It’s official: Bob Greenblatt’s next chapter will be at WarnerMedia.
Days after The Hollywood Reporter reported that the former NBC Entertainment chairman was being eyed for a top job at the AT&T-owned media behemoth, the executive has been tapped to serve as chairman, WarnerMedia Entertainment and direct-to-consumer.
Reporting to WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey, Greenblatt will have oversight of the company’s combined television programming operations, including HBO and Turner’s TNT, TBS and truTV and the company’s planned streaming service. Executives including HBO programming president Casey Bloys, TBS, TNT and WarnerMedia streaming chief creative officer Kevin Reilly will report directly to Greenblatt, who will remain based in Los Angeles.
“This change will provide the company with the agility and flexibility needed to build WarnerMedia’s brands across a variety of evolving distribution models with a more coordinated approach to the company’s original programming,” the company said.
Kevin Tsujihara, who continues as chairman and CEO, Warner Bros., also gets additional responsibilities, including a new global kids and young adults business that brings together the family, kids and animation efforts from across
WarnerMedia, including Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. Additionally, Otter Media, Turner Classic Movies and all activities around licensed consumer products development for WarnerMedia properties will be under his supervision. The company will consolidate all WarnerMedia affiliates and advertising sales groups under
one unified structure led by him.
Meanwhile, Jeff Zucker becomes chairman, WarnerMedia News & Sports, and president, CNN. His expanded portfolio includes CNN Worldwide (CNN, CNN.com, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, HLN, Great Big Story), Turner Sports, Bleacher Report and the AT&T Regional Sports Networks.
In addition, Gerhard Zeiler has been elevated from president, Turner International to WarnerMedia chief revenue officer.
“We have done an amazing job establishing our brands as leaders in the hearts and minds of consumers,” said Stankey. “Adding Bob Greenblatt to the WarnerMedia family and expanding the leadership scope and responsibilities of Jeff, Kevin and Gerhard — who collectively have more than 80 years of global media experience and success — gives us the right management team to strategically position our leading portfolio of brands, world-class talent and rich library of intellectual property for future growth.”
Said Greenblatt: “I’m honored to be joining WarnerMedia during such an exciting time for the company and the industry as a whole, and I look forward to working alongside the many talented executives and team members across the company. WarnerMedia is home to some of the world’s most innovative, creative and successful brands and we’re in a unique position to foster even deeper connections with consumers. And it goes without saying, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for HBO going back to the rewarding experience I had producing Alan Ball’s Six Feet Under.”
(Excerpt) Read more in: The Hollywood Reporter