Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is attempting to calm the waters after stirring up a storm over Turner Classic Movies. Zaslav is moving oversight of the channel to Warner Bros. Pictures bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, sources with knoweldge of the situation tell The Hollywood Reporter.
The move is meant to reassure the film community after WBD announced a restructuring this week that saw TCM chief Pola Changnon exit after 25 years, along with key team members.
The move worried cinephiles and sparked an outcry, culminating with Zaslav having a call with filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson in its wake. On June 21, the trio released a joint statement, “Our primary aim is to ensure that TCM’s programming is untouched and protected. We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.”
According to sources, the arrangement will satisfy Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson. It’s unclear at this stage if any of the TCM staff let go earlier this week could return.
On June 20, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Michael Ouweleen, the president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Family and Boomerang, will assume oversight of TCM, reporting up to WBD TV networks chief content officer chief Kathleen Finch. This latest move now takes TCM away from the oversight Finch, who is more associated with Discovery-type programs, and put it under the auspices of executives who are well regarded in the film community.
