Warner Bros. Discovery is reorganizing its streaming content acquisitions teams across global territories into one division led by Royce Battleman, who is being promoted to executive vice president of global content acquisitions.
Battleman, who most recently served as head of U.S. content acquisitions for WBD’s networks and streamers Max and Discovery+, will now have oversight of content acquisitions on a worldwide scale, covering North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. She will report directly to Warner Bros. Discovery chief financial and strategy officer of streaming Joshua Walker.
Per WBD, “This newly combined team will play a pivotal role in shaping the acquired content strategies for Max and Discovery+, ensuring that their offerings remain innovative, engaging, and compelling for global audiences.”
The Global Streaming Content Acquisitions execs remaining in their current roles but moving under Battleman’s oversight include Ragnhild Thorbech, SVP Programming & Acquisitions, EMEA; Magdalene Ew, Head of Content, Streaming, APAC; Andres Mendoza, Head of Content Acquisitions & Programming, Premium & Streaming, LATAM (with reporting lines into LATAM business); Elizabeth Bannan and Tiffany Tulba, Vice Presidents of Content Acquisition, U.S.
Variety has confirmed no roles will be eliminated as part of this realignment.
“Establishing this global team allows us to better manage worldwide and multi-regional content partners and optimize deals across all regions,” Walker said. “The structure will ensure that our acquisitions are tightly aligned with our global content strategy, planning and analysis, and financials for Max and discovery+ platforms worldwide.”
Battleman began her time at Warner Bros. Discovery in HBO’s business affairs department. In her most recent position as head of U.S. Content Acquisitions, she secured Max’s output licensing agreements with A24 and Warner Bros., oversaw HBO’s independent film licensing strategy and finalized the recent deal to keep “Friends.” She also supported the launch of HBO Max in May 2020 and its 2023 rebrand to Max.
