Atlanta on short list for Time Warner unit, company confirms

Metro Atlanta is a finalist for a new business unit of Time Warner, a spokesman for the New York-based media giant confirmed Wednesday.

“Atlanta is on the short list,” said Keith Cocozza, a Time Warner spokesman.

Cocozza did not give a deadline for when a decision would be made.

An official with knowledge of the project, who asked not to be identified because that person wasn't authorized to speak, said the new “shared services” unit could employ about 500 people over several years.

Atlanta is competing against Tampa and Rochester, N.Y., which was first reported by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Time Warner is looking at these cities because of existing relationships it has in each metro area.

Time Warner is creating the “shared services” division -- one in which people would do back-office work for various Time Warner units --  to streamline certain operations. Besides Turner Broadcasting, Time Warner owns Time Inc., Home Box Office and Warner Bros. Entertainment, and a host of digital operations.

Time Warner is the parent company for Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System.