Viewers of  channels like Pogo, Discovery Channel, etc were surprised recently to see a scroll running on various distribution platforms stating that the channels of Discovery Communications India will be available on ala carte basis from August 6.

The scrolls running on some of the biggest distribution platforms in India related to TV channels managed and distributed by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), industry sources say, points to commercial disagreement between the broadcaster and MSOs.

Leading MSOs like the GTPL, Hathway, NXT DIGITAL and DEN Networks are running from August 6 a scroll that, in short, states the WBD channels will be available on ala carte basis

It is learnt that WBD has increased the subscription prices of the TV channels, but new RIOs were yet to be signed between the broadcasters and MSOs. The hiked prices have not gone down well with distributors, it seems.

When DTH operators were contacted for their reaction on this move by cable MSOs, they said they were monitoring the developments closely.

Meanwhile, while WBD (the parent of WBD India) has already announced that the company would be broken up into two — one mainly focussing on the profitable streaming and movie business; the other housing mainly the linear TV operations — in India the proposed restructuring of the business is still unfolding. Some observers feel that in the shakeup the local entity is likely to see some rejig in operations that could lead to some executive exits.

On July 28, WBD issued a media statement in the US through which it announced corporate names and senior leadership appointments for the two entities when the company separates in mid-2026.

According to a Reuters report, Warner Bros Discovery has said the two companies created by the separation of its studio, streaming and cable TV units would be named ‘Warner Bros’ and ‘Discovery Global’, unwinding a merger in less than four years due to seismic shifts in the entertainment industry.

Warner Bros will house the crown jewels of WBD‘s entertainment library, including Warner Bros and DC Studios as well as the HBO Max streaming service, the company said in a statement, according to the Reuters report.

The global networks division will include its cable networks, CNN and TNT Sports as well as the Discovery+ streaming service and will be called Discovery Global.

The split, which would create two publicly traded companies, was announced in June and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. It demerges WarnerMedia and Discovery, with an aim to grow the streaming and studios business without the drag of the declining networks unit.

WBD’s current President and CEO David Zaslav will serve in the same designation at the newly announced Warner Bros, while Discovery Global will be led by Gunnar Wiedenfels (currently CFO of WBD) as President and CEO.

How will these announcements impact India operations is still to be seen?