TL85: What if Warner didn't lose its cable networks?

[captain-wacky]

"ah sweet, another Warner Bros. AU, as if FoxWarner wasn't enough..."


well, let me tell you something…

...this AU is completely different from that one.

So... Atari just so happened to get nuked thanks to the video game crash and its licensed E.T. video game IRL.

and not only did that crash completely destroy many home consoles (the NES didn't come around until 1985), but Warner Communications as well.

and said crash hurt Warner's financial status so bad that they had to sell Warner-AMEX Cable (which comprised MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and The Movie Channel) to Viacom and merge with Time Inc. a little bit later to form Time Warner.

but what if that crash didn't happen at all, well, we'd have a completely different media landscape than the one we have now.

 

[captain-wacky]

"ah sweet, another Warner Bros. AU, as if FoxWarner wasn't enough..."


well, let me tell you something…

...this AU is completely different from that one.

So... Atari just so happened to get nuked thanks to the video game crash and its licensed E.T. video game IRL.

and not only did that crash completely destroy many home consoles (the NES didn't come around until 1985), but Warner Communications as well.

and said crash hurt Warner's financial status so bad that they had to sell Warner-AMEX Cable (which comprised MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and The Movie Channel) to Viacom and merge with Time Inc. a little bit later to form Time Warner.

but what if that crash didn't happen at all, well, we'd have a completely different media landscape than the one we have now.

let us begin with, well, Warner Communications...

so around 1982, Atari and Universal were planning to sign a deal to create a video game based on Steven Spielberg's E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial, but said film's director, Steven Spielberg, comes right in and tries to stop this deal from happening.

Atari didn't budge at first, but Spielberg negotiated with Atari's board that this game could be bad and later on, agreed with Spielberg; but meanwhile at Universal, their executives still wanted the E.T. video game to happen, and decides to sign the deal with Coleco instead, which was so bad (both financially and critically) that it got Coleco nuked and forced out of the gaming industry. (credit to Amir for this idea)

and now that Atari has avoided a major bullet, Warner Communications is currently in a safe place and is preparing a huge 10-year plan that would be executed in 1989.

 

[Nivek]

let us begin with, well, Warner Communications...

so around 1982, Atari and Universal were planning to sign a deal to create a video game based on Steven Spielberg's E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial, but said film's director, Steven Spielberg, comes right in and tries to stop this deal from happening.

Atari didn't budge at first, but Spielberg negotiated with Atari's board that this game could be bad and later on, agreed with Spielberg; but meanwhile at Universal, their executives still wanted the E.T. video game to happen, and decides to sign the deal with Coleco instead, which was so bad (both financially and critically) that it got Coleco nuked and forced out of the gaming industry. (credit to Amir for this idea)

and now that Atari has avoided a major bullet, Warner Communications is currently in a safe place and is preparing a huge 10-year plan that would be executed in 1989.

Et wasn't the problem,pac man unsold inventory still struck Atari and the overabundance of hardware and little software is still there,so the bomb will still explode, plus Warner already loss faith with Atari (too much mismanagement) so with the crash they might sold it but will be able to keep amex

 

[THE KINGFISH]

Et wasn't the problem,pac man unsold inventory still struck Atari and the overabundance of hardware and little software is still there,so the bomb will still explode, plus Warner already loss faith with Atari (too much mismanagement) so with the crash they might sold it but will be able to keep amex

So basically, the only way Atari could have avoided the crash is if they went with an IPO instead of being sold to Warner back in 1976?

 

[Nivek]

So basically, the only way Atari could have avoided the crash is if they went with an IPO instead of being sold to Warner back in 1976?

Yeah and got management didn't make the companies into internal kliques that miscommunicated with the other (the distrasous 5200 was the lead example of that,some Atari engineer wanted to make microcomputers that videogame consoles)(in fact kassar asking almost begging Nintendo for the Famicom was him having a device the Atari engineer wouldn't fuck up)

 

[captain-wacky]

So basically, the only way Atari could have avoided the crash is if they went with an IPO instead of being sold to Warner back in 1976?

I'd say that IPO could be the best way for Atari, Warner would still partner with them.

 

[captain-wacky]

and perhaps Warner Bros would open a small-sized gaming division around 1988 as well.

 

[Nivek]

I'd say that IPO could be the best way for Atari, Warner would still partner with them.

and perhaps Warner Bros would open a small-sized gaming division around 1988 as well.

I think you misunderstood why Warner bought Atari , they thought they owned a victrola when bought Atari and live with the royalties from the device and others, forgetting how that doesn't worked that way... Let's say kassar, inside trading aside,was the best guy Warner got to manage the mess was Atari and Warner relationship

Regardless if they don't own Atari, Warner might not cares about videogames besides licensing their IP

 

[captain-wacky]

I think you misunderstood why Warner bought Atari , they thought they owned a victrola when bought Atari and live with the royalties from the device and others, forgetting how that doesn't worked that way... Let's say kassar, inside trading aside,was the best guy Warner got to manage the mess was Atari and Warner relationship

Regardless if they don't own Atari, Warner might not cares about videogames besides licensing their IP

yeah, but that isn't until the 2000s when they started getting serious about gaming.

 

[Nivek]

yeah, but that isn't until the 2000s when they started getting serious about gaming.

That shows how little Warner cared about videogames, have that on mind(and for the best, infogrames did made good use of their Warner licenses)

 

[Michel Van]

Had Warner focus on successor of VLC 2600, who was a 7 years old hardware in 1984.
It would change allot, but had Warner kept Atari in 1984, they would gain a game changing computer
Codename Loraine, what became later the Commodore Amiga !

 

[captain-wacky]

alright, here's what I've been cooking up as of lately:

---

---

Project Millennium
Warner Communications' long term plan for growth
1989: acquire and successfully bid for Home Box Office, Inc.
1990: begin corporate restructuring
1991: expand budget for cable networks and television studios
1991: acquire pre-1950 library from Turner
1991: begin negotiations with station owners to start a new broadcast network (or in case if that fails, acquire an established network with its own set of programming. we'll get to that a little bit later)
1992: upgrade cable service facilities
1992: sign new artists at Warner Music's labels
1992: complete corporate restructure
1993: open new publishing division using the facilities of DC Comics (DC would remain unaffected)
1993: acquire Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. and begin to leverage their themed entertainment parks
1994: start new label for independent films
1995: open new game development studio in San Diego (it would be around <20 employees)
1995: revamp main studio facilities to include new digital equipment and more sets and offices
1996: a big-budget Looney Tunes feature film starring a popular celebrity, which would, ITTL become a true reboot for Looney Tunes as a whole
1997: a new and original animated series produced by a certain animator that used to work on Rocko's Modern Life for Nickelodeon
1997: start up a new division focused on digital entertainment
1997: increase film schedule for new independent label
1998: increase cable service facilities and introduce it across various territories
1998: spin off Six Flags
1998: spin off cable service for IPO
1999: begin expanding San Diego game development studio to produce a new game for next gen consoles.
Post-90s (WIP)
acquire a decently-sized video game company with a sizable amount of IP
​

---

---

so basically, it was a plan conducted by WCI boss, Steve Ross in 1989 during their acquisition of HBO at the time, whose vision then continued to be passed on by Richard Parsons and Jeff Bewkes.

WCI's plan was a complete re-invention of Warner Bros. for the modern age, such as adapting itself to modern technology to re-introducing its characters for the modern age (alongside some new ones as well.)

And it worked for Warner Bros, as it actually got them in a good state instead of being fucked by a certain internet company, which would've saved them from their financial curse that continued to persist for many years OTL.

 

[captain-wacky]

and you may be thinking, what would happen to Ted Turner ITTL?

it's simple, he merges his company with rival cable company Viacom.

so basically, after Turner failed to get HBO, (and after Viacom failed to get MTV, Nick and TMC from WCI), Ted Turner's media company had no option to live, at all, I mean, outside this timeline, TBS didn't have HBO at the time and his media company kinda lived, but here, in this timeline, everybody was so fucking desperate for HBO because Columbia were interested in it, which caused the whole-ass bidding war and Time Inc. splitting itself apart.

but Ted sought other options and found Showtime, which was owned by Viacom.

at first, he negotiated with Sumner Redstone, which was the CEO of Viacom at the time, to kindly sell Showtime to him, Sumner initially refused, but Ted kept wanting to discuss a possible merger with his company and Viacom.

Sumner and Ted both came to an agreement and decided to merge his company's assets with Viacom's, and eventually getting promoted to board member.

and of course, Viacom sets up the Cartoon Network with the libraries of MGM and Terrytoons, and eventually acquires CBS and Paramount Pictures (and UPN), along with investing in the small-sized conglomerate DreamWorks SKG and the Japanese gaming giant SEGA.

(UPN would somewhat exist as this timeline's equivalent of The CW, but without all of the Warner glitz.)

 

[Nivek]

TBS didn't have HBO

TBS never had HBO,they only enter the same market when dual merger with Time (yes the magazine) and Warner

 

[Otakuninja2006]

alright, here's what I've been cooking up as of lately:

---

---

Project Millennium
Warner Communications' long term plan for growth​

This already sounds like a cool plan.

1989: acquire and successfully bid for Home Box Office, Inc.
1990: begin corporate restructuring
1991: expand budget for cable networks and television studios
1991: acquire pre-1950 library from Turner​

Cool. How would this corporate restructuring look like? What would this mean now that their budgets have been increased? What will Turner get in exchange from giving the Looney Tunes back to WB?

1991: begin negotiations with station owners to start a new broadcast network (or in case if that fails, acquire an established network with its own set of programming. we'll get to that a little bit later)​

Oh.

1992: start new cable service​

Didn't they already have Warner Cable? What would this cable service even be?

1992: sign new artists at Warner Music's labels
1992: complete corporate restructure
1993: open new publishing division using the facilities of DC Comics (DC would remain unaffected)
1993: acquire Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. and begin to leverage their themed entertainment parks​

Cool. What would the new publishing

1994: start new label for independent films​

Cool. Could they distribute foreign films?

1995: open new game development studio in San Diego (it would be around <20 employees)​

What will be their first games?

1995: revamp main studio facilities to include new digital equipment and more sets and offices
1996: a big-budget Looney Tunes feature film starring a popular celebrity, which would, ITTL become a true reboot for Looney Tunes as a whole​

Cool. What else would be a part of this Looney Tunes reboot?

1997: a new and original animated series produced by a certain animator that used to work on Rocko's Modern Life for Nickelodeon​

???

1997: start up a new division focused on digital entertainment
1997: increase film schedule for new independent label​

Nice. What should this new digital entertainment unit make and be called?

1998: increase cable service facilities and introduce it across various territories
1998: spin off cable service for IPO​

So the plan is to expand it then spin it off? Can they buy TCI ITTL instead of AT&T and Comcast?

1999: begin expanding San Diego game development studio to produce a new game for next gen consoles.
Post-90s (WIP)
acquire a decently-sized video game company with a sizable amount of IP​

Nice.

---

---

so basically, it was a plan conducted by WCI boss, Steve Ross in 1989 during their acquisition of HBO at the time, whose vision then continued to be passed on by Richard Parsons and Jeff Bewkes.

WCI's plan was a complete re-invention of Warner Bros. for the modern age, such as adapting itself to modern technology to re-introducing its characters for the modern age (alongside some new ones as well.)

And it worked for Warner Bros, as it actually got them in a good state instead of being fucked by a certain internet company, which would've saved them from their financial curse that continued to persist for many years OTL.

That's great. I'd also recommend you not have Jeff Bewkes in charge due to the lack of syngery. Unless he's gonna be different ITTL.

and you may be thinking, what would happen to Ted Turner ITTL?

it's simple, he merges his company with rival cable company Viacom.

so basically, after Turner failed to get HBO, (and after Viacom failed to get MTV, Nick and TMC from WCI), Ted Turner's media company had no option to live, at all, I mean, outside this timeline, TBS didn't have HBO at the time and his media company kinda lived, but here, in this timeline, everybody was so fucking desperate for HBO because Columbia were interested in it, which caused the whole-ass bidding war and Time Inc. splitting itself apart.

oh....please don't let Viacom's toxic influences leak ITTL, especially not on Cartoon Network.......

but Ted sought other options and found Showtime, which was owned by Viacom.

at first, he negotiated with Sumner Redstone, which was the CEO of Viacom at the time, to kindly sell Showtime to him, Sumner initially refused, but Ted kept wanting to discuss a possible merger with his company and Viacom.

Sumner and Ted both came to an agreement and decided to merge his company's assets with Viacom's, and eventually getting promoted to board member.

and of course, Viacom sets up the Cartoon Network with the libraries of MGM and Terrytoons, and eventually acquires CBS and Paramount Pictures (and UPN), along with investing in the small-sized conglomerate DreamWorks SKG and the Japanese gaming giant SEGA.

(UPN would somewhat exist as this timeline's equivalent of The CW, but without all of the Warner glitz.)

Ok. Would they still buy Hanna-Barbera? Also, maybe they buy DreamWorks outright?

 

[captain-wacky]

This already sounds like a cool plan.

Cool. How would this corporate restructuring look like? What would this mean now that their budgets have been increased? What will Turner get in exchange from giving the Looney Tunes back to WB?

Oh.

Didn't they already have Warner Cable? What would this cable service even be?

Cool. What would the new publishing

Cool. Could they distribute foreign films?

What will be their first games?

Cool. What else would be a part of this Looney Tunes reboot?

???

Nice. What should this new digital entertainment unit make and be called?

So the plan is to expand it then spin it off? Can they buy TCI ITTL instead of AT&T and Comcast?

Nice.

That's great. I'd also recommend you not have Jeff Bewkes in charge due to the lack of syngery. Unless he's gonna be different ITTL.

oh....please don't let Viacom's toxic influences leak ITTL, especially not on Cartoon Network.......

Ok. Would they still buy Hanna-Barbera? Also, maybe they buy DreamWorks outright?

1. Yes, their budgets are increased, and Viacom (which is Turner ITTL) gets the broadcast rights of some Looney Tunes shorts on CN. (they'd still have to pay royalties to WCI though)
3. oh yeah, I forgot that Warner Cable existed before 1992, I'll edit it later on
4. the publishing division would be mainly focused on magazines.
5. Yes, indeed
6. I have no plan for this, but perhaps a better version of Superman 64 for the PS1 and N64 could do?
7. TV Shows for Nickelodeon and actual feature films.
8. the sponge
9. something basic like Warner Digital
10. uhh, likely no, since TCI would later fund a rival multichannel service to HBO alongside MCA and News Corp after the HBO bidding war that caused Time Inc to split
11. indeed
12. he would be different ITTL, trust me. (he actually starts off at TMC before moving on to MTV Networks and later, controlling WB)
13. relax, Ted Turner would actually oversee all of Viacom's channels ITTL, so Viacom won't be as bad as it is OTL.
14. Yes, and maybe yes. (although a 50% stake would do, as I see DreamWorks as its own independent company rather than a subsidiary of a studio. but Viacom would treat DW kinda like its animation studio)

 

[Otakuninja2006]

1. Yes, their budgets are increased, and Viacom (which is Turner ITTL) gets the broadcast rights of some Looney Tunes shorts on CN. (they'd still have to pay royalties to WCI though)
3. oh yeah, I forgot that Warner Cable existed before 1992, I'll edit it later on
4. the publishing division would be mainly focused on magazines.
5. Yes, indeed
6. I have no plan for this, but perhaps a better version of Superman 64 for the PS1 and N64 could do?
7. TV Shows for Nickelodeon and actual feature films.

Cool. What magazines would they make tho?

8. the sponge

Oh. Hopefully he doesn't take over the network at the cost of everything else ITTL.

9. something basic like Warner Digital

Figured.

10. uhh, likely no, since TCI would later fund a rival multichannel service to HBO alongside MCA and News Corp after the HBO bidding war that caused Time Inc to split

So who would buy TCI's cable systems ITTL? Would it be AT&T?

11. indeed
12. he would be different ITTL, trust me. (he actually starts off at TMC before moving on to MTV Networks and later, controlling WB)
13. relax, Ted Turner would actually oversee all of Viacom's channels ITTL, so Viacom won't be as bad as it is OTL.
14. Yes, and maybe yes. (although a 50% stake would do, as I see DreamWorks as its own independent company rather than a subsidiary of a studio. but Viacom would treat DW kinda like its animation studio)

Those are all good ideas.

 

[captain-wacky]

Tele-Communications Inc., MCA and News Corporation announce partnership to launch new premium cable multichannel​

November 12, 1989, NEW YORK CITY​

on November 12, 1989, Tele-Communications Inc (NASDAQ: TCOMA), MCA, and News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWSA) have announced their partnership to launch a premium cable multichannel service that each company would partake in a 33% stake.

The new service would be named "Encore", and it would feature movies from the 60's, 70's and 80's, with hits from two of the world's biggest studios, Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.



Encore would have 8 channels: Action, True Stories & Drama, Love Stories, WAM!, Mystery, Westerns, and Starz! And Encore's set to launch on 23 September, 1990 on TCI systems and on the 28th, on other cable providers.

 

[captain-wacky]

Cool. What magazines would they make tho?

Oh. Hopefully he doesn't take over the network at the cost of everything else ITTL.

Figured.

So who would buy TCI's cable systems ITTL? Would it be AT&T?

Those are all good ideas.

1. Eh, mostly magazines based on WB, pop culture, MTV, Nickelodeon, etc.
2. He won't be taking over the network, as Nickelodeon ITTL is more so leaning on originals than reruns of the sponge
3. Yes
4. Agreed

 

[Otakuninja2006]

Tele-Communications Inc., MCA and News Corporation announce partnership to launch new premium cable multichannel​

November 12, 1989, NEW YORK CITY​

View attachment 898629View attachment 898631View attachment 898632

on November 12, 1989, Tele-Communications Inc (NASDAQ: TCOMA), MCA, and News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWSA) have announced their partnership to launch a premium cable multichannel service that each company would partake in a 33% stake.

The new service would be named "Encore", and it would feature movies from the 60's, 70's and 80's, with hits from two of the world's biggest studios, Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.



Encore would have 8 channels: Action, True Stories & Drama, Love Stories, WAM!, Mystery, Westerns, and Starz! And Encore's set to launch on 23 September, 1990 on TCI systems and on the 28th, on other cable providers.

That's good, but damn, 8 channels IN 1990? How would that work considering the whole channel space thing? Would 100/150/200 channel cable systems become a thing earlier?

1. Eh, mostly magazines based on WB, pop culture, MTV, Nickelodeon, etc.
2. He won't be taking over the network, as Nickelodeon ITTL is more so leaning on originals than reruns of the sponge
3. Yes
4. Agreed

Cool.