Change is coming to Turner Broadcasting.
Jamie Kellner is returning to The WB, abandoning his post as Chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting and resuming his role as Chairman and CEO of the network he helped found, leaving that post in the summer of 2004. Philip Kent, a former Turner exec, will become the new Chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting starting March 10, 2003.
Many of the jobs of Kellner's acolytes are up in the air.
Before he takes his first seat in the chairman's seat, perhaps Mr. Kent should go down to Cartoon Network headquarters and take time to talk to the guys and gals down there. I know that Mr. Kellner and Mr. Bewkes said that the programming and promotional cooperation between Kids' WB and Cartoon Network would continue (booooo hissssssss!), but I would like Mr. Kent to remember Mr. Kellner's comment that he feels that "It's working well for them." "Them," of course, referring to Cartoon Network.
Talk to all the senior programming officers at Cartoon Network.
Seriously, he should take time out of his busy schedule and see the situation from Cartoon Network's perspective. Mr. Kent should ask them about how Kids' WB forced them to alter programming to benefit Kids' WB more than Cartoon Network, how they had cut down their highest-rated program Toonami not once, but twice to satisfy Kids' WB, and ask how Kids' WB fails to promote Cartoon Network programming while Cartoon Network was forced to promote Kids' WB programming. Of course Mr. Kellner feels that it's working well for "them." He's getting his pocket lined for the time being, getting free advertising for a programming block he has a considerable stake in on a cable outlet with over 80 million subscribers.
In short, I would hope Mr. Kent would hear both sides of the situation before deciding whether or not to continue the programming relationship between Cartoon Network and Kids' WB.
Until we are one, later.
Jeff Harris
CNX Creator/Webmaster
February 19, 2003
