Finance

Warner Bros Discovery shareholders reject 2024 executive pay

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 3, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Warner Bros Discovery shareholders reject 2024 executive pay
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

(Reuters) -A majority of Warner Bros Discovery shareholders voted against the 2024 pay packages of CEO David Zaslav and other top executives at the media conglomerate's annual stockholder meeting, a

Warner Bros Discovery Shareholders Vote Down 2024 Executive Pay

(Reuters) -A majority of Warner Bros Discovery shareholders voted against the 2024 pay packages of CEO David Zaslav and other top executives at the media conglomerate's annual stockholder meeting, a Tuesday regulatory filing showed.

The board of directors had recommended shareholders to vote in favor of the 2024 executive compensation; however, more than 59% of them rejected the proposal on a non-binding basis.

For 2024, Zaslav's total compensation rose 4% from the prior year to $51.9 million.

Warner Bros Discovery has been struggling to stem declines in its cable TV business amid widespread cord-cutting, focusing instead on its faster-growing streaming and studios divisions.

Last month, it missed first-quarter revenue estimates and posted a larger-than-expected loss.

The company is also moving towards a potential breakup, CNBC reported last month. WBD had laid the groundwork for a possible sale or spinoff of its declining cable TV assets last December by announcing a separation from its streaming and studio operations.

Powered by a strong content slate, including the third season of HBO's "The White Lotus" and the medical drama series "The Pitt", WBD added 5.3 million streaming subscribers in the January-March quarter, beating market expectations, but still far off from streaming industry leader Netflix.

The company last month also walked back on the branding of its streaming service, Max, bringing back the HBO name it dropped two years ago.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

Key Takeaways

  • Warner Bros Discovery shareholders voted against 2024 executive pay.
  • CEO David Zaslav's compensation rose to $51.9 million.
  • The company faces challenges in its cable TV business.
  • WBD added 5.3 million streaming subscribers recently.
  • Potential breakup of WBD's cable TV assets is underway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the outcome of the shareholder vote on executive pay?
A majority of Warner Bros Discovery shareholders voted against the 2024 pay packages of CEO David Zaslav and other top executives, with more than 59% rejecting the proposal.
How much is David Zaslav's total compensation for 2024?
For 2024, David Zaslav's total compensation rose 4% from the prior year to $51.9 million.
What challenges is Warner Bros Discovery facing?
Warner Bros Discovery has been struggling with declines in its cable TV business due to widespread cord-cutting and has missed first-quarter revenue estimates, posting a larger-than-expected loss.
What changes have been made to Warner Bros Discovery's streaming service?
The company recently walked back on the branding of its streaming service, Max, by bringing back the HBO name that it had dropped two years ago.
What is the company's strategy regarding its cable TV assets?
Warner Bros Discovery is reportedly moving towards a potential breakup and has laid the groundwork for a possible sale or spinoff of its declining cable TV assets.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category