• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 22, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

TNT Sports Fuels WBD’s Surge As Max Hits 110.5M Subscribers

The TNT Sports parent company is leaning heavily on its Max streaming service for live sports and other content as its NBA deal ends.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

TNT Sports parent company Warner Bros. Discovery saw its stock price rise early Thursday after reporting its best quarter of streaming growth since the launch of Max in May 2023.

The total number of Max subscribers grew by 7.2 million to 110.5 million globally by the end of September. Specific U.S. subscriber numbers were not reported.

As NBC does with Peacock and Disney does with ESPN+, more TNT Sports game broadcasts have been simulcasting on Max in the U.S. Eventually, WBD plans to charge $9.99 per month for the B/R Sports on Max tier, but so far it has made all of its content free: NBA, NHL, MLB, March Madness, and more.

On Thursday’s earnings call, WBD CEO David Zaslav touted a recent partnership that made Max free to Charter’s Spectrum TV customers and a separate bundle that brings Max together with Disney+ and Hulu. He didn’t address Venu Sports, the stalled joint sports streaming venture with Disney and Fox, but did call for more consolidation.

“Consumers put on a TV set and they see 16 apps,” Zaslav said. “And each of those are doing different pricing and you’re seeing it with your phone and Googling where a show is or where a sport is and you’re going from one to another and there’s so many that you have. … It’s not sustainable. And there probably should have been more meaningful consolidation … and you’re starting to see it now.”

Outside the U.S., WBD has some global-media rights for the Olympics, and it said the 2024 Paris Games generated more than 215 million cumulative views across WBD platforms, a 23% increase from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

During Q3, WBD still felt the negative impact of selling off its AT&T SportsNet regional sports channels last year. That exit hurt the growth rate of the company’s networks segment by roughly 2%, with revenue there still growing to just more than $5 billion. 

In December, TNT Sports will add two College Football Playoff broadcasts, and then in 2025 NASCAR (races, practices, and qualifying) and the French Open to its U.S. portfolio, which will lose the NBA after this season.

After taking a huge initial stock hit following its previous Q2 earnings report in August, WBD was trending up Thursday, reaching a high point of $9.78 per share midway through the morning, following a closing price of $8.38 on Wednesday.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

SEC Adopts 9-Game Conference Schedule As CFP Changes Loom

The conference matches schedule formats used by the Big Ten and Big 12.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.
Aug 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to drive past New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) in the third quarter at Barclays Center.

Man Arrested for Throwing Dildo at Liberty Game

After police released his photo, the man turned himself in.

Featured Today

Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”
August 17, 2025

‘Labubu Gang’: The Creepy-Cute Dolls Sweeping Pro Sports

The creepy-cute doll is the hottest collectible—and fashion statement.
Middle Tennessee wide receiver Cam'ron Lacy (86) catches a pass and carries the ball during the season final home football game against New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
August 15, 2025

How Middle Tennessee State Added $668,000 to Its NIL Budget

The Blue Raiders are creating a new blueprint for cutting costs.
Bridgewater American 12U Little League player Micah Poulter holds a District 7 pin during a send-off rally to the New England regional tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, from Legion Field on Friday, August 2, 2024.
August 14, 2025

Inside the Little League World Series Pin Trade

The rare little collectibles fuel a frenzy in Williamsport each summer.

Fox Enters Streaming Wars With Leaner, Sports-Heavy Approach

A different strategy marks the arrival of the network’s streaming service.
August 20, 2025

Bundesliga Bets on YouTube Creators for Live U.K. Game Streams

Bundesliga is the top German soccer league.
HAPPY GILMORE 2. (L to R) Quin Stiller as Will Zalatoris Caddie, Will Zalatoris as Himself, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as Oscar Mejias and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in Happy Gilmore2.
August 21, 2025

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched U.S. Movie Debut

The Adam Sandler, golf-themed movie sets more streaming records.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
Jey Uso and Pat McAfee look at each other after Uso’s win Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
August 20, 2025

WWE Will Leave Peacock for ESPN 6 Months Early

Peacock’s final show will be “Clash in Paris” on Aug. 31.
August 20, 2025

NFL Preseason Games Are Popping Up on YouTube’s Sunday Ticket

The $2 billion out-of-market package covers only the regular season.
August 20, 2025

Inside ESPN’s ‘Industry Shaping’ DTC Plan, What’s at Stake

Many bundle offers and opaque metrics mark the high-profile launch.
Kyle Busch talks with Nexstar Media Group, Wednesday February 14, 2024 during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway
August 19, 2025

$6.2B Nexstar-Tegna Deal Could Create Local Sports Juggernaut

CW parent company Nexstar looks to acquire its rival in a major deal.