In one month’s time, David Zaslav will close the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger and formally announce the creation of Warner Bros. Discovery, officially cementing his status as one of the most powerful people in media. His coronation will mark the end of a year-long honeymoon period during which nearly all of Hollywood and New York came to kiss his ring at the Polo Lounge and in the Hamptons, and the beginning of the actual work, which includes but is not limited to: overhauling Warner Bros. to compete with Disney, growing the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming businesses (which will eventually come together under one banner) and repositioning CNN for its Chris Licht-led straight news (and streaming-friendly lifestyle content) future—all while trying to find $3 billion in cost savings to help alleviate $30 billion of debt. Few in the industry doubt Zaslav’s acumen or his ability to meet these challenges; he was brought up under the tutelage of Jack Welch and John Malone, after all. But even his cheerleaders know he has his work cut out for him.