Time Warner Names TBS Executive to Its New-Media Group

Signaling the importance of building its Internet presence, Time Warner has appointed a second high-level executive to its new-media group. William Burke, president of TBS Superstation and Turner South, was named president and chief executive of news and information of Time Warner Digital Media.

Burke will report to Richard Bressler, the former chief financial officer of Time Warner who was named chairman and chief executive of the new group in June.

Time Warner is trying to create a series of Internet hubs--centered on news, sports, entertainment and personal finance--using the expertise of its popular properties such as CNN, Time magazine, Fortune, People, Entertainment Weekly and Sports Illustrated.

Burke, 33, will help create a business plan for the news and information hub, which will draw from the resources of CNN and Time Inc. Sources said the new-media group needed an executive with strong ties to the culture of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. to smooth any resistance to cooperation from CNN, which has its own Web site and has been wary about collaborating.

Burke, a rising young executive at Time Warner, has run TBS since 1995. He previously was general manager of Turner Classic Movies, which quadrupled its subscriber base in its first year.

Sources said Brad Siegel, president of TNT and Turner Classic Movies, will assume Burke’s responsibilities over TBS and Turner South.

Burke is expected to move to New York from Atlanta.