https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-fights-t-deal-citing-020103760.html

Coleman Breland, who negotiated distribution contracts for Turner for more than two decades, testified about a series of instances in which the movie and TV show maker threatened to "go dark," essentially cutting off access to content for various cable providers.

Breland acknowledged that Turner's leverage in contract talks was the ability to cut off access to content, adding "usually blackouts are temporary." Breland is still with Turner but is now president of content experiences, TCM and FilmStruck.