AT&T executive taking over HBO, TBS, TNT and CNN promises a hands-off approach -- even when it comes to Samantha Bee and Bill Maher

The New York Times

AT&T's John Stankey, 55, is now in charge of the $31 billion conglomerate that comprises Warner Bros. film studios, Turner and HBO as part of the AT&T-Time Warner merger. The company is changing its name to WarnerMedia. Stankey says he'll take a hands-off approach to the creative side of WarnerMedia. When asked about President Trump constantly attacking CNN, Stankey said: "Well, first of all the folks at CNN will continue to do what they do without my involvement or intervention. I think they do that incredibly very well, and they will continue to do that under my leadership just like they did the day before I showed up here." When asked about Bee and Maher -- and her recent Full Frontal controversy -- Stankey said his networks will continue having the same freedom they currently enjoy. "People who are running the creative process are professionals at running the creative process," he says. "I don’t believe that AT&T — the historical AT&T — by its nature brings much capability or intellectual property to do that better." ALSO: AT&T plans to give HBO a bigger budget to compete with Netflix.