Courtesy of David Buchan/Variety
Brett Weitz is exiting as general manager of TBS, TNT and truTV, Variety has learned.
Weitz, who was appointed to the role in January 2019, was among the group of WarnerMedia execs that came over under the new David Zaslav-selected regime at Warner Bros. Discovery, following the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in early April.
Weitz was moved under Discovery lifestyle channels chief Kathleen Finch, who assumed a newly created role of chairman and chief content officer of U.S. Networks Group, a new, consolidated organization comprising the company’s more than 40 U.S. networks. His role has now been eliminated, with Finch taking oversight of TBS, TNT and truTV.
While WarnerMedia was run by former parent company AT&T, Weitz reported to Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, who exited just before the transaction closed, along with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and Andy Forssell, EVP and general manager of HBO Max, and several other top Warner execs.
Weitz’s ousting from Warner Bros. Discovery comes just weeks after Variety exclusively reported that TBS and TNT were moving away from developing scripted content, and plans for currently airing series were TBD. One day later, news broke that TBS’ “The Last O.G.” had been canceled.
“These past 14 years have been the most fulfilling of my career,” Weitz said in a statement to Deadline, which first reported the news he was exiting the role. “I’ve had the great fortune to create and launch Emmy-winning fan-favorite entertainment, to be a part of powerful life-changing initiatives, and most importantly to have had the privilege to lead the most talented, dedicated, altruistic, and innovative team at the TNets. We made huge profits for shareholders and brilliant content for fans while having the most fun and being better partners with talent than any team I’ve ever been a part of. I will for sure continue to root for you all.”
Before being elevated to general manager of the so-called “TNets,” Weitz was executive vice president of programming for TBS, and previously senior vice president of scripted development for TNT and TBS.
During his tenure at WarnerMedia, Weitz oversaw titles including TNT’s “Snowpiercer,” “AEW: Dynamite,” “Rhodes to the Top” and The Last Ship,” TBS’ “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” “Chad,” “Wipeout” revival,” “The Last O.G.,” “The Go Big Show” and “Miracle Workers,” and truTV’s “Impractical Jokers” franchise.
Representatives for Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday.
Variety's Jennifer Maas contributed to this post.
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/brett-weitz-exits-tbs-tnt-trutv-warner-bros-discovery-1235242819/
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