The Presentation Highlighted WBD’s Culture-Setting Content and Immersive Storytelling that Connects Brands with Engaged Audiences
New York, NY- May 14, 2025 - Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) presented its annual Upfront presentation this morning at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where it showcased a dynamic lineup of converged advertising opportunities spanning across the company’s vast portfolio of entertainment, sports, theatrical, news and lifestyle brands. Warner Bros. Discovery Ad Sales co-Presidents Ryan Gould and Robert “Bobby” Voltaggio took the stage for the first time, introducing the company’s innovative and agile sales approach designed to connect advertisers with engaged audiences and drive measurable results.
Centered around the theme, "Like No Other”, the presentation highlighted Warner Bros. Discovery’s unique advantage in the marketplace –its unmatched ability to shape culture, deliver scale and meet consumers on every screen. WBD also unveiled the “WBD Storyverse,” a new initiative that taps into 100 years of iconic content to help brands connect with audiences through reimagined characters and IP. By aligning with fan-favorite stories, WBD will create custom brand moments that bring fresh lenses to its most beloved properties.
"Everything we're showing today reflects our evolution. WBD is a media company like no other,” Gould said. “We stand on a foundation constructed from world class IP. Stories that have built-in fanbases and cultural relevance that cuts through the noise."
"At WBD, we've never been more excited about the future," said Voltaggio. "We are continuing to strengthen WBD’s rich legacy with new, groundbreaking content that shapes the culture, drives conversation, and influences consumer behavior. We will continue to take bold leaps forward and embrace new technologies to give clients and brands more power and control and to drive even greater results."
Gould and Voltaggio were joined onstage by JB Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Games; Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content; Shauna Spenley, Global Chief Marketing Officer; Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks; Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports; Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide; Dana Nussbaum, EVP, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures; James Gunn, Co-Chairman and CEO of DC Studios; and Peter Safran, Co-Chairman and CEO of DC Studios.
Additionally, top-tier from the Warner Bros. Discovery family, including Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, Conan O’Brien, John Cena, Tim Meadows, Noah Wyle, Adam Lefkoe, Grant Hill, Champ Bailey, Candace Parker, Henrik Lundqvist, Sloane Stephens, Anderson Cooper, Audie Cornish, Roy Wood Jr., Michael Ian Black, Amber Ruffin, Tony Shalhoub and Shaquille O'Neal delighted attendees.
Warner Bros. Discovery made several exciting programming and enhanced advertising announcements including:
- Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Ad Sales Debuts NEO Ad Platform and DemoDirect at 2025 Upfronts
- Warner Bros. Discovery Ad Sales Announces “WBD Storyverse” to Leverage Beloved Films and TV Series
- Warner Bros. Discovery Announces Max to Become HBO Max this Summer
- Warner Bros. Discovery's Entertainment Networks Tout Robust Programming Lineup at New York Upfront Presentation
- Chip and Joanna Gaines Challenge Families to Live like it’s the 1880s- “Back to the Frontier” Premieres Thursday, July 10 on Magnolia Network and Max”
- CNN Expands the “Searching For” Franchise with New CNN Original Series Eva Longoria: Searching For France
- CNN Introduces New CNN Original Series Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread and Releases First Look
- CNN Renews Have I Got News For You for a Third Season Premiering Saturday, September 6 at 9pm ET/PT
- CNN Films Backs I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not from Two-Time Emmy® Winner Marina Zenovich for Premiere in 2026
- CNN Films Commissions Documentary from Emmy® and Peabody Award Winner Janet Tobias, Examining the Broad Rise of Early-Onset Cancer in Younger Adults
- CNN Original Series Reunites with Playtone for Decades in Sports
- CNN Teases CNN Originals 2025-2026 Programming Slate
- CNN's New Streaming Product Launching This Fall
WBD Upfront 2025/2026 Press Images
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About Warner Bros. Discovery:
Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery US Advertising Sales:
Warner Bros. Discovery US Advertising Sales (WBDAS) represents the most complete and differentiated collection of brands in North America, including Max, HBO, TNT, Discovery, TLC, Food Network, CNN, HGTV, DC, Adult Swim, and Warner Bros. Leveraging industry-leading IP across scripted, unscripted, news, movies, sports, and more, WBDAS offers advertisers unparalleled access to key demographics and high-engagement environments across every network and platform at the company. With a dynamic suite of platform and distribution channels, WBDAS creates curated and innovative partnerships for brands across streaming, digital, and linear to unlock the full potential of the OneWBD ecosystem. Data-driven insights and cutting-edge technologies enable WBDAS to deliver innovative, cross-platform advertising solutions, helping advertisers authentically connect with valuable audiences. WBDAS is part of WBD’s Revenue and Strategy Division. To learn how Warner Bros. Discovery US Advertising Sales elevates brand storytelling, please visit here.