Comcast Unit Gets New Head Of Content -- WSJ
October 08 2019 - 2:02AM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Flint
This article is being republished as part of our daily
reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S.
print edition of The Wall Street Journal (October 8, 2019).
Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal has consolidated its TV-production
business and named a new head of its soon-to-be launched streaming
service as part of a broad realignment of its entertainment
operations, the company said Monday.
Bonnie Hammer, the veteran cable-programming executive who most
recently was in charge of Peacock, the NBCUniversal streaming
service scheduled to launch next year, has been named chairman of
the newly created NBCUniversal Content Studios.
In her new role, Ms. Hammer will oversee all TV production at
NBCUniversal, which includes content for NBCU-owned outlets
including NBC and USA Network and Peacock as well as content
produced for rivals including Netflix Inc.
"Bonnie's great taste, deep Hollywood relationships and strong
track record of generating popular and award-winning programming
make her ideally suited to oversee this new division," said
NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke, to whom Ms. Hammer will
report.
Longtime Comcast executive Matt Strauss, who most recently was
executive vice president of the cable operator's Xfinity Services
unit overseeing video and internet operations, will become chairman
of Peacock. He also reports to Mr. Burke.
Peacock is set to debut next April with a slate of both classic
shows including "The Office" and original programming. Talent
signed up to make shows for the service include Alec Baldwin and
Demi Moore.
News of the NBCUniversal restructuring was first reported by
Variety.
Unlike Walt Disney Co.'s Disney+ and AT&T Inc.'s HBO Max,
Peacock is seeking to be more of a complement to cable services and
less of a direct competitor.
The service will be free to Comcast cable subscribers.
NBCUniversal also is seeking to cut deals with other pay-TV
distributors that would allow them to offer Peacock to their
subscribers free as well, a person familiar with the matter said.
Peacock will be available to cord-cutters as well for a fee.
Peacock will be ad-supported but also have an advertising-free
version at a higher price.
As part of the restructuring, George Cheeks, who had been
co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, will now become vice chairman of
the Content Studios unit reporting to Ms. Hammer.
Paul Telegdy now becomes sole chairman of NBC Entertainment with
oversight over the broadcast network's prime-time lineup and he
continues to report to Jeff Shell, chairman of NBCUniversal Film
and Entertainment.
Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 08, 2019 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)
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