Alessandro Araimo, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, recently spoke to Corriere della Sera about the company’s strategic plans beyond its collaboration with Amadeus-TV-Ansa.it. According to Araimo, their strategic path is not solely focused on building a third television network, as he believes this concept is outdated. While linear television remains central to the Italian media system, Araimo acknowledges that the world around it has drastically changed.
Araimo’s main objective is to demonstrate that Italy is a profitable market for Warner Bros. Discovery to invest in. When asked about the possibility of working with Fiorello, Araimo expressed his admiration for the entertainer but emphasized the need for a specific project that currently does not exist.
Regarding their investment in entertainment and their aim to compete with Rai and Mediaset, Araimo confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery is indeed allocating resources towards this goal. The company’s strategy is built on three pillars: linear television (already the third-largest broadcaster in Italy), film distribution (a leading position in Italy), and the streaming platform Discovery+ (which will be renamed Max next year), aspiring to rival Netflix and Disney+.
Investing in linear television makes sense for Warner Bros. Discovery because it aligns with their growth objectives in the other two assets. Araimo did not disclose the exact amount invested in Amadeus-TV-Ansa.it but emphasized that what matters is not the number itself but rather evaluating the investment based on its hourly cost compared to the share it generates and the resulting revenue.
As for the programs hosted by Amadeus, various options are currently being considered for both prime time and access slots. Araimo acknowledged that although Amadeus works on formats that he does not own, unlike Fazio or Crozza, he still leaves a strong personal imprint on these programs. He has a talent for infusing them with his creative touch, making them uniquely his own.
Even the Sanremo Festival, Araimo highlighted, became synonymous with Amadeus due to his creative influence. Moving on to the potential addition of Barbara D’Urso and Belen, Araimo mentioned that Warner Bros. Discovery is constantly developing new projects. Laura Carafoli, the company’s editorial manager, is actively working on further ideas for Nove and other channels within the group. While there is no automatic rejection of any project, it must make sense both editorially and economically.
In conclusion, Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategic path goes beyond their collaboration with Amadeus-TV-Ansa.it. Their focus is on investing profitably in the Italian market by leveraging their three key assets: linear television, film distribution, and the streaming platform Discovery+. With plans for new programs and openness to potential collaborations, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to leave a lasting mark on the Italian media landscape.