Warner Bros. Discovery

In 1918, Warner Bros. established their West Coast Studios at 5842 Sunset Blvd, marking a significant expansion of their film production operations.

On April 4, 1923, Warner Bros. Pictures was formally incorporated by the Warner brothers - Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack. They started as a film studio and later expanded into various entertainment sectors like animation, television, and video games.

In 1924, Warner Bros. gained backing from Wall Street and arranged a major loan through Goldman Sachs.

In 1925, Warner Bros. held meetings with Western Electric and Bell Laboratories to discuss 'talking pictures' technology. They also installed new sound equipment in the Vitagraph Studios they had recently acquired in Brooklyn.

On August 6, 1926, the premiere of 'Don Juan' took place at Warners’ Theatre in New York, showcasing Warner Bros.' commitment to innovative film productions.

On October 6th, 1927, Warner Bros. released The Jazz Singer, changing the entertainment industry forever.

In a bidding war with William Fox, Warner Bros. acquired more shares of First National Pictures on September 13, 1928. Jack Warner also appointed Zanuck as the manager of First National Pictures.

In 1929, Warner Bros. purchased the St. Louis-based theater chain Skouras Brothers Enterprises, leading to Spyros Skouras becoming the general manager of the Warner Brothers Theater Circuit in America and turning its losses into profits.

On November 5, 1930, the film Disraeli was nominated for Best Picture at the 3rd Academy Awards.

On November 18, 1932, the film Five Star Final received a nomination for Best Picture at the 5th Academy Awards.

On March 16, 1934, the movie 42nd Street was nominated for Best Picture at the 6th Academy Awards.

In 1935, Harry Warner and six other movie studios were indicted for conspiring to violate the Sherman Antitrust Act in an attempt to monopolize St. Louis movie theaters.

In 1937, Warner Bros. signed Midwestern radio announcer Ronald Reagan to a new contract after being impressed by his performance in the film Knute Rockne, All American. This marked the beginning of Reagan's journey to becoming a top star in Hollywood.

Warner Bros. bought Schlesinger's cartoon unit in 1944 and renamed it Warner Bros.

In May 1956, the Warner Bros. announced the decision to put Warner Bros. on the market. Jack Warner orchestrated a deal to purchase 90% of the stock and eventually became the company's largest stockholder and president.

In 1958, Warner Bros. launched Warner Bros. Records, initially releasing recordings made by their television stars and records based on television soundtracks.

In 1969, Warner Bros. Cartoons was dissolved as the parent company decided to cease film shorts entirely. Characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig became iconic figures for the company.

In 1998, Warner Bros. celebrated its 75th anniversary.

In 2004, Time Warner sold the Warner Music Group, including Warner Bros. Records, to a private equity group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr.

In 2006, Warner Bros. collaborated with China Film Group Corporation and HG to establish Warner China Film HG for film production in Hong Kong and China, creating movies like Connected, a remake of Cellular.

On January 4, 2008, Warner Bros. announced the discontinuation of HD DVD format in favor of Blu-ray Disc, impacting the release of movies following Blu-ray and DVD formats.

In June 2018, AT&T acquired Time Warner, Warner Bros.' parent company, leading to the formation of WarnerMedia and subsequent changes in the company's structure.

Warner Bros. revealed a modernized version of its shield logo on November 13, 2019, designed by Pentagram for the company's centennial, featuring a more versatile appearance.

On May 16, 2021, Bloomberg News reported that AT&T was considering divesting its media subsidiary WarnerMedia and merging it with Discovery, Inc. to form a new publicly traded company. The merger would involve a Reverse Morris Trust structure with AT&T shareholders holding a 71% interest.

On June 1, 2021, it was announced that the merged company resulting from the AT&T and Discovery merger would be known as Warner Bros. Discovery. The company aimed to combine Warner Bros.' legacy of storytelling with Discovery's innovation.

On December 22, 2021, the European Commission approved the transaction involving Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing the merger to proceed.

On January 5, 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that WarnerMedia and Paramount Global were exploring a possible sale of The CW, with Nexstar Media Group considered a leading bidder.

On March 14, 2022, Discovery CFO confirmed that merging Discovery+ and HBO Max into a unified platform was a long-term goal post-merger.

On April 8, 2022, AT&T divested WarnerMedia to its shareholders and merged with Discovery Inc. to establish Warner Bros. Discovery. The new entity is headed by Discovery's CEO David Zaslav, marking a significant corporate restructuring in the media industry.

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. commenced trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange on April 11, 2022, under the new ticker symbol 'WBD'. This marked the start of a new era for the company as a premier standalone global media and entertainment entity.

On May 11, 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery reorganized its executive positions, including eliminating roles from WarnerMedia and shifting network oversight. They also announced a joint venture with BT Group for BT Sport channels.

Warner Bros. Pictures head Toby Emmerich announced his resignation on June 1, 2022, to establish a new studio with a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.

On August 4, 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery released its second-quarter earnings report, revealing revenue and losses primarily from integration and restructuring expenses.

On August 15, 2022, Nexstar confirmed the acquisition of a 75% controlling interest in The CW, with Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount retaining ownership stakes.

During a company town hall on September 28, 2022, David Zaslav addressed rumors of a possible sale of WBD, stating that the company was not for sale and had all the necessary resources for success.

On October 3, 2022, Nexstar completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in The CW, leading to Mark Pedowitz resigning as chairman and CEO, with Dennis Miller taking over as the network's president.

On February 8, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that WBD changed its plans to merge Discovery+ with HBO Max, with the successor of HBO Max incorporating most Discovery content while Discovery+ continues to operate.

On February 24, 2023, WBD CEO David Zaslav confirmed the change in plans regarding Discovery+, stating that the service has profitable subscribers satisfied with its offerings.

On June 23, 2023, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Paul Thomas Anderson met with Warner Bros. Discovery executives, leading to the decision to place Turner Classic Movies (TCM) under Warner Bros. Pictures Group heads Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to ensure the preservation of its cultural significance and programming.

On 18 July 2023, TNT Sports was launched in the UK & Ireland, offering exclusive live sports such as Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and more. The launch was a result of a joint venture between BT Group and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. was established as a result of a merger or reorganization involving Warner Bros. and Discovery, Inc. It marked a significant event in the entertainment industry.