hanna-Barbera’s integration into Warner Bros. Animation. Located in Burbank, California, the studio produces animated series and shorts for Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, and HBO Max. Its sole theatrical feature, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, was distributed by sister company Warner Bros. Pictures; due to its commercial underperformance, the studio shifted focus away from theatrical releases, although Regular Show: The Movie had a limited cinema run. Besides animation, the studio has also created live-action content for Adult Swim and previously for Cartoon Network under various aliases.

Warner Bros. Animation

Warner Bros. Animation Inc. is a renowned American animation studio best known for producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. It is the successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, which originally created these shorts between 1933–1963 and 1967–1969. Reestablished in 1980 to continue the Looney Tunes legacy, the studio expanded following Turner Broadcasting System’s merger with Time Warner in 1996, acquiring pre-1950 MGM/UA shorts. Since March 2001, Warner Bros. Animation has succeeded Warner Bros. Cartoons and Warner Bros. Feature Animation, incorporating Hanna-Barbera into its operations.

Presently, 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 from MGM cartoon studios and Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics

Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics (KYAC), also referred to as Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, was a division within Warner Bros. established on March 4, 2019, amid a significant restructuring of its former parent company, WarnerMedia. This division remained active until May 11, 2022.

The reorganization led to the dissolution of the Turner Broadcasting System unit, transferring assets such as Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, and digital media firm Otter Media to Warner Bros. Entertainment. Subsequently, Otter Media shifted to WarnerMedia Entertainment to support development of the forthcoming streaming platform HBO Max. The remaining properties were consolidated under the Global Kids & Young Adults segment.

KYAC oversaw content aimed at families, children, animation enthusiasts, and young adults across networks including Cartoon Network (and its programming blocks like Adult Swim, Toonami, Cartoonito, and ACME Night), Boomerang, and Turner Classic Movies; it also managed animation studios such as Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Williams Street.

On April 7, 2020, Tom Ascheim was appointed president of KYAC (later renamed Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics), supervising these networks along with Turner Classic Movies.

Following leadership changes at Warner Bros. Discovery on May 11, 2022, Tom Ascheim exited his role as president; the division was dissolved with studios transitioning under Warner Bros. Television while linear networks came under Kathleen Finch’s U.S. Networks Group management.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (previously known as Warner Bros. 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 was renamed in 1989 after acquiring Lorimar-Telepictures. In 1991, Keith Samples, a former executive, departed to launch the syndication firm Rysher Entertainment.

In 1999, the division expanded its syndication portfolio by obtaining off-network rights to the sitcom Will & Grace from NBC Enterprises, thereby increasing its share in the syndication market.

Australia

Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (WBITPA) began as Eyeworks Australia in 2004 and underwent rebranding in 2014.

During its Eyeworks phase, the company produced shows such as Celebrity Splash, Being Lara Bingle, Gangs of Oz, and Territory Cops. Following the rebrand, WBITPA broadened its slate to include prominent franchises like The Bachelor Australia starting with season four, spin-offs including The Bachelorette Australia from season two, and Bachelor in Paradise. Other notable productions are First Dates, season eight of Who Do You Think You Are?, season sixteen of Dancing with the Stars, and The Masked Singer Australia. These efforts have solidified Warner Bros.' substantial influence within Australia's television landscape and contributed significantly to its global operations.

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 the acquisition of Eyeworks in 2014, the Spanish branch was renamed Warner Bros. International Television Production España in 2015. Its lineup features localized versions such as Juego de juegos (adapted from Ellen's Game of Games), First Dates, Pesadilla en la Cocina (based on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares), and ¿Quién quiere ser millonario? (España) (derived from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). The company also collaborated with Mediaset España and Netflix on producing the drama series Brigada Costa del Sol, strengthening its foothold within the Spanish market.

United Kingdom

Warner Bros. Television Studios UK Initially launched as Shed Productions in 1998, this UK entity was acquired by Time Warner in 2010 and later rebranded as Warner Bros. Television Productions UK in 2015, enhancing Warner Bros.' presence across the British television sector.

Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe On April 7, 2021, Cartoon Network Studios Europe adopted the name Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, revitalizing this iconic brand under WarnerMedia’s strategic direction. Based in London, this studio specializes in animation projects, including forthcoming series and a feature film connected to The Amazing World of Gumball. This rebranding reflects Warner Bros.' wider strategy to capitalize on legacy intellectual properties for expansion into international markets.

Filmography

Notable television series produced by Warner Bros. Television encompass titles such as Wonder Woman, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Two and a Half Men, Friends, and The Middle. These productions underscore the company's extensive market influence and varied programming slate.