Tayyaba
Following intense structural shake-ups at Warner Bros. Discovery, Turner Classic Movies has been appointed with new leadership in a bid to secure the future of the beloved channel among movie enthusiasts. The new team is highly respected in the field and was brought in by a few calls from the right people. Here’s what we know:
Who are the new leaders of Turner Classic Movies?
The CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has placed TCM under the creative control of Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who will curate Turner Classic’s titles from now on. The two are known cinephiles harboring a deep appreciation for classic cinema and are also well-respected in the film industry, having won multiple awards in their time at MGM. The move was made to assuage fears that TCM might be shuttered, and it has been welcomed by filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
The appointment of De Luca and Abdy is seen as a positive sign for the future of TCM since both executives are extremely committed to preserving it’s legacy. With their leadership, Turner Classic Movies is poised to continue its mission of educating and entertaining audiences with classic films from around the world.
How did TCM get new creative heads?
Leading filmmakers and staunch film preservationists Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson had an emergency call with David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, on Wednesday. According to Deadline, the call was about the restructuring of TCM and the filmmakers’ concerns about the channel’s future after the layoffs at Warner. Spielberg, Scorsese, and Anderson expressed their appreciation for TCM and their desire to ensure that its programming remains untouched and protected. In turn, Zaslav assured them that he is committed to preserving TCM and that he understands the importance of the channel to its fans, hence appointing De Luca and Abdy as it’s creative heads.
TCM’s programming is considered to be essential viewing for anyone interested in the film industry and it airs classic films 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Apparently, it has “been a profitable endeavor since its inception, but it has never been a financial juggernaut”. However, the channel is beloved by fans of classic cinema and they believe it must be protected.