TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is to close its UK channel in July, after unrelated management changes in the United States.
Last week, the company began another series of layoffs which included the departure of TCM general manager Pola Changnon after more than 25 years with TCM and Turner.
Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Family and Boomerang, has been given responsibility for TCM, his second spell I charge.
TCM is known for its curated library of films released prior to the 1980s.
Such is the love for the brand among Hollywood directors that David Zaslav, chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery spoke with filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson to assure him the channel was safe.
Not so in the UK, where TCM’s social media told fans: “TCM Movies is closing in the UK & Ireland. On July 6th, we’ll be riding off into the sunset one last time. Thank you for joining us on our journey and for loving classic movies just as much as we do.”
Some content from TCM will transfer to the general entertainment brand Quest.