Kevin Reilly and Bob Greenblatt are out of their positions at WarnerMedia Inc. This news is particularly huge for AEW. Reilly was a big part of AEW being on TNT.
The TNT deal was a major part of AEW being able to have the success they have had so far. Clearly, this made them seem like a legitimate company and a major player almost immediately.
This news is gigantic. Can't express how big. Reilly was the one who greenlit AEW, really was the guy who was a large part of why there is an AEW https://t.co/ubpjMsVnP3
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) August 7, 2020
Reilly was the head of content for WarnerMedia. Stepping in for the duo will be Ann Sarnoff who has been promoted to oversee a newly expanded content group, with Casey Bloys now reporting to Sarnoff.
Bloys was previously the president of HBO Programming, but will now oversee original content for HBO Max and the linear networks TNT, TBS, and truTV.
AEW is doing well in key demographics and its ratings have been fairly strong during the pandemic. It would seem TNT would want to keep a program that is doing the best of any shows on its networks besides NBA basketball.
However, there is one thing some folks are concerned about. Bloys has an interesting history.
Yes, people are catching onto this. https://t.co/miurxg49EC
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) August 7, 2020
Bloys apparently isn’t a fan of combat sports. He got HBO out of providing boxing content.
If AEW were to get kicked off the network for some weird reason, I’m sure a lot of networks would come calling for a program with almost a million viewers and top 5 in the 18-49 demos.
Let’s just hope the move to different nights in the coming weeks don’t drop the ratings too much and give anyone at TNT reasons to be concerned.
Stay tuned to WrestleTalk for more information as it becomes available.
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