Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Merge

Warner Bros. Discovery made a move to let go of 82 employees and eliminate 43 open positions from its Television division. According to

The Verge

, Channing Dungey, chief executive officer, Warner Bros. Television, released an internal memo to employees stating that Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios will all continue to exist and be run by Sam Register, president, Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe and Cartoon Network Studios, as part of the company’s “new streamlined structure.” Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios will now share “development and main production teams.” 

This comes after multiple cost-cutting moves for the company, including

canceling shows like “Raised by Wolves”

and

pulling the

. Back in August,

HBO Max removed more than 30 animated series from its catalog

. Additional shows are being produced in lower volume or have been

axed from initial production altogether

.  

While Warner Bros. Discovery seems to be cutting costs with content,

it has continued to pour funds into established IP

. This October, for example, Warner Bros. Discovery leaned into the “Scooby Doo” IP to announce “

Scoobtober

,” a merchandise plan for Halloween. Additionally, merchandise for “

House of the Dragon

” (a “Game of Thrones” spinoff) and an expansion of the

“Friends” experience

have recently been revealed from the brand. Leaning on evergreen IP properties is nothing new, but this latest move gives Warner Bros. Discovery the chance to save money while raking in more guaranteed revenue, rather than investing in properties that may or may not turn a profit. 

According to

Variety

, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Animation and Hanna-Barbera Studios will remain distinct brands after their merge.