Television
April 2, 2001
Brad Turell To Join Jamie Kellner
(April 2, 2001 – Burbank, CA) — Brad Turell, a longtime key senior executive for newly installed Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Kellner, has been promoted by Mr. Kellner to the top communications position at the company. Mr. Turell will immediately take the title of Executive Vice-President, Communications and becomes spokesman for the company. Mr. Turell and his family will relocate from Los Angeles and be based at the Atlanta headquarters of TBS, Inc.
In addition to his role in communications, Mr. Turell will become a key strategist for Mr. Kellner, a role he has played throughout their long tenure together that dates back to 1986 with the launch of the Fox Broadcasting Company.
SAID MR. KELLNER:
"Anyone who worked with Brad at Fox or The WB realizes that his contributions to the success of those networks went well beyond the scope of the job titles he held. Brad is one of the top strategic thinkers in the television business and I will rely on his judgement on a daily basis in helping us achieve our goals at TBS, Inc."
SAID MR. TURELL:
"This is a giant step up for me in my career and there was no way I could pass it up. Relocating my family was the hardest part of the decision by far, but my wife has been tremendously supportive and we’re looking forward to raising our children in Atlanta."
MR. TURELL ON THE OPPORTUNITY:
"The combination of Turner Broadcasting with The WB gives Jamie the canvass to design the new model for the number-one vertically integrated television and Internet company of the modern media era. If I can assist him in doing that, then this opportunity will top even that of the start-ups of Fox and The WB…only a lot more humid."
MR. KELLNER CONCLUDES:
"What is especially nice about this for me is that it demonstrates to the industry just how valuable a television executive Brad has become."
MR. TURELL CONTINUES:
"Jamie has been a friend, a colleague and a boss for most of my professional life, dating back to 1986. We have successfully enjoyed all three of those relationships, and today we are closer than ever. His vote of confidence in wanting me to play a significant role in this exciting new chapter of his life, is the highlight of my career."
ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
The heads of publicity for all the Turner Broadcasting, entertainment, news and sports networks and businesses, will report to Mr. Turell, while working closely with their respective division presidents to meet their individual networks’ goals.
In his new position, Mr. Turell will oversee a wide spectrum of networks and companies communications efforts including, TNT, TBS Superstation, The WB Network, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South and Boomerang; the CNN News Group Networks, which include CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNNfn, Accent Health, CNN Airport Network, College Television Network (CTN), CNN Radio Network, CNN.com, CNNfn.com, CNNfyi.com and MyCNN.com; and Turner Sports, which includes the Atlanta Thrashers, The Goodwill Games, CNN/SI, CNNSI.com and Nascar.com.
SAID MR. TURELL:
"There are so many strong publicity executives within the Turner ranks and they will continue to work closely with their divisional presidents in order to swiftly and effectively meet each networks goals. I will be a resource for them to come to on any matter on a daily basis and certainly on all matters that Jamie would need to be involved with.
MR. TURELL’S JOB HISTORY:
Mr. Turell has been with The WB since 1995 and has been associated with all of their publicity campaigns including the groundbreaking campaigns for "Dawson’s Creek," "Felicity," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." At The WB, Mr. Turell most recently has held the title of Executive Vice-President, Network Communications.
In 1998-99 for two years, Mr. Turell served as the two-time Chairman of the Television Publicity Executive Committee (TPEC) an industry trade organization comprised of the top television publicity executive at the broadcast and cable networks, studios and independent PR agencies.
Prior to The WB, Mr. Turell is most well known for being the first head of publicity for the Fox network. At Fox, he learned how to help shape networks’ brands in the marketplace which he implemented at The WB. At Fox, he also worked on some groundbreaking campaigns for such programs as "The Simpsons," "In Living Color" and "Beverly Hills 90210."
Mr. Turell also created the specials department at Fox as Senior Vice-President, Programming. From September of 1991 through March of 1993, under his leadership, Fox broadcast 42 primetime specials.
Prior to Fox, Mr. Turell was a vice-president of entertainment agency Rogers & Cowan, where he broke into the PR business and worked for five years.
Mr. Turell is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara where he attained a business economics degree and played on the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He has a wife and three young children who can’t wait to meet Greg Maddux.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. an AOL Time Warner company is a major producer of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider of programming to the basic cable industry, as well as the parent of America’s fifth major television network, The WB. # # #