logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
44m 31s

Netflix and the Fall of Television | To ...

Wondery
About this episode

After AT&T takes over Time Warner in 2018, the media company decides it's time to enter the streaming wars. They don’t have the brand recognition that Disney has, but they do have HBO, considered the most prestigious cable television on the market. But transforming a niche brand like HBO into a broad-based streaming service is a massive marketing challenge — made even harder by the Covid lockdowns. Meanwhile, the head of a low-brow cable empire has his eye on Warner Media as an acquisition.  

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 8
The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Welcome to the Ride | 1
In 2011, avid fitness fan John Foley comes up with an idea for an internet-connected exercise bike that allows users to experience the communal nature of a cycling class from the comfort of home. He thinks the idea will make gyms a relic of the past. The next year, he and four ot ... Show More
39m 31s
Oct 1
Dieselgate | Running on Fumes | 2
By 2014, Volkswagen has taken the U.S. auto market by storm with its fleet of affordable, fuel-efficient diesel cars. But a new study threatens to reveal the dirty truth behind so-called ""clean"" diesel. When the EPA comes knocking with questions, the company's very survival is ... Show More
38m 38s
Sep 24
Dieselgate | Truth or Dare | 1
In 2007, Volkswagen's new CEO Martin Winterkorn sets his sights on besting GM and Toyota to become the top automaker in the world. But the company can't get there without cutting a few regulatory corners.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendation ... Show More
30m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 10
Breaking Bell | Stuck in a Quagmire | 3
AT&T bosses throw everything at the wall in the hope of getting a federal antitrust lawsuit dismissed. But as the case finally reaches court, the lawyers and politicians going up against AT&T prove to be unreliable negotiators.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, ... Show More
33m 23s
Mar 2025
Making the News - Ted Turner and CNN | Two Giant Egos | 1
Media mogul Ted Turner shakes up the television industry with the launch of a 24-hour channel dedicated solely to breaking news.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Bu ... Show More
33m 26s
Nov 2024
Oprah's Empire | Taking Control | 2
As The Oprah Winfrey Show goes from strength to strength, Oprah Winfrey starts building her media empire by creating Harpo Productions. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterList ... Show More
33m 17s
Jul 3
Breaking Bell | Wheelin' & Dealin' | 2
Deals to secure the future of AT&T fall apart as the fight for the future of America’s telephone system turns increasingly fractious, and the continuing crisis forces John deButts to make the most difficult decision of his career.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcas ... Show More
33m 48s
Jan 2025
Saving Barnes and Noble | Lost in the Amazon | 2
Barnes & Noble’s first e-commerce website, BN.com, launches under the leadership of Stephen and Leonard Riggio. But the company’s attempt to join the digital revolution might be too little, too late.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, an ... Show More
38m 58s
Dec 2024
Oprah's Empire | Former OWN Executive Scott Garner on Oprah Winfrey And The Evolution of Television | 5
Former Oprah Winfrey Network executive Scott Garner discusses the media landscape of the 1980s and how Oprah Winfrey redefined daytime television.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynews ... Show More
35m 43s
Aug 14
Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Selling Scandal | 3
After spending big to buy RKO Pictures, Howard Hughes clashes with studio veterans and exploits his own stars. But he soon finds that remaking a major Hollywood studio in his own image comes at a steep cost.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendat ... Show More
34m 47s
Aug 7
Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2
Howard Hughes embraces sex and violence in his quest to conquer Hollywood. But his sensationalist approach clashes with industry regulators and censors, sparking a high-stakes battle over artistic freedom, public morality, and the future of American cinema.Be the first to know ab ... Show More
34m 56s
Apr 2025
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | Sowing the Seeds | 1
British teenager Richard Branson finds his true calling as an entrepreneur, but it doesn’t take him long to ruffle a few feathers.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to ... Show More
33m 12s
Aug 28
Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Author Jeffrey Richardson explores Howard Hughes’s impact on Hollywood and the American film industry | 5
Author Jeffrey Richardson discusses Howard Hughes’s career in Hollywood, and evaluates how far he changed the American film industry.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen ... Show More
39m 58s