• by Alex Weprin , February 1, 2019

AT&T’s WarnerMedia unit has named Sarah Aubrey to head original content for its upcoming over-the-top streaming video service.

Aubrey, who currently oversees original drama programming at WarnerMedia’s TNT network, will now manage all original programming, as well as feature films, for the streaming service, set to launch late this year.

She will continue to oversee drama programming at TNT for a transition period. Aubrey reports to Turner Chief Content Officer Kevin Reilly, who also has oversight of the upcoming streaming service.

WarnerMedia revealed some details about its still-unnamed streaming service at an investor event late last year. The service will offer programming from WarnerMedia’s programming library, as well as content from HBO. It will also include original TV shows and films, which is where Aubrey comes in.

In a note to Turner staff, Reilly hinted how Aubrey would approach the relationship between the streaming platform and content creators. 

“Her reputation as a talent-friendly executive with great taste and finesse underscores the values we’ll prioritize on this new platform,” Reilly wrote in the note.

Disney is set to launch its Disney+ streaming service late this year, bolstered by a slate of original movies and TV shows. Comcast’s NBCUniversal will also launch a service in early 2020.

The corporate race is on to develop content that is suitably differentiated, not only from TV rivals, but Netflix, as well.