Turner Networks may tap Kevin Reilly

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Kevin-ReillyKevin Reilly, the departing head of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting, is among the executives Time Warner is considering to be president of Turner Entertainment Networks.


Reilly, 51, said last week he would leave the Twenty First Century Fox unit by the end of June, following a drop in ratings. Time Warner is aiming to fill the post by year end, noted a Bloomberg source.

Bringing in Reilly would add a veteran programming executive at Turner, operator of the TBS and TNT cable networks, along with TruTV, TCM and the Cartoon Network. TBS and Turner carry original shows including “Conan,” “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Falling Skies,” and are among the most-watched pay-TV channels, according to Nielsen data.

John Martin, the new CEO Turner Broadcasting, told employees to expect staff changes as the division works to come back from a ratings slump at some networks, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg.

Reilly is among 20 or so potential candidates to replace Steve Koonin, the person said. Koonin left Turner in April to become CEO of the Atlanta Hawks.

Variety reported in April that Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies, is among the candidates.

See the Bloomberg story here.