Folks, we’re diving into a story hotter than a mid-July wrestling ring! Jamie Kellner, the television titan who made the controversial call to cancel WCW on Turner Networks, has passed away at the age of 77. According to Variety, Kellner, the man who also had a hand in founding The Fox Network and The WB, left an indelible mark on TV history before bidding us farewell on Friday.
Kellner’s TV journey started at CBS, but his big break came in 1986 when he became the founding chairman of The Fox Network. His tenure was marked by greenlighting iconic shows like “The Simpsons,” “Married With Children,” and “COPS.” These programs not only glued viewers to their screens but also kept Fox afloat until they landed a major deal with the NFL in 1994.
After leaving Fox in 1993, Kellner didn’t slow down. He helped launch The WB, gifting the world with gems like “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Charmed,” and “Dawson’s Creek.” He even secured the first syndication deal for “Saturday Night Live.” The WB eventually merged with UPN, creating The CW, which, fun fact, is the future home of WWE NXT.
Kellner’s most infamous move came in 2000 when he joined Turner Broadcasting. In March 2001, he took over as chairman and CEO, and promptly yanked WCW programming off Turner Networks. His decision to cancel WCW has been dissected more than a frog in a high school biology class. The book “NITRO: The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner’s WCW” by Guy Evans suggests that Kellner’s move was driven by Fusient Media Venture’s interest in buying WCW and wanting control over Turner’s TBS and TNT time slots.
After his Turner days, Kellner retired from television. He did, however, join other Fox executives in a bold move to revoke a Philadelphia Fox affiliate’s broadcast license over election tampering conspiracies. Kellner leaves behind a legacy as complex as a wrestling storyline, survived by his wife, two children, and three grandchildren.
So, here’s to Jamie Kellner, a man whose decisions have left a lasting impact on the television landscape. Whether you loved or loathed his choices, there’s no denying his influence on the small screen.