Founded: September 8, 2005
The WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP oversees and grows the entire portfolio of Warner Bros.’ television businesses, including worldwide production, traditional and digital distribution, and broadcasting.
In the traditional TV arena, WBTVG produces primetime, first-run, cable and animated series, with over 50 series on television in 2011–12. WBTVG is the only studio to have at least one series on each of the five broadcast networks. In fact, Warner Bros. has at least four series on every network. And Warner Bros. is the only studio to have at least one new series/pilot pickup on each of the five broadcast networks.
The cornerstone of WBTVG is Warner Bros. Television, one of the industry’s leading suppliers of network programming, as well as a major producer for cable. WBTV’s returning programs for 2011–12 are “The Big Bang Theory,” “Chuck,” “The Closer,” “Fringe,” “Gossip Girl,” “Harry’s Law,” “The Mentalist,” “The Middle,” “Mike & Molly,” “Nikita,” “One Tree Hill,” “Shameless,” “Southland,” “Supernatural,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Vampire Diaries” and “Childrens Hospital,” among others. New series include comedies “2 Broke Girls,” “Are You There, Chelsea?,” “I Hate My Teenage Daughter,” “Little in Common,” “Suburgatory” and “Work It,” along with one-hour dramas “Alcatraz,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Major Crimes,” “Person of Interest” and “The Secret Circle.”
WBTVG also includes Warner Horizon Television (producer of scripted cable series such as “The Lying Game,” “Memphis Beat,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Rizzoli & Isles” and the upcoming “Dallas” and “Longmire,” as well as reality series for network and cable such as “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor Pad,” “H8R,” “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew,” “Take the Money and Run” and “The Voice”), Telepictures (first-run strips such as “Anderson,” “Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Extra,” “Judge Mathis,” “The People’s Court” and “TMZ”), Warner Bros. Animation (current series “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “The Looney Tunes Show,” “MAD,” “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,” “ThunderCats” and “Young Justice,” as well as the upcoming “Green Lantern: The Animated Series”) and Studio 2.0, distributor of original digital content.
WBTVG is rapidly developing new business models for the evolving television landscape, including video-on-demand, broadband, wireless and home video exploitation of its vast library. WBTVG has digital distribution agreements in place with all of the major broadcast networks and, in September 2006, formed digital venture Studio 2.0.
WBTVG continues its strategic expansion into digital production and distribution with several advertiser-supported entertainment destinations, including TheWB.com, a premium, video-on-demand interactive and personalized network; DCBeyond.com and KidsWB.com, premium destinations built around youth-oriented immersive entertainment; and Essence.com – a cross-divisional collaboration between Telepictures and Time Inc.’s Essence Communications – which aims to be the ultimate online destination for African-American women.
The Television Group has two category-leading distribution units: Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD). Together, these entities are responsible for the distribution of Warner Bros. Entertainment content to television outlets around the world.
The final component of WBTVG is broadcasting: The CW Television Network –launched (in partnership with CBS) in September 2006 with quality, diverse programming – is targeted to the 18–34 audience.