One of Stankey's top deputies is Kevin Reilly, president of TV networks TBS and TNT and the chief content officer of WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service. Reilly emceed most of the upfront event on Wednesday.
He is making big changes to the two TV networks directly under his charge, TBS and TNT. TBS, known for comedies, will move into dramas starting with the long-planned "Snowpiercer" adaption, which Reilly shared a first glimpse of at the event. He confirmed that the series, due out in 2020 around March Madness, has already been picked up for a second season. And, All Elite Wrestling is coming to TNT, a network best known for hard-hitting dramas like "The Alienist" and major sports matchups like the NBA games.
While Reilly talked about TBS, TNT, and truTV, he largely showcased their content together. It signals a shift at the company away from individual brands and toward a broader WarnerMedia umbrella. That's contrary to the approach that competitor Disney is taking by making brands like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar the heart of its upcoming subscription service.
Reilly said he would experiment with programming for WarnerMedia's TV networks as the company readies its streaming service. Some series, like an unscripted show called "Chasing the Cure," will be simulcast live on both TBS and TNT, for example.
"There's a lot of great TV out there today," said Reilly. "But there's also a binge-and-burn mentality that can dilute the impact of even the best content. We're looking to be the answer to that."