Otter folds into WarnerMedia for D2C

US telecoms giant AT&T has brought its digital branding and content outfit Otter Media within the WarnerMedia Entertainment group to bolster its direct-to-consumer (D2C) plans.

Tony Goncalves

AT&T, which took full control of Otter Media last year, has assembled a new leadership team to oversee the service within the group.

Otter CEO Tony Goncalves will now also lead the development of the new WarnerMedia D2C service, along with Otter’s existing brands and services. He will report to Bob Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and D2C.

Andy Forssell, most recently chief operating officer of Otter Media and the former CEO of Hulu, has been named executive VP and general manager of the new streaming service, reporting to Goncalves.

Kevin Reilly, president of TBS/TNT/TruTV and chief content officer for the D2C service, will remain in that position, reporting to Greenblatt. HBO’s Casey Bloys is also working on the streaming service’s content strategy.

Brad Bentley, who was serving as the streaming service’s general manager, has informed the company that he will be leaving, AT&T said.

Andy Forssell

The company said the restructure would bring together the “significant” digital businesses of Otter Media and WarnerMedia at a time when the organisation’s new D2C platform is being built with access to content from HBO, the WarnerMedia cable networks and Warner Bros, plus new original content.

“As we continue to build out our new streaming business and realign WarnerMedia functions, this step will facilitate further scale and focus in our efforts to offer customers an engaging and compelling product experience,” said WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey.

Greenblatt added: “This group’s expertise will be invaluable to our new streaming service as we aim to bring content from the best storytellers in the world to an audience that expects the highest-quality digital experience.”

Otter Media was formed as a joint venture by AT&T and The Chernin Group in 2014. It invests in, grows and operates companies involved in digital marketing, social media, video services, content development, production and distribution.

Its portfolio includes Fullscreen, Crunchyroll, VRV, Rooster Teeth and a majority stake in Gunpowder & Sky. It also owns a minority stake in Hello Sunshine, the cross-platform brand and content company for women founded with actor and producer Reese Witherspoon.