The former boss of Hulu has now signed on to be the new CEO of WarnerMedia, overseeing HBO, Warner Bros., and Turner-branded cable networks. The digital media wars are heating up, with Disney+ raising eyebrows with shows like The Mandalorian while Netflix is doubling down on big-budget television and film projects. Now that Game of Thrones has finally ended its eight-season run on HBO, the cable giant has pivoted towards new shows like Watchmen and The Outsider while also gearing up for the launch of HBO Max. It's hard to tell what the future holds for television and streaming, with so many different services vying for customers and their hard-earned money, but it's certainly an exciting time to be a fan of TV.

Netflix was first out of the gate with major streaming exclusives and syndicated offerings, but it quickly ceded ground to Hulu, which specialized in syndicated programming available the day after it traditionally aired on television. While up-to-date network TV offerings are still a feather in Hulu's cap, the streaming service has also branched out with original programming like The Handmaid's Tale, Marvel's Runaways, and Future Man.

From the launch of Hulu back in 2007 until 2013, the company was led by CEO and co-founder Jason Kilar. Now, per Variety, Kilar has returned to the content wars as CEO of WarnerMedia, a position which will see him in charge of programming at HBO, Warner Bros., and networks like TNT and Turner Classic Movies. Kilar's predecessor, John Stankey, has been promoted to the position of president and chief operating officer of AT&T, the parent company of WarnerMedia.


Kilar had left Hulu after a period of uncertainty regarding the future of the company and its relationship with Disney (which now holds a majority stake in Hulu). After leaving Hulu, Kilar started the Vessel streaming service, which was eventually sold to Verizon and closed down in 2016. It's likely that Kilar was hired partly due to his experience with these streaming services, and that he could be the best leader to guide the newest arm of the WarnerMedia empire, the HBO Max streaming service.

When his new role at WarnerMedia takes effect on May 1, Kilar will usher in a new era for the company. It's too early to say what effect his influence may have on various WarnerMedia properties, from the DCEU to HBO's iconic slate of original programming, but it wouldn't be surprising to see shakeups across various WarnerMedia outlets over the next couple of years. Needless to say, all eyes are on the imminent launch of HBO Max, which is still scheduled to premiere in May 2020. That doesn't seem like enough time for Kilar to have an influence, at least on the initial roster of programming that will be available when the streaming service makes its grand debut, but he'll surely have plenty of time to leave his mark on the culture and output of WarnerMedia.