Warner Bros. Discovery

TBS, HBO (Max), Discovery Education
California
Media and Entertainment

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Warner Bros. Discovery (the result of a 2022 merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery) vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs. Warner Bros. Discovery provides reimbursement for employees' abortion-related travel and opposes state laws designed to protect the integrity of women's sports. For these reasons, Warner Bros. Discovery receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery (then Discovery) received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery does not not have a rule discriminating against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery does not provide protections against viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery (then WarnerMedia) signed an open letter condemning “anti-LGBTQ” state laws, including laws intended to protect the integrity of women’s sports (1). CEO David Zaslav is a member of the Business Roundtable (2). In partnership with the RFK Human Rights organization, Discovery Education promoted a 15 year old student who is an “ambassador for the Human Rights Council” (3)(4). Discovery Education also has material that instructs Year 5 students on “identity” (5).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery has pledged to provide coverage for employees’ abortion-related travel expenses (1). In 2020, Warner Bros. Discovery signed a deal with Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors sponsoring her to make digital content for the network (2)(3). However, no content was ever released, and in 2023 Ms. Cullors was quietly let go (4).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Warner Bros. Discovery does not have an active PAC.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 11, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/8/23GovernanceKenneth SteinerSimple Majority VoteAgainst43.00%
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