AT&T has shuffled the executive ranks of its video business as it prepares to launch a new subscription streaming service next year under the WarnerMedia banner.
Former Showtime and NBCUniversal top executive Bob Greenblatt, who joined AT&T in March as head of the company’s entertainment and direct-to-consumer operations, will now be in charge of digital production unit Otter Media.
Otter produces digital platforms including Fullscreen, Crunchyroll and Rooster Teeth. And AT&T is looking to integrate these properties with its broader umbrella of WarnerMedia content.
Veteran DirecTV entertainment executive Tony Goncalves, who has been serving as CEO of Otter, will now be in charge of developing the new WarnerMedia OTT platform, reporting to Greenblatt.
Also in the mix is Otter Media COO Andy Forrsell, the former Hulu CEO who joined the company in 2015. He’ll report to Goncalves.
Meanwhile, Brad Bentley, whose roots at DirecTV span two decades, will depart his role as executive VP and general manager of direct to consumer development.
Kevin Reilly, who serves as president of TBS, TNT and TruTV, as well as the top content exec for the new streaming service, will keep reporting to Greenblatt.
“As we continue to build out our new streaming business and realign WarnerMedia functions, this step will facilitate further scale and focus in our efforts to offer customers an engaging and compelling product experience,” said WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey in a statement. “I’m confident that with Tony and Andy leading our product and operations, Kevin and HBO’s Casey Bloys guiding our content strategy, and with Bob at the helm, we have a formidable team creating a curated streaming service with a winning combination of content and features. I also want to thank Brad for his leadership in bringing the project to this point in record time.”
