Editing WarnerMedia (section)

=== Time Warner (1990–1992) and Time Warner Entertainment (1992–2001) ===
[[US West]] partnered with Time Warner Entertainment in 1993 to form what was later known as [[TW Telecom]], initially known as Time Warner Communications (also utilized as the brand name for cable operation previously under the ATC name), in order to bring telephone via fiber to the masses. US West also took a 26% stake in the entertainment portion of the company, calling that division Time Warner Entertainment. US West's stake eventually passed to acquired cable company [[MediaOne]], then to [[AT&T Broadband]] in 1999 when that company acquired MediaOne, then finally to [[Comcast]] in 2001 when that company bought the AT&T Broadband division. Comcast sold their stake in the company in 2003, relegating the name to a subdivision under Time Warner Cable.

In 1991, HBO and [[Cinemax]] became the first premium pay services to offer multiplexing to cable customers, with companion channels supplementing the main networks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2011/08/20/the-winning-streak |title=The winning streak |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=2020-07-25 |archive-date=2021-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028175143/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2011/08/20/the-winning-streak |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1993, HBO became the world's first digitally transmitted television service.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prmarketingcommunication.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/brand-history-hbo/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130618035819/http://prmarketingcommunication.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/brand-history-hbo/ |url-status=dead |title=WordPress.com |date=June 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |website=Wordpress.com |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> In 1995, CNN introduced CNN.com which later became a leading destination for global digital news, both online and mobile.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://img.ctrlq.org/files/translation.html |title=CNN News Website – Wikipedia |work=labnol.org |access-date=2020-07-25 |archive-date=2021-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027175342/https://img.ctrlq.org/files/translation.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1996, Warner Bros. spearheaded the introduction of the DVD, which gradually replaced VHS tapes as the standard format for home video in the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spannerworks.net/reference/10_8a.asp |title=DVD Basics and History |website=Spannerworks.net |access-date=2013-06-11 |archive-date=2013-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625011328/http://www.spannerworks.net/reference/10_8a.asp |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In 1999, HBO became the first national cable television network to broadcast a high–definition version of its channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.multichannel.com/technology/hbo-cto-zitter-step-down/140623 |title=HBO CTO Zitter to Step Down |website=Multichannel.com |access-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223180720/http://www.multichannel.com/technology/hbo-cto-zitter-step-down/140623 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Time Warner Entertainment completed its purchase of [[Six Flags|Six Flags Theme Parks]] in 1993 after buying half of the company in 1991, saving it from financial trouble. The company was later sold to Oklahoma-based theme park operator [[Six Flags#History of Premier Parks|Premier Parks]] under certain terms and conditions on April 1, 1998.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-21-fi-37629-story.html |title=Time Warner Completes Six Flags Purchase : Amusement: Company will use more of its cartoon characters at theme parks, including site near Valencia. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 21, 1993 |last=Bryant |first=Rebecca |access-date=2020-07-25 |archive-date=2022-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407235005/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-21-fi-37629-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Dick Parsons, already a director on the board since 1991, was hired as Time Warner Entertainment president in 1995, although the division operational heads continued to report directly to chairman and CEO [[Gerald M. Levin|Gerald Levin]].<ref>[https://business.time.com/2007/05/04/time_warner_coo_for_media_corp/ Time Warner COO: For Media, Corporate Diversity Is About Business] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418053339/https://business.time.com/2007/05/04/time_warner_coo_for_media_corp/ |date=2022-04-18 }}, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''</ref>

On October 10, 1996, Time Warner Entertainment acquired [[Turner Broadcasting System]], which was established by [[Ted Turner]] in 1965. Not only did this result in the company re-entering the cable television industry as a national programmer, but Warner Bros. also regained the rights to their pre-1950<ref>''You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story'' (2008), p. 255.</ref><ref>WB retained a pair of features from 1949 that they merely distributed, and all short subjects released on or after September 1, 1948; in addition to all cartoons released in August 1948.</ref> film library, which by then had been owned by Turner (the films are still technically held by Turner, but Warner Bros. is responsible for sales and distribution),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html|title=Holders Back Time Warner-Turner Merger|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=October 11, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 18, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214040754/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while Turner gained access to Warner Bros.' post-1950 library, as well as other Warner Bros.-owned properties. The Turner deal also brought two separate film companies, [[New Line Cinema]] and [[Castle Rock Entertainment]], both of which were integrated into [[Warner Bros.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=TURNER ACQUIRING MOVIE COMPANIES |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1993-08-18-2932606-story.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Morning Call |date=18 August 1993 |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503041235/https://playlist.stnvideo.com/player/data/index.php?cmd=loadInitial&session=6ETCXjd7P9GAWYnu&instance=198184328&version=7.32.14-Z&age=240503&ESG_key=yDXFiiit&type=FULL&EXTREF=https://www.mcall.com/1993/08/18/turner-acquiring-movie-companies/&REF=https://www.mcall.com/1993/08/18/turner-acquiring-movie-companies/&ogSet=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Turner deal also gave Time Warner Entertainment access to [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM)'s pre-May 1986 library and the pre-1991 libraries of animation studios [[Hanna-Barbera]] and [[Ruby-Spears]].