On course: TNT channels become Warner channels

A few weeks ago the plans leaked out briefly, today Hannes Heyelmann makes it official. The managing director of the German broadcasting activities of WarnerMedia and European program director of WarnerMedia, confirms new names for the long-established broadcasters TNT channels. The rebranding will take place in autumn, but Heyelmann does not want to reveal an exact date yet. TNT Film then becomes Warner TV Film, TNT Series becomes Warner TV Series and TNT Comedy, surprisingly, Warner TV Comedy with corresponding new logos that do not use the Warner logo but the well-known Warner Bros. logo.

“The transmitter are now more clearly visible than before under the umbrella of one of the world’s best-known media brands, Warner Bros., and are therefore even more perceived as premium channels by subscribers, partners and advertising customers. The rebranding brings us closer to the hundred-year legacy of the Warner Bros. brand, which unmistakably stands for creative and authentic storytelling like no other in the world. Overall, it leads to a significant increase in brand awareness beyond the pay-TV sector, which in turn helps with marketing, “says Heyelmann in an interview with DWDL.de.”Incidentally, the Warner TV brand is already successfully established in France, and TNT channels will gradually be renamed in other European countries. “

In recent years, Hannes Heyelmann and his German program director Anke Greifeneder had invested heavily in numerous in-house productions to make the TNT brands better known. The chances of rebranding outweigh any risk, says Heyelmann. “UOur very successful and internationally sought-after original productions such as ‘4 Blocks’, ‘Para – Wir sind King’ and ‘The Mopes’ are in good hands under the Warner Bros. umbrella. The rebranding of our station brands is a logical consequence and thus also a visual signal for another chapter in our company history. ” Thanks to the in-house streaming service HBO Max, “it naturally makes sense to export German productions to other territories where HBO Max is already available.” Heyelmann says nothing about a German start of HBO Max.

The current rebranding in Warner is a consequence of the realignment of WarnerMedia in the USA, which will now also reach German consumers with a delay of several years. In the meantime, however, the next merger in the USA has long been decided: WarnerMedia is merging with Discovery. It will be some time before this will affect the German market. How much does it inhibit having to deal with oneself all the time? Heyelmann: “In a world where the audience has more choice than ever before, it has never been more important to constantly question oneself and that includes the station brands. Heyelmann replies calmly: “It remains business as usual with us.” Germany.in-24