Warner Bros. Discovery expects earnings hit as Hollywood strikes bite
Members of the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild walk a picket line outside of Warner Bros Studio in Burbank, California, on July 26. Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Warner Bros. Discovery expects an earnings hit of $300 million to $500 million "predominantly due to the impact" of Hollywood's ongoing writers and actors strikes, the company said in a securities filing Tuesday.
Details: It now predicts earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2023 in the range of $10.5 to $11 billion, with free cash flow for the third quarter expected to exceed $1.7 billion, "in part due to the strong performance" of blockbuster movie "Barbie" — the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film ever, per the filing.
- "[I]ncremental impact from strike-related factors" also contributed to this, according to the filing.
The big picture: The strikes by members of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents Hollywood actors, and the Writers Guild of America as they seek new deals with major studios hit the U.S. labor market last month.
- It's also impacted states and local businesses, which have suffered billions of dollars worth of losses due to production halts, and public relations professionals.
Go deeper: Top Hollywood executives shift strike messaging strategy
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details from the filing and further context.