In a joint statement Wednesday night, directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson called Turner Classic Movies “a truly invaluable resource” and said they look forward to talking to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav about the future of the channel. are “joyful” after.
The statement came after the trio met with Zaslav following deep cuts in TCM’s staff, which also included several longtime executives from the channel, sparking a vocal online backlash. The directors also confirmed that it was Zaslav who called the meeting, denying reports that he had initiated it.
“Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It is indeed a priceless resource of cinema, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been a profitable endeavor since its inception,” the statement began.
“Earlier this week, David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, got in touch to talk about restructuring TCM. We understand the pressures and realities of a large corporation like WBD, of which TCM is a moving part,” the statement continued.
“We have spent time talking to David, both separately and together, and it is clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him. Our primary objective is to ensure that TCM’s programming is untouched and protected, said the group.
The statement continued, “We are excited and encouraged by the conversations we have had so far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all cherish.”
Lucas Manfredi contributed to this report.
more to come…