Time Magazine 2015 Annual Report Download - page 13

Reflecting an important part of our strategy, Turner
also continued to solidify its presence outside the
traditional TV ecosystem, with CNN Digital retaining the
top position in news for multi-platform views for 2015,
and Bleacher Report again finishing the year as the #2
digital sports destination in the U.S. Additionally, Turner
launched new digital initiatives – Great Big Story and
SuperDeluxe – both of which are o to a great start in
attracting millennial audiences. Worldwide, Turner’s
brands and content reach over 200 countries, and
2015 was a very active year that included launching
31 new channels.
In a world where consumers have access to so
much great content, HBO remains supreme. Its 43
Primetime Emmy awards not only led all networks
for the 14th consecutive year, but also were the most
Emmys received in a single year by any network in at
least 25 years. That included 12 Emmys for Game of
Thrones, setting a record for any series in one year.
Home Box Oce also accelerated its eorts outside
the traditional TV ecosystem with the trailblazing launch
of HBO NOW in the U.S. in April 2015. HBO NOW
was a significant contributor to Home Box Oce’s
2.7 million domestic subscriber additions for HBO and
Cinemax in 2015, capping its best two-year period
of subscriber additions in the past 30 years. Just
as importantly, Home Box Oce continued to have
positive momentum with its traditional distributors.
HBO is also investing to bolster its original content
oerings across its traditional and broadband services
by adding such renowned names as Bill Simmons, Jon
Stewart and Sesame Street to its roster. Home Box
Oce continues to grow internationally as well, and
in 2016 plans to significantly expand its footprint in
new broadband-delivered services in Latin America
as well as launch an over-the-top service in Spain.
At Warner Bros., strong growth in television and a
best-ever year in videogames drove a record year in
both revenue and profits. In television, Warner Bros.
was the leading supplier to broadcast networks again,
and had the top new broadcast show in Blindspot,
the top reality program with The Voice, and the top
comedy series in The Big Bang Theory. Warner Bros.
also ended the year as a top-three videogame publisher
in the U.S. on the strength of Mortal Kombat X, Batman:
Arkham Knight, and the successful introduction of a
new franchise in LEGO Dimensions.
Theatrically, one of our standouts in 2015 was
Mad Max: Fury Road, which won six Oscars at the
88th Academy Awards, more than any other film. And
we’re planning big things for Warner Bros. in 2016
and beyond, with an ambitious slate that includes
Suicide Squad (the next of several upcoming releases
from DC Entertainment), J.K. Rowling’s return to the
big screen with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find
Them, and, beginning in 2017, several follow-ups to
the 2014 hit, The LEGO Movie.
To tap into the significant growth opportunity we
see in China specifically, in 2015 Warner Bros. entered
into an exciting new venture, Flagship Entertainment, to
produce a slate of Chinese-language films for distribution
in China and other markets. Our confidence in this
opportunity has been reinforced by the success of
Hollywood VIP, a video-on-demand and broadband-
based subscription service in China in which Warner
Bros. has partnered with Tencent, a leading Chinese
media and distribution company. Hollywood VIP added
more than 5 million subscribers in 2015, helped by
its exclusive access to Warner Bros. films and HBO
original programming.
As all these examples illustrate, 2015 was another
very successful year across the company. And thanks
to the investments we’ve been making, we’re poised
for an exciting 2016 – and beyond – as we roll out
even richer, more engaging content lineups across
the company and accelerate the pace of innovation
to further create shareholder value.
Our ability to do all this would not be possible
without Time Warner’s more than 24,000 employees; it’s
their talent and creativity that drives our accomplishments
and gives me confidence in our future. In addition
to their passion for our brands and dedication to
achieving our business goals, our employees and
management share a common culture that cares about
the communities in which we work and live, and is
committed to fostering a workforce that reflects our
global audiences and allows distinct and diverse voices
and perspectives to flourish.
On behalf of everyone at Time Warner, thank
you for the trust and confidence you place in us.
Je Bewkes
Chairman and CEO
 29, 2016
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