Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is significantly ramping up its investment in factual entertainment in India, with plans to deliver over 3,000 hours of programming in 2024, according to a report in the Economic Times, which quoted a senior company executive Sai Abhishek.

This ambitious content slate will feature both global and homegrown intellectual properties (IPs) across various linear and streaming platforms, Sai Abhishek, Head of Factual & Lifestyle Cluster for South Asia at WBD, outlined in the ET report. (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/warner-bros-discovery-ramps-up-investment-in-factual-entertainment/articleshow/114095790.cms?from=mdr)

Abhishek highlighted the immense potential for developing Indian IPs, particularly those that delve into the country’s rich history and expressed confidence in the global appeal of Indian factual entertainment by stating, “I’m very confident that the factual entertainment category will only grow, driven by the investments being made by all players, including us.”

According to regulatory filings, WBD’s annual expenses in India range from Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,000 crore, with a significant portion earmarked for content creation. WBD’s factual entertainment channels currently reach 120 million viewers monthly.

Abhishek emphasized that WBD is not only expanding its content offerings but is also backing each release with strong marketing campaigns, particularly for its original Ips, the ET report said.