Cartoon Network Executive Resigns in Latest WarnerMedia Exit

(Bloomberg) -- The Cartoon Network’s top executive has stepped down, joining the growing roster of former Time Warner executives departing the company following its takeover by AT&T Inc.

Christina Miller, a 14-year veteran of the company, announced her plans Wednesday in a memo to staff. She said she’ll work through the end of the year with the network’s interim management. Michael Ouweleen, who serves as chief marketing officer for kids and young adults, will become interim president, the company said.

Under the phone giant, the unit now called WarnerMedia has replaced the heads of its film and TV studio, its Turner Broadcasting businesses and premium cable channel HBO. AT&T acquired the company for $85 billion as part of a big diversification drive.

Cartoon Network figures to play a big role in the HBO Max streaming service AT&T plans to introduce next year as the company tries to attract kids and their parents as subscribers. That service will launch with 10,000 hours of content, including programming from Warner Bros., Turner Classic Movies and other WarnerMedia properties.

Miller ran the Cartoon Network and its evening programming under the name Adult Swim during a challenging time for cable networks, and kids networks in particular. Viewers under the age of 18 have fled TV for YouTube and Netflix, and many young viewers now come of age unaware of linear TV networks.

Despite that, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim churned out critically beloved shows and new hits, such as “Rick and Morty” and “Steven Universe.”

Miller also pushed the network to diversify its business beyond linear TV, licensing shows for video games and creating the Adult Swim music and comedy festival.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lucas Shaw in Los Angeles at lshaw31@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net, Rob Golum, John J. Edwards III

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