Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. was downgraded to junk by Moody’s Ratings, cementing the media giant as a fallen angel just years after it sold one of the biggest high-grade bond deals on record.

Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two separate publicly traded companies – one oriented around the HBO Max streaming service and Warner Bros. studio, and the other around CNN and other television networks.

Warner Bros. Discovery's upcoming split will impact investors, and there are three key risks that could hinder stock growth. Read more on the overview of WBD's breakup.

Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two companies by next year, with much of its streaming and movie production moving under one company and its live sports and news to another, according to the Washington Post .

At the end of March, Warner Bros. Discovery had gross debt of $38.0 billion, which is comprised of “total debt” ($37.4 billion) and financial leases ($535 million). The 2022 merger of WarnerMedia (owned by AT&T) and Discovery, Inc. created more than $50 billion of debt.

EXCLUSIVE: Adam Galen has been promoted to Vice President of Development at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, the division’s President Bill Damaschke announced on Tuesday. In his elevated role, Galen will work alongside Susan Akinbola to lead the studio’s feature development slate,