Part 4/8:
While Zasloff’s moves might have been viewed as shrewd in an attempt to cut losses, they ultimately revealed the precarious position Warner Brothers Discovery finds itself in the marketplace. The company was left with fragmented sports rights, including niche properties like major college football, the NHL, and some limited basketball broadcasts—all of which lack the stellar drawing power of the NBA.
On the regional level, Warner's access to international markets does little to bolster its reputation. The loss of NBA rights means that their sports portfolio is now largely viewed as second tier, and in a world where streaming reigns supreme, local and international cable offerings struggle to keep up.