TCM News June 21, 2023

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

Earlier this week, David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, got in touch to talk about the restructuring of TCM. We understand the pressures and realities of a corporation as large as WBD, of which TCM is one moving part.

Filmmaking titans Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorese and Paul Thomas Anderson will convene with Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav today for an “emergency call” concerning the future of Turner Classic Movies following a recently announced set of layoffs at the beloved pay-TV network.

Among the execs laid off at TCM, as we reported earlier in the week, were EVP and General Manager Pola Changnon, SVP of Programming and Content Strategy Charles Tabesh, VP of Brand Creative and Marketing Dexter Fedor, VP of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, and VP of Studio Production Anne Wilson.

The layoffs have spurred speculation that Turner Classic Movies’ future may now be short-lived. Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson come to the call as three of the most prominent advocates in the industry for film preservation, and as creatives convinced of the significance of TCM in connecting film lovers to the history of the medium. Of note is the fact that both Spielberg and Anderson are on the board of The Film Foundation, the film restoration and preservation organization founded by Scorsese.

Ronettes · ‎12-13-2022

Not surprised - TCM was on our cable tv bundle for years, then suddenly they got carried away with themselves (and greed) and decided to charge more for their channel, when we dropped them.

As if any of those millionaires need even more dollars from those of us in the working class!

If they go under, it's their own fault.

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

I will be very sad when TCM is no longer. I thought once Robert Osborne was gone its days were numbered. It has lasted almost 30 years. Hope they find a way to survive.

Twoaces · ‎05-02-2011

I agree, kaydee50! I will be sad indeed. It is one of my most favorites. I can't imagine that with the hundreds of channels around, and so much redundancy, there isn't enough support for TCM that is unique in its offerings. I am not into reality tv or home improvement channels which seem to dominate the air waves. Film preservation and the sharing of so many classic gems, whether they be comedy shorts, old travel logs, or fine films, is a precious gift, in my opinion.

deeva · ‎03-09-2010

I wonder if they'll cancel the yearly film festival?

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

Wow, sorry to hear that news, @drizzellla !

Started to wonder if they were on the road to going under, when they got rid of the popular online message boards over there. Even though I had only followed them on there for a short period, you could tell how passionate the posters were about classic film. They were devastated when the forum shut down, and many predicted that TCM was on its way out.

In my opinion, TCM's sort of 'flailing' attempts in the last few years, to become more "hip, jazzy, and opinionated", was a bad sign also. They were losing sight of the reason people loved the channel to begin with.

I so agree with @kaydee50 about things deteriorating after the loss of Robert Osborne. They didn't even seem to have a good feel for new personnel who could measure up to his standards ( apart from "Noir Alley"'s terrific Eddie Muller and a few others.)

I wish they could turn it around.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@Oznell wrote:
Wow, sorry to hear that news, @drizzellla !

Started to wonder if they were on the road to going under, when they got rid of the popular online message boards over there. Even though I had only followed them on there for a short period, you could tell how passionate the posters were about classic film. They were devastated when the forum shut down, and many predicted that TCM was on its way out.

In my opinion, TCM's sort of 'flailing' attempts in the last few years, to become more "hip, jazzy, and opinionated", was a bad sign also. They were losing sight of the reason people loved the channel to begin with.

I so agree with @kaydee50 about things deteriorating after the loss of Robert Osborne. They didn't even seem to have a good feel for new personnel who could measure up to his standards ( apart from "Noir Alley"'s terrific Eddie Muller and a few others.)

I wish they could turn it around.

I have been watching TCM less and less in recent 2 or so years. I used to check the schedule every month and write down all the movies I hoped to watch. Now I just check the menu and chances are there isn't a movie I care to see.

My son had told me that Eddie Muller was going to appear at a local theatre in July and asked me if I wanted to go. I thought it was odd that he would be coming to the East coast to appear at a local movie theatre. Maybe he knew more about what is going on and is adding different things to his schedule.

Judging from the high level of the 5 people laid off, beginning with the Executive VP General Manager, it sounds like major changes are coming.

Well it was fun while it lasted. Glad I got to see films that would never have been shown anywhere else.

PilatesLover · ‎08-20-2014

It will be a sad day at my house. Not a day goes by we don't watch something on TCM.

I had a bad feeling while shopping for a new cable company and realizing most of them have dropped TCM from the regular lineups and you have to buy a specialty extra package.