When the league’s exclusive negotiating period with the channels expires tonight, it will be able to speak with Amazon, NBC, and other potential partners.
The 2023-24 NBA playoffs kicked off over the weekend, but league executives might have been a bit too distracted by other concerns to have much of an eye on their television screens. The league’s exclusive negotiating period with its current national partners ESPN and TNT expires at 11:59 p.m. Et on Monday, April 22, and there is a long line of other potential TV and streaming accomplices waiting to make their pitches to NBA officials. A report from The Athletic offers some new details about the negotiations, including the league’s desire to offer games through as many methods as possible to fans, following the example set by the ratings and revenue juggernaut of the NFL.
The NBA wants to find a way to...
The 2023-24 NBA playoffs kicked off over the weekend, but league executives might have been a bit too distracted by other concerns to have much of an eye on their television screens. The league’s exclusive negotiating period with its current national partners ESPN and TNT expires at 11:59 p.m. Et on Monday, April 22, and there is a long line of other potential TV and streaming accomplices waiting to make their pitches to NBA officials. A report from The Athletic offers some new details about the negotiations, including the league’s desire to offer games through as many methods as possible to fans, following the example set by the ratings and revenue juggernaut of the NFL.
The NBA wants to find a way to...
- 4/22/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Taking a positive look at visual impairment, rather than focusing on it as a disability, “Coyote Ugly” star Adam Garcia joins producer and actor Tsu Shan Chambers in the lead roles of “My Eyes,” a drama film now shooting in Melbourne, Australia.
When optometrist Alana discovers her daughter has a rare inherited eye disease, she must look into her past to realize her vision for the future. She discovers that a judo athlete with a visual impairment halfway across the world may hold the answers she seeks. But old truths make the task of saving her daughter’s sight an uncomfortable and marriage-threatening mission.
Joining Garcia and Chanbers in the cast are gold medal Judo champion Eduardo Ávila Sánchez and young newcomer Nia Rush.
The story was inspired by incidents that emerged during Chambers time as an optometry student and while volunteering at the 2000 Paralympic Games.
“[We are] approaching the story and...
When optometrist Alana discovers her daughter has a rare inherited eye disease, she must look into her past to realize her vision for the future. She discovers that a judo athlete with a visual impairment halfway across the world may hold the answers she seeks. But old truths make the task of saving her daughter’s sight an uncomfortable and marriage-threatening mission.
Joining Garcia and Chanbers in the cast are gold medal Judo champion Eduardo Ávila Sánchez and young newcomer Nia Rush.
The story was inspired by incidents that emerged during Chambers time as an optometry student and while volunteering at the 2000 Paralympic Games.
“[We are] approaching the story and...
- 10/18/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal’s chief content officer Donna Langley shared her fear that the extended SAG-AFTRA strike might result in a lack of movie releases during summer 2024, which could have a “lasting impact” on the industry.
“One of the reasons why I’m so focused on doing my part and our company’s part in bringing resolution to the strike is that… the films that had to shut down as a result of this fight need to be finished by a certain period of time for next summer,” Langley said at Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “I’m not relishing the thought of a summer or a season without [a] volume of films.”
“If I learned anything during Covid [it] was the lack of volume — it really does impact the movie going cadence,” Langley continued. “We were just seeing recovery from that in 2023… [and] if we lose that, that’s going to...
“One of the reasons why I’m so focused on doing my part and our company’s part in bringing resolution to the strike is that… the films that had to shut down as a result of this fight need to be finished by a certain period of time for next summer,” Langley said at Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “I’m not relishing the thought of a summer or a season without [a] volume of films.”
“If I learned anything during Covid [it] was the lack of volume — it really does impact the movie going cadence,” Langley continued. “We were just seeing recovery from that in 2023… [and] if we lose that, that’s going to...
- 10/12/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
NBCUniversal has promoted veteran executive Rick Cordella to president of NBC Sports, reporting into Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.
Cordella, who has served in a number of leadership roles at NBCU, now will lead all aspects of NBC Sports’ brands and platforms including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Digital and transactional businesses GolfNow and SportsEngine. He’ll work with NBC Local on regional sports network strategy and continue to oversee sports on streamer Peacock.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years with a proven track record of growth and innovation across platforms, particularly our flagship NBC network as well as Peacock, where he helped architect our leadership role in sports and streaming,” said Lazarus. Cordella, he added, “will oversee the evolution of our business as we continue to offer the best experiences and content to our viewers, as well as be...
Cordella, who has served in a number of leadership roles at NBCU, now will lead all aspects of NBC Sports’ brands and platforms including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Digital and transactional businesses GolfNow and SportsEngine. He’ll work with NBC Local on regional sports network strategy and continue to oversee sports on streamer Peacock.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years with a proven track record of growth and innovation across platforms, particularly our flagship NBC network as well as Peacock, where he helped architect our leadership role in sports and streaming,” said Lazarus. Cordella, he added, “will oversee the evolution of our business as we continue to offer the best experiences and content to our viewers, as well as be...
- 9/22/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Rick Cordella has been promoted to president of NBC Sports. Previously, the executive served as the president of programming for both NBC and Peacock sports. He will report to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.
Cordella takes over the helm of NBC Sports from Pete Bevacqua, who assumed the role in 2019 and exited the company in June to become athletics director at the University of Notre Dame in the first quarter of 2024.
Cordella will lead all aspects of the brands and platforms covered by this division’s umbrella. That includes NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Digital as well as the company’s two transactional sports businesses, GolfNow and SportsEngine. He will also work with the NBC local team on the network’s strategy when it comes to regional sports and will continue to oversee Peacock.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years...
Cordella takes over the helm of NBC Sports from Pete Bevacqua, who assumed the role in 2019 and exited the company in June to become athletics director at the University of Notre Dame in the first quarter of 2024.
Cordella will lead all aspects of the brands and platforms covered by this division’s umbrella. That includes NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Digital as well as the company’s two transactional sports businesses, GolfNow and SportsEngine. He will also work with the NBC local team on the network’s strategy when it comes to regional sports and will continue to oversee Peacock.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years...
- 9/22/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Rick Cordella is taking the field for NBC Sports.
The executive, who has been enmeshed in developing streaming products for NBCUniversal, has been named president of NBC Sports at a moment when many media companies are working on new models that will make big-ticket TV sports properties available to consumers who have fewer ties to traditional screens.
Cordella will report to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCU’s media assets. He will oversee all business tied to NBC Sports, NBCU’s Olympics broadcasts, the Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ digital operations. He will also work with NBC Local on strategies for local sports. He replaces Pete Bevacqua, who left NBC Sports to take on a role as athletic director at Notre Dame.
Cordella is no stranger to new sports frontiers. He has in recent years overseen programming strategy across broadcast, cable and streaming as president of programming for both NBC Sports and Peacock.
The executive, who has been enmeshed in developing streaming products for NBCUniversal, has been named president of NBC Sports at a moment when many media companies are working on new models that will make big-ticket TV sports properties available to consumers who have fewer ties to traditional screens.
Cordella will report to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCU’s media assets. He will oversee all business tied to NBC Sports, NBCU’s Olympics broadcasts, the Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ digital operations. He will also work with NBC Local on strategies for local sports. He replaces Pete Bevacqua, who left NBC Sports to take on a role as athletic director at Notre Dame.
Cordella is no stranger to new sports frontiers. He has in recent years overseen programming strategy across broadcast, cable and streaming as president of programming for both NBC Sports and Peacock.
- 9/22/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
NBC Sports has found its next leader.
Rick Cordella, a 17-year NBCUniversal veteran, is being elevated to president of NBC Sports. Cordella has held several roles in the company during his tenure and is currently president, programming for NBC Sports and Peacock Sports. He’ll take over as head of the division from Pete Bevacqua, who announced in June that he would leave the network to become the athletic director at his alma mater (and long-time NBC broadcast partner), Notre Dame.
Cordella will report to NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years with a proven track record of growth and innovation across platforms, particularly our flagship NBC network as well as Peacock, where he helped architect our leadership role in sports and streaming,” Lazarus said in a statement. “Rick will oversee the evolution of our business as we continue to...
Rick Cordella, a 17-year NBCUniversal veteran, is being elevated to president of NBC Sports. Cordella has held several roles in the company during his tenure and is currently president, programming for NBC Sports and Peacock Sports. He’ll take over as head of the division from Pete Bevacqua, who announced in June that he would leave the network to become the athletic director at his alma mater (and long-time NBC broadcast partner), Notre Dame.
Cordella will report to NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus.
“Rick has been at the epicenter of NBC Sports for years with a proven track record of growth and innovation across platforms, particularly our flagship NBC network as well as Peacock, where he helped architect our leadership role in sports and streaming,” Lazarus said in a statement. “Rick will oversee the evolution of our business as we continue to...
- 9/22/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Walt Disney’s new carriage agreement with cable giant Charter Communications is widely seen as a game-changer for the pay TV and streaming sectors, creating a new blueprint for how such deals are structured. Analysts and industry sources point to two key pieces of the deal that will likely be felt: ad-supported streaming in the bundle, and a “resizing” of the linear TV business. It’s a deal that NBCUniversal (which owns Peacock), Paramount (which owns Paramount+) and Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns Max) are surely looking at closely given it is widely expected to impact their future carriage deals.
Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media group, acknowledged as much at the Img Summit outside London on Sept. 14. In an interview with Endeavor president and COO Mark Shapiro, Lazarus noted that his company shuttered some channels over the past few years (Cloo and Esquire Network in 2017, Nbcsn in 2021), and...
Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media group, acknowledged as much at the Img Summit outside London on Sept. 14. In an interview with Endeavor president and COO Mark Shapiro, Lazarus noted that his company shuttered some channels over the past few years (Cloo and Esquire Network in 2017, Nbcsn in 2021), and...
- 9/20/2023
- by Georg Szalai and Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Entertainment executive Liz Jenkins has been named to the newly created role of chief business officer for the NBCUniversal Studio Group. The former COO of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine joins the company with an expansive title to oversee strategy and business operations, reporting to studio chairman and NBCU Chief Content Officer Donna Langley.
“Liz has established herself as an industry leader with a deep understanding of the complexities of our business, and her unique perspective and varied experience fuel her drive for innovation,” Langley said of the hire. “She is a builder; whether it’s brands, individual projects, or culture. As the Studio Group continues to develop and adapt to the new industry climate, Liz will be an incredible partner to me and the broader NBCUniversal team.”
Jenkins will serve as “connective tissue” within the company’s content business, which Langley assumed control of in a July reorganization led by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.
“Liz has established herself as an industry leader with a deep understanding of the complexities of our business, and her unique perspective and varied experience fuel her drive for innovation,” Langley said of the hire. “She is a builder; whether it’s brands, individual projects, or culture. As the Studio Group continues to develop and adapt to the new industry climate, Liz will be an incredible partner to me and the broader NBCUniversal team.”
Jenkins will serve as “connective tissue” within the company’s content business, which Langley assumed control of in a July reorganization led by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.
- 9/5/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Liz Jenkins has been named to the newly created position of chief business officer for NBCUniversal Studio Group.
Jenkins joins the conglomerate from Reese Witherspoon’s multimedia company Hello Sunshine, where she most recently served as chief operating officer. The executive will report to NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, who announced the hiring Tuesday.
Langley also shuffled her cabinet of lieutenants, elevating some execs while changing the reporting structure of others. Peter Levinsohn, formerly vice chairman and chief distribution officer for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, has been elevated to chairman of global distribution for the studio group. Jimmy Horowitz has also been upped, with the “vice” dropped from his title, becoming chairman, NBCUniversal business affairs and operations.
Jenkins’ hiring and the shuffling occur after this summer’s reorganization of NBCUniversal. Comcast president Mike Cavanagh expanded Langley’s responsibilities to include overseeing all content for the company,...
Jenkins joins the conglomerate from Reese Witherspoon’s multimedia company Hello Sunshine, where she most recently served as chief operating officer. The executive will report to NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, who announced the hiring Tuesday.
Langley also shuffled her cabinet of lieutenants, elevating some execs while changing the reporting structure of others. Peter Levinsohn, formerly vice chairman and chief distribution officer for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, has been elevated to chairman of global distribution for the studio group. Jimmy Horowitz has also been upped, with the “vice” dropped from his title, becoming chairman, NBCUniversal business affairs and operations.
Jenkins’ hiring and the shuffling occur after this summer’s reorganization of NBCUniversal. Comcast president Mike Cavanagh expanded Langley’s responsibilities to include overseeing all content for the company,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Marshall, a nearly 10-year veteran of NBCUniversal, has been promoted to Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships.
The elevation follows a hectic period last May when Marshall took on new duties on short notice at the NBCU upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall. Marshall was pressed into service to handle the day’s lead remarks and spearhead the event after his former boss, Linda Yaccarino, abruptly decamped during rehearsals to join Twitter (now X) as CEO. Marshall and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus both addressed the stunning departure of Yaccarino (as well as the exit of former NBCU CEO Jeff Shell in April) in scripted onstage comments.
As interim chairman, Marshall presided over an upfront process yielding cash commitments described by NBCU as “roughly in line” with record-setting 2022 results. The ad market has been turbulent for all sellers of late, with labor strife adding to a cluster of economic stresses.
The elevation follows a hectic period last May when Marshall took on new duties on short notice at the NBCU upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall. Marshall was pressed into service to handle the day’s lead remarks and spearhead the event after his former boss, Linda Yaccarino, abruptly decamped during rehearsals to join Twitter (now X) as CEO. Marshall and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus both addressed the stunning departure of Yaccarino (as well as the exit of former NBCU CEO Jeff Shell in April) in scripted onstage comments.
As interim chairman, Marshall presided over an upfront process yielding cash commitments described by NBCU as “roughly in line” with record-setting 2022 results. The ad market has been turbulent for all sellers of late, with labor strife adding to a cluster of economic stresses.
- 8/30/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Mark Marshall, the executive who led NBCUniversal’s ad-sales outreach on an interim basis, will take the role officially.
Marshall, who was given oversight of NBCU’s ad-sales after former leader Linda Yaccarino departed abruptly to take the CEO role at X, the social-media company previously known as Twitter, will report to Mark Lazarus, chairman of the company’s media operations.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven himself to be the leader NBCU needs to guide this team into the future,” said Lazarus, in a prepared statement. “Mark’s relationships are second to none, and coupled with his transformative vision, I have no doubt that under his leadership we will continue to reinvent and innovate the sales business while super-serving our clients and partners.
Marshall, who was given oversight of NBCU’s ad-sales after former leader Linda Yaccarino departed abruptly to take the CEO role at X, the social-media company previously known as Twitter, will report to Mark Lazarus, chairman of the company’s media operations.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven himself to be the leader NBCU needs to guide this team into the future,” said Lazarus, in a prepared statement. “Mark’s relationships are second to none, and coupled with his transformative vision, I have no doubt that under his leadership we will continue to reinvent and innovate the sales business while super-serving our clients and partners.
- 8/30/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Mark Marshall has been named chairman of global advertising and partnerships for NBCUniversal. Marshall, who has served as the interim chairman since May following Linda Yaccarino’s exit, will start in this new role immediately.
He will report directly to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group and be based in New York.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven himself to be the leader NBCU needs to guide this team into the future,” Lazarus said. “Mark’s relationships are second to none, and coupled with his transformative vision, I have no doubt that under his leadership we will continue to reinvent and innovate the sales business while super-serving our clients and partners.”
In his role as interim chairman, Marshall led his team...
He will report directly to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group and be based in New York.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven himself to be the leader NBCU needs to guide this team into the future,” Lazarus said. “Mark’s relationships are second to none, and coupled with his transformative vision, I have no doubt that under his leadership we will continue to reinvent and innovate the sales business while super-serving our clients and partners.”
In his role as interim chairman, Marshall led his team...
- 8/30/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Mark Marshall has been named chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal after filling in on an interim basis.
Marshall has been acting as interim chairman since May, when Linda Yaccarino departed the company to serve as CEO of Twitter. He stepped in to lead the team through its upfront, a day after Yaccarino’s departure, which NBCUniversal said resulted in cash commitments roughly in line with last year’s upfront, which was the company’s highest grossing to date, in the midst of a tough advertising environment.
Marshall has been reporting to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming, rather than to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who Yaccarino had last reported ot.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven...
Marshall has been acting as interim chairman since May, when Linda Yaccarino departed the company to serve as CEO of Twitter. He stepped in to lead the team through its upfront, a day after Yaccarino’s departure, which NBCUniversal said resulted in cash commitments roughly in line with last year’s upfront, which was the company’s highest grossing to date, in the midst of a tough advertising environment.
Marshall has been reporting to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming, rather than to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who Yaccarino had last reported ot.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven...
- 8/30/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBCUniversal has appointed Zoë Friend as its new executive vice president of consumer insights.
In her new role, Friend will be responsible for delivering insights that will help guide key business decisions and evolve strategies across NBCU’s television and streaming platforms. She will join the media giant on Sept. 6 and report to chief data officer Will Gonzalez.
Prior to NBCUniversal, Friend served as the head of custom research at MarketCast, leading the firm across all business segments including entertainment, social media, tech, gaming, lifestyle brands, youth, identity and marketing sciences. She later moved into a role leading MarketCast’s Content Insights group, guiding content development of film and series for numerous streaming clients.
Before that, she worked as the vice president of consumer insights at Netflix, where she cultivated the streamer’s content and marketing research team and helped inform the company’s multibillion-dollar budget for original series and movies.
In her new role, Friend will be responsible for delivering insights that will help guide key business decisions and evolve strategies across NBCU’s television and streaming platforms. She will join the media giant on Sept. 6 and report to chief data officer Will Gonzalez.
Prior to NBCUniversal, Friend served as the head of custom research at MarketCast, leading the firm across all business segments including entertainment, social media, tech, gaming, lifestyle brands, youth, identity and marketing sciences. She later moved into a role leading MarketCast’s Content Insights group, guiding content development of film and series for numerous streaming clients.
Before that, she worked as the vice president of consumer insights at Netflix, where she cultivated the streamer’s content and marketing research team and helped inform the company’s multibillion-dollar budget for original series and movies.
- 8/17/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh addressed the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes during the NBCUniversal parent company’s second quarter earnings call Thursday.
“We are committed to reaching a fair deal with the guilds as soon as possible,” Cavanagh said. “Beyond that, for all involved in the industry, broadly, a prolonged work stoppage and the longer it goes, the worse it’ll be. It is obviously going to have a negative impact all around.”
The WGA work stoppage has been ongoing since May 2, while SAG-AFTRA went on strike July 14.
The strikes have brought scripted film and TV production to a standstill across Hollywood as the actors and writers unions continue picketing against the studios repped by the AMPTP.
“As you look at Peacock, I wouldn’t point out anything in particular related to strikes and its effect in 2023, the second half of the year,” Cavanagh told analysts Thursday. “Obviously, the longer a strike,...
“We are committed to reaching a fair deal with the guilds as soon as possible,” Cavanagh said. “Beyond that, for all involved in the industry, broadly, a prolonged work stoppage and the longer it goes, the worse it’ll be. It is obviously going to have a negative impact all around.”
The WGA work stoppage has been ongoing since May 2, while SAG-AFTRA went on strike July 14.
The strikes have brought scripted film and TV production to a standstill across Hollywood as the actors and writers unions continue picketing against the studios repped by the AMPTP.
“As you look at Peacock, I wouldn’t point out anything in particular related to strikes and its effect in 2023, the second half of the year,” Cavanagh told analysts Thursday. “Obviously, the longer a strike,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Media giant Comcast beat on its top and bottom line for the three months ended in June with theme parks and studio strong, even as the latter basks in another giant opening, for Opppenheimer, in the current third quarter.
Total revenue nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter ended in June. Net income jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. Eps of $1.02 compared with $0.76 a year ago.
At studios, adjusted Ebitda surged by $258 million to $255 million driven by the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide box office in the second quarter, and Fast X.
Theme Parks adjusted Ebitda increased 32% to $833 million, its highest on record, reflecting year-on-year growth at Universal Beijing, Universal Japan and Universal Hollywood. The parks in Asia were still partly closed or at reduced capacity for part of last year.
“The consistent investments...
Total revenue nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter ended in June. Net income jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. Eps of $1.02 compared with $0.76 a year ago.
At studios, adjusted Ebitda surged by $258 million to $255 million driven by the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide box office in the second quarter, and Fast X.
Theme Parks adjusted Ebitda increased 32% to $833 million, its highest on record, reflecting year-on-year growth at Universal Beijing, Universal Japan and Universal Hollywood. The parks in Asia were still partly closed or at reduced capacity for part of last year.
“The consistent investments...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast reported its Q2 earnings Thursday, with its NBCUniversal division reporting some huge gains but also underscoring the challenge of making streaming into a profitable business. Overall, Comcast handily smashed Wall Street expectations in both revenue and earnings per share.
Peacock now has 24 million subscribers, up from 22 million last quarter and 13 million a year ago, and its revenue rose by 85 percent to $820 million. But the streaming service continues to lose money, reporting a loss of $651 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $704 million last quarter, and $444 million a year ago. Notably, Comcast said that most of the new subscribers in the quarter were the result of converting free Comcast subs into paying subs.
And the advertising market continues to be challenged, with the media division reporting an advertising decline of 4.9 percent compared to last year. Overall media revenue was essentially flat, thanks to improved distribution revenue (including the...
Peacock now has 24 million subscribers, up from 22 million last quarter and 13 million a year ago, and its revenue rose by 85 percent to $820 million. But the streaming service continues to lose money, reporting a loss of $651 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $704 million last quarter, and $444 million a year ago. Notably, Comcast said that most of the new subscribers in the quarter were the result of converting free Comcast subs into paying subs.
And the advertising market continues to be challenged, with the media division reporting an advertising decline of 4.9 percent compared to last year. Overall media revenue was essentially flat, thanks to improved distribution revenue (including the...
- 7/27/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comcast investors will get a closer look Thursday at Mike Cavanagh and Brian Roberts’ strategy for getting Peacock to profitability and revamping NBCUniversal’s leadership as the cable company reports its second-quarter earnings.
Over the last several months, that strategy has been complicated not only by the existential threat of cord-cutting in the traditional TV business but also the historic double strike by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
The direct effects of the labor dispute won’t be visible in the quarter’s results, which ended in June before talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA broke down. But Michael Hodel, Morningstar’s director of equity research for media and telecommunications, anticipates the topic will loom large over the earnings call. It might even help the company’s bottom line, at least in the near term.
“I expect the actors’ and writers’ strikes will be a topic of conversation...
Over the last several months, that strategy has been complicated not only by the existential threat of cord-cutting in the traditional TV business but also the historic double strike by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
The direct effects of the labor dispute won’t be visible in the quarter’s results, which ended in June before talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA broke down. But Michael Hodel, Morningstar’s director of equity research for media and telecommunications, anticipates the topic will loom large over the earnings call. It might even help the company’s bottom line, at least in the near term.
“I expect the actors’ and writers’ strikes will be a topic of conversation...
- 7/26/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Amblin Partners has struck a new multi-year deal with Universal Pictures, which will provide the Steven Spielberg-led production company with more creative and financial flexibility while continuing to give the NBCUniversal-owned studio first-look status on all of its theatrical film projects.
A person familiar with the matter told TheWrap that Amblin will not be acquired by Universal and instead continue to operate independently under a straight overall deal with Spielberg retaining creative control. The individual added that the move may result in a mix of layoffs and some contracts not being renewed.
“Universal is my ancestral studio home, and this next chapter in our longstanding partnership will provide Amblin with the creative flexibility and autonomy that I know will allow us to succeed together in the future,” Spielberg said in a statement. “I’m eternally grateful to our entire team at Amblin for their work and dedication over the years,...
A person familiar with the matter told TheWrap that Amblin will not be acquired by Universal and instead continue to operate independently under a straight overall deal with Spielberg retaining creative control. The individual added that the move may result in a mix of layoffs and some contracts not being renewed.
“Universal is my ancestral studio home, and this next chapter in our longstanding partnership will provide Amblin with the creative flexibility and autonomy that I know will allow us to succeed together in the future,” Spielberg said in a statement. “I’m eternally grateful to our entire team at Amblin for their work and dedication over the years,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The promotion of Donna Langley, the head of the Universal film studio, to chief content officer overseeing all of NBCUniversal’s entertainment divisions, is Comcast President Mike Cavanagh’s first big decision in his tenure running the media business directly. It’s a savvy move to advance a quietly accomplished leader while other major studios are struggling, many insiders told TheWrap.
“In a time when these studios are a mess, it’s a safe move,” a producer told TheWrap about promoting Langley, referring to the box office woes and internal challenges at rivals like Bob Iger’s Walt Disney Company and David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery.
“It seemed inevitable,” one top talent agent told TheWrap. “There were rumors for a while that she wanted more responsibility and to move further up the Comcast hierarchy.”
True or not, Langley’s tenure has been marked by a lack of public drama...
“In a time when these studios are a mess, it’s a safe move,” a producer told TheWrap about promoting Langley, referring to the box office woes and internal challenges at rivals like Bob Iger’s Walt Disney Company and David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery.
“It seemed inevitable,” one top talent agent told TheWrap. “There were rumors for a while that she wanted more responsibility and to move further up the Comcast hierarchy.”
True or not, Langley’s tenure has been marked by a lack of public drama...
- 7/10/2023
- by Scott Mendelson and Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Endeavor Group Holdings has taken a minority stake in Velvet Hammer Media, a non-scripted production company co-founded by Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn in February.
With a focus on both premium and global formats, Vhm has secured multiple series greenlights with a range of streamers and networks, including “The Big Bakeover” for The CW, Roku’s “Empty Nest Refresh” and others not yet announced. O’Connell and Quinn serve as executive producers on all projects, with Vhm also providing production services.
Vhm also has development deals and projects in the works at Netflix and NBCUniversal, among other platforms. Development executive and producer Nick Alarcon joined Vhm as vice president. Additionally, Vhm has launched an “Inside Access Program,” which aims to hire and develop underrepresented talent behind the camera.
“Over the course of their careers, Jen and Rebecca have developed and produced some of television’s most provocative shows, entertained broad audiences,...
With a focus on both premium and global formats, Vhm has secured multiple series greenlights with a range of streamers and networks, including “The Big Bakeover” for The CW, Roku’s “Empty Nest Refresh” and others not yet announced. O’Connell and Quinn serve as executive producers on all projects, with Vhm also providing production services.
Vhm also has development deals and projects in the works at Netflix and NBCUniversal, among other platforms. Development executive and producer Nick Alarcon joined Vhm as vice president. Additionally, Vhm has launched an “Inside Access Program,” which aims to hire and develop underrepresented talent behind the camera.
“Over the course of their careers, Jen and Rebecca have developed and produced some of television’s most provocative shows, entertained broad audiences,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The news Thursday about Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley’s ascent to bring TV content under her domain doesn’t just speak to the greater NBCUniversal plan to have a more unified strategy across theatrical, TV and streaming.
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Susan Rovner has praised her colleagues and acknowledged the tough decision to leave after NBCUniversal’s latest restructure was unveiled Thursday.
Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, sent a note to her team (read it in full below).
“I know it’s been quite a day, but I wanted to reach out personally and thank every one of you,” she opened.
She lauded Mark Lazarus, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, and Frances Berwick, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, and said that deciding to leave was “extremely difficult.”
“Mark has been a constant advocate for us and a fantastic boss; and I am eternally grateful to Frances for being the best partner – but at the end of the day, I believe this is the right choice both for me personally as well as the future of the business,” she wrote.
Related: NBCUniversal Shake-Up: How Will Donna Langley...
Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, sent a note to her team (read it in full below).
“I know it’s been quite a day, but I wanted to reach out personally and thank every one of you,” she opened.
She lauded Mark Lazarus, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, and Frances Berwick, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, and said that deciding to leave was “extremely difficult.”
“Mark has been a constant advocate for us and a fantastic boss; and I am eternally grateful to Frances for being the best partner – but at the end of the day, I believe this is the right choice both for me personally as well as the future of the business,” she wrote.
Related: NBCUniversal Shake-Up: How Will Donna Langley...
- 7/7/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Anyone looking for a sign of Comcast president Mike Cavanagh’s strategy as the recently installed overseer of NBCUniversal got a bright one Thursday.
The seasoned finance exec unveiled a significant revamp of the company’s senior management ranks today. Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus and Cesar Conde headed the list of those gaining promotions, while Susan Rovner, chairman of entertainment content for NBCU television and streaming, was a high-profile exec to exit the company.
Donna Langley
One notable aspect of the new org chart is Langley’s new dual role overseeing both film and TV. At companies of comparable scale to NBCU, the film and TV realms are still generally run separately even though the line between them gets blurrier every day. Amazon, Apple and Netflix have all made moves to unify the management at the very top of the food chain, but traditional media firms still have separate silos.
The seasoned finance exec unveiled a significant revamp of the company’s senior management ranks today. Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus and Cesar Conde headed the list of those gaining promotions, while Susan Rovner, chairman of entertainment content for NBCU television and streaming, was a high-profile exec to exit the company.
Donna Langley
One notable aspect of the new org chart is Langley’s new dual role overseeing both film and TV. At companies of comparable scale to NBCU, the film and TV realms are still generally run separately even though the line between them gets blurrier every day. Amazon, Apple and Netflix have all made moves to unify the management at the very top of the food chain, but traditional media firms still have separate silos.
- 7/6/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
David Zaslav should be sending a fruit basket right about now to Comcast boss Mike Cavanagh.
Hollywood’s gaze has moved from Warner Bros Discovery to NBCUniversal, which has just undergone its latest restructure under the new Comcast president, a move that saw film chief Donna Langley expand her empire into television and the departure of Susan Rovner.
What do the changes mean for NBCU’s television business under Langley, is the company destined for another shake-up on the television side, and was Rovner, who oversaw series such as NBC’s Night Court, one of the biggest new broadcast comedies in the last few years, and Peacock’s acclaimed Poker Face, a success?
During a keynote at SXSW in March, Rovner told a story about how former CEO Jeff Shell – who exited after a sexual harassment investigation – told her that when someone walks into one of its theme parks, it...
Hollywood’s gaze has moved from Warner Bros Discovery to NBCUniversal, which has just undergone its latest restructure under the new Comcast president, a move that saw film chief Donna Langley expand her empire into television and the departure of Susan Rovner.
What do the changes mean for NBCU’s television business under Langley, is the company destined for another shake-up on the television side, and was Rovner, who oversaw series such as NBC’s Night Court, one of the biggest new broadcast comedies in the last few years, and Peacock’s acclaimed Poker Face, a success?
During a keynote at SXSW in March, Rovner told a story about how former CEO Jeff Shell – who exited after a sexual harassment investigation – told her that when someone walks into one of its theme parks, it...
- 7/6/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Donna Langley: Now with TV!
The chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has added television oversight as part of a Thursday restructuring at NBCUniversal; Langley’s title is now chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer. Susan Rovner, who was chairman of entertainment content for NBCU’s television and streaming division, is leaving the company.
Rovner’s counterpart, Frances Berwick, will be elevated to chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, a newly formed role reporting into both Langley and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus.
The news was announced Thursday by Mike Cavanaugh, who took over in April after Jeff Shell exited following an investigation into sexual harassment. Cavanaugh’s restructure includes himself as president but no CEO; in place of that position are a hand-picked leadership team. In addition to Langley overseeing all content, Lazarus will lead Peacock, NBC Sports, and affiliates, Cesar Conde has the news division, and Mark Woodbury leads parks.
The chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has added television oversight as part of a Thursday restructuring at NBCUniversal; Langley’s title is now chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer. Susan Rovner, who was chairman of entertainment content for NBCU’s television and streaming division, is leaving the company.
Rovner’s counterpart, Frances Berwick, will be elevated to chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, a newly formed role reporting into both Langley and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus.
The news was announced Thursday by Mike Cavanaugh, who took over in April after Jeff Shell exited following an investigation into sexual harassment. Cavanaugh’s restructure includes himself as president but no CEO; in place of that position are a hand-picked leadership team. In addition to Langley overseeing all content, Lazarus will lead Peacock, NBC Sports, and affiliates, Cesar Conde has the news division, and Mark Woodbury leads parks.
- 7/6/2023
- by Tony Maglio and Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The producers of CNBC’s “The Profit” have beaten a $30 million arbitration lawsuit filed by the trustee of a bankrupt contestant that appeared on the show in 2015.
Last year, Lynn E. Feldman, Esquire, the Chapter 7 trustee for the estate of Pennsylvania design company Precise Graphix, LLC, sued NBCUniversal, Camping World Inc., a vehicle retailer partially owned by Marcus Lemonis, and the production company Machete for $30 million in damages, alleging that the show committed fraud and breach of contract that led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2021.
In May, an arbitrator dismissed those claims, finding that they were “unsupported by competent, credible evidence.”
“Given the complete failure of competent, credible evidence supporting her allegations at the hearing, the Trustee cannot establish the required elements of the fourteen causes of action alleged in the Demand,” arbitrator Ann Jones wrote in the ruling revealed in bankruptcy court documents on Wednesday. “Even if one...
Last year, Lynn E. Feldman, Esquire, the Chapter 7 trustee for the estate of Pennsylvania design company Precise Graphix, LLC, sued NBCUniversal, Camping World Inc., a vehicle retailer partially owned by Marcus Lemonis, and the production company Machete for $30 million in damages, alleging that the show committed fraud and breach of contract that led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2021.
In May, an arbitrator dismissed those claims, finding that they were “unsupported by competent, credible evidence.”
“Given the complete failure of competent, credible evidence supporting her allegations at the hearing, the Trustee cannot establish the required elements of the fourteen causes of action alleged in the Demand,” arbitrator Ann Jones wrote in the ruling revealed in bankruptcy court documents on Wednesday. “Even if one...
- 7/6/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Executive is one of four operational heads to lead NBCU as Comcast head decides not to name one CEO.
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley has been promoted to chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer, taking charge of the new unified division in a role which adds oversight of television and streaming content strategy to her purview.
Langley is one of four operational heads at NBCU under Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who said on Thursday (July 6) he will not name a new CEO following the recent departure of Jeff Shell.
She will now oversee NBCU’s creative...
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley has been promoted to chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer, taking charge of the new unified division in a role which adds oversight of television and streaming content strategy to her purview.
Langley is one of four operational heads at NBCU under Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who said on Thursday (July 6) he will not name a new CEO following the recent departure of Jeff Shell.
She will now oversee NBCU’s creative...
- 7/6/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Executive is one of four operational heads to lead NBCU as Comcast head decides not to name one CEO.
Universal filmed Entertainment chairman Donna Langley has been promoted to chairman of the newly created NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer.
Langley will oversee a unified content strategy across the NBCUniversal portfolio bringing together the film and television studios and is one of four operational heads at NBCU under Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who said on Thursday (JUly 6) he will not name a new CEO following the recent departure of Jeff Shell.
Langley will oversee NBCU’s creative teams including Universal...
Universal filmed Entertainment chairman Donna Langley has been promoted to chairman of the newly created NBCUniversal Studio Group & chief content officer.
Langley will oversee a unified content strategy across the NBCUniversal portfolio bringing together the film and television studios and is one of four operational heads at NBCU under Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who said on Thursday (JUly 6) he will not name a new CEO following the recent departure of Jeff Shell.
Langley will oversee NBCU’s creative teams including Universal...
- 7/6/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
NBCUniversal is getting a major C-suite shake-up.
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh is undertaking a significant executive reorganization of NBCUniversal, giving expanded responsibilities to executives Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus and Cesar Conde, and cutting the number of direct reports he deals with on a regular basis to four operational leaders.
Langley, the chair of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, will now oversee all content for the company, including for streaming and TV. Her new title will be chairman of the NBCUniversal studio group & chief content officer.
Conde, the chairman of the NBC News Group, will add oversight of Telemundo, the company’s Spanish-language division, as well as the company’s local TV business. Lazarus will be chairman of the NBCUniversal media group, which will include oversight of advertising and distribution, as well as the business operations of the TV networks and streaming platforms, and NBC Sports.
Mark Woodbury will continue as a direct report to Cavanagh,...
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh is undertaking a significant executive reorganization of NBCUniversal, giving expanded responsibilities to executives Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus and Cesar Conde, and cutting the number of direct reports he deals with on a regular basis to four operational leaders.
Langley, the chair of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, will now oversee all content for the company, including for streaming and TV. Her new title will be chairman of the NBCUniversal studio group & chief content officer.
Conde, the chairman of the NBC News Group, will add oversight of Telemundo, the company’s Spanish-language division, as well as the company’s local TV business. Lazarus will be chairman of the NBCUniversal media group, which will include oversight of advertising and distribution, as well as the business operations of the TV networks and streaming platforms, and NBC Sports.
Mark Woodbury will continue as a direct report to Cavanagh,...
- 7/6/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley is taking oversight of all of NBCUniversal’s entertainment divisions, including film and TV, TheWrap has confirmed.
Langley replaces Susan Rovner, chairman of the NBCU Television and Streaming’s Entertainment Content division, who is exiting the company.
Additionally, Mark Lazarus has been promoted to NBCUniversal Media Group chairman. Lazarus will continue to run the company’s TV networks, direct to consumer business, including Peacock, as well as the NBC Sports Group and NBC affiliate stations. In addition, he will oversee advertising sales, which will continue to report to interim chairman of global advertising and partnerships Mark Marshall, and content distribution, which will continue to report to the division’s chairman Matt Bond.
“Together, these businesses comprised more than $20 billion in revenue last year,” Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said in a memo to employees. “Mark’s decades of experience running television, sports and advertising...
Langley replaces Susan Rovner, chairman of the NBCU Television and Streaming’s Entertainment Content division, who is exiting the company.
Additionally, Mark Lazarus has been promoted to NBCUniversal Media Group chairman. Lazarus will continue to run the company’s TV networks, direct to consumer business, including Peacock, as well as the NBC Sports Group and NBC affiliate stations. In addition, he will oversee advertising sales, which will continue to report to interim chairman of global advertising and partnerships Mark Marshall, and content distribution, which will continue to report to the division’s chairman Matt Bond.
“Together, these businesses comprised more than $20 billion in revenue last year,” Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said in a memo to employees. “Mark’s decades of experience running television, sports and advertising...
- 7/6/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
NBCUniversal is going through another restructure.
Donna Langley, who was Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, is being promoted to oversee all of the company’s entertainment divisions including film and TV.
Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content for NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming division, is leaving.
Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, and Frances Berwick, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment are also getting promoted.
The moves come as Comcast President Mike Cavanagh puts his stamp on the company after taking over following Jeff Shell’s exit after an investigation into sexual harassment.
Cavanagh will continue to lead NBCU as President of Comcast and will not name a new CEO. Instead, he will hand responsibility to four operational heads: Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus, Cesar Conde and Mark Woodbury; and four key corporate leaders: Kimberley Harris, Anand Kini, Adam Miller and Craig Robinson.
As part of this new structure, Langley will oversee the NBCUniversal Studio Group,...
Donna Langley, who was Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, is being promoted to oversee all of the company’s entertainment divisions including film and TV.
Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content for NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming division, is leaving.
Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, and Frances Berwick, who is now Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment are also getting promoted.
The moves come as Comcast President Mike Cavanagh puts his stamp on the company after taking over following Jeff Shell’s exit after an investigation into sexual harassment.
Cavanagh will continue to lead NBCU as President of Comcast and will not name a new CEO. Instead, he will hand responsibility to four operational heads: Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus, Cesar Conde and Mark Woodbury; and four key corporate leaders: Kimberley Harris, Anand Kini, Adam Miller and Craig Robinson.
As part of this new structure, Langley will oversee the NBCUniversal Studio Group,...
- 7/6/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal film chief Donna Langley is set to take control of content and creative ops across NBCUniversal’s portfolio of brands, as TV chief Susan Rovner exits the company.
The shakeup in leadership is the first major restructuring move made by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh since he took direct oversight of subsidiary NBCU upon the ousting of CEO Jeff Shell in April.
In a memo to staff Thursday, Cavanagh announced NBCUniversal will be reorganized into four key units: NBCUniversal Studio Group, led by Langley, NBCUniversal Media Group, run by chairman of TV and streaming Mark Lazarus, NBCU News Group, run by existing news boss Cesar Conde, and the Universal Destinations and Experiences Group, headed up by parks boss Mark Woodbury.
Cavanagh is doubling down on his decision to not name a new CEO of NBCU, and instead continue to oversee the media company from his role as president of Comcast.
The shakeup in leadership is the first major restructuring move made by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh since he took direct oversight of subsidiary NBCU upon the ousting of CEO Jeff Shell in April.
In a memo to staff Thursday, Cavanagh announced NBCUniversal will be reorganized into four key units: NBCUniversal Studio Group, led by Langley, NBCUniversal Media Group, run by chairman of TV and streaming Mark Lazarus, NBCU News Group, run by existing news boss Cesar Conde, and the Universal Destinations and Experiences Group, headed up by parks boss Mark Woodbury.
Cavanagh is doubling down on his decision to not name a new CEO of NBCU, and instead continue to oversee the media company from his role as president of Comcast.
- 7/6/2023
- by Jennifer Maas and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
NBC Sports chief Pete Bevacqua is leaving NBCUniversal to take on a new role as the athletic director at the University of Notre Dame, marking the second exit of a major executive from the Comcast-owned media giant since the ouster of former CEO Jeff Shell.
Bevacqua, who has played a large hand in steering NBCU’s sports efforts into digital arenas, will stay until the end of June, staffers were told in a memo Thursday. Executives at NBC Sports are expected to report to Mark Lazarus, the NBCU executive who once ran NBC Sports and currently oversees all of the company’s TV and streaming operations.
“Anyone who knows Pete will tell you that other than his family, Notre Dame is his next greatest love, and now he has been given the opportunity to have a huge impact on their storied sports programs and the institution in general,” Lazarus said in a statement.
Bevacqua, who has played a large hand in steering NBCU’s sports efforts into digital arenas, will stay until the end of June, staffers were told in a memo Thursday. Executives at NBC Sports are expected to report to Mark Lazarus, the NBCU executive who once ran NBC Sports and currently oversees all of the company’s TV and streaming operations.
“Anyone who knows Pete will tell you that other than his family, Notre Dame is his next greatest love, and now he has been given the opportunity to have a huge impact on their storied sports programs and the institution in general,” Lazarus said in a statement.
- 6/8/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
In a major shake-up in the TV sports world, NBC Sports group chairman Pete Bevacqua will leave the company to become the athletic director for Notre Dame.
Bevacqua, a 1993 graduate of the university, joined NBC Sports as its president in 2018. He previously served as CEO of the PGA of America.
At Notre Dame he will succeed the longtime Ad Jack Swarbrick. He will officially start in his new role next year.
“Sometimes in life, someone gets an opportunity to take their ‘Dream Job”’ and today I’m writing to share the news that NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua will be leaving our Company to take his dream job,” wrote NBCUniversal TV and streaming chief Mark Lazarus in a memo to staff Thursday. “He will remain a friend to all of us, and now also becomes a partner, as we’ve been in business with Notre Dame since 1990, and we will continue to be,...
Bevacqua, a 1993 graduate of the university, joined NBC Sports as its president in 2018. He previously served as CEO of the PGA of America.
At Notre Dame he will succeed the longtime Ad Jack Swarbrick. He will officially start in his new role next year.
“Sometimes in life, someone gets an opportunity to take their ‘Dream Job”’ and today I’m writing to share the news that NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua will be leaving our Company to take his dream job,” wrote NBCUniversal TV and streaming chief Mark Lazarus in a memo to staff Thursday. “He will remain a friend to all of us, and now also becomes a partner, as we’ve been in business with Notre Dame since 1990, and we will continue to be,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“This is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” said Warner Bros Discovery ad boss Jon Steinlauf in opening his company’s second Upfronts presentation as a merged company.
That is both an understatement and sums up the entire week. “It’s been a very weird week,” one network boss told Deadline.
While the focus of the upfronts has been increasingly moving to streaming, this year’s event highlighted the struggle that the linear broadcast networks have on the scripted side of the business. ABC unveiled an almost entirely unscripted schedule, Gordon Ramsay cooked up another show for Fox, becoming its lynchpin, CBS announced a fall schedule that could be decimated by the strike and The CW turned to international acquisitions and reality shows instead of superheroes.
As The CW President Dennis Miller said, “the young-adult audience is not making an appointment with broadcast television today.”
It was instead left to Disney+,...
That is both an understatement and sums up the entire week. “It’s been a very weird week,” one network boss told Deadline.
While the focus of the upfronts has been increasingly moving to streaming, this year’s event highlighted the struggle that the linear broadcast networks have on the scripted side of the business. ABC unveiled an almost entirely unscripted schedule, Gordon Ramsay cooked up another show for Fox, becoming its lynchpin, CBS announced a fall schedule that could be decimated by the strike and The CW turned to international acquisitions and reality shows instead of superheroes.
As The CW President Dennis Miller said, “the young-adult audience is not making an appointment with broadcast television today.”
It was instead left to Disney+,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Peter White and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
If TV’s upfront week used to be defined by spectacle — a parade of stars and musical performances culminating in glamorous parties with open bars and lobster canapés — to say the 2023 installment was muted would be an understatement.
There were still musical performances, and there were stars (at least from the world of sports, news and reality TV), but the ongoing writers strike made its presence felt.
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf told the crowd of media buyers at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday morning, adding that the company asked only executives to appear “out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
“It’s not exactly as we originally planned it, but we live in a dynamic world, and we have definitely found that being able to...
There were still musical performances, and there were stars (at least from the world of sports, news and reality TV), but the ongoing writers strike made its presence felt.
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf told the crowd of media buyers at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday morning, adding that the company asked only executives to appear “out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
“It’s not exactly as we originally planned it, but we live in a dynamic world, and we have definitely found that being able to...
- 5/18/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
From the moment an animated “Ted” opened the NBCUniversal upfront, voiced by Seth MacFarlane prior to the writers strike, it was clear this was going to be an abbreviated event. For starters, until a week ago, this was still going to be Linda Yaccarino’s Radio City Music Hall show. But with Yaccarino off running Twitter (“Ted” making a crack about the crazies now at Twitter earned the biggest inadvertent laugh of the morning), it was up to Mark Marshall, NBCU interim chairman, global advertising & partnerships, to make the pitch to advertisers.
“In all of our conversations leading up today, regardless of client or category, there has been one constant…this is going to be a very important year for your businesses,” Marshall said, counting 32 pharma launches, 60 auto releases (including 46 electric vehicles) and over 100 movie releases (“which puts us back to pre-pandemic levels”) this year. “We know this is a competitive year.
“In all of our conversations leading up today, regardless of client or category, there has been one constant…this is going to be a very important year for your businesses,” Marshall said, counting 32 pharma launches, 60 auto releases (including 46 electric vehicles) and over 100 movie releases (“which puts us back to pre-pandemic levels”) this year. “We know this is a competitive year.
- 5/15/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The upfronts may be an annual ritual steeped in TV and streaming advertising, but NBCUniversal gave film more than a fleeting moment in the spotlight during its pitch to media buyers Monday morning.
The event at New York’s Radio City Music Hall opened with a prominent mention by TV and streaming chief Mark Lazarus of Super Mario Bros., the Universal/Illumination release that just became the first billion-dollar movie of 2023. NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Savannah Sellers followed a bit later to anchor a segment dedicated to the film output of Universal, Illumination, Focus Features and DreamWorks.
Fresh film titles have become significantly more important to the progress of Peacock, with the streaming service revealing at its NewFronts pitch earlier this month that two-thirds of its 22 million subscribers have watched a recently released film. The company revamped its pay-1 window when an output deal with HBO elapsed last year,...
The event at New York’s Radio City Music Hall opened with a prominent mention by TV and streaming chief Mark Lazarus of Super Mario Bros., the Universal/Illumination release that just became the first billion-dollar movie of 2023. NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Savannah Sellers followed a bit later to anchor a segment dedicated to the film output of Universal, Illumination, Focus Features and DreamWorks.
Fresh film titles have become significantly more important to the progress of Peacock, with the streaming service revealing at its NewFronts pitch earlier this month that two-thirds of its 22 million subscribers have watched a recently released film. The company revamped its pay-1 window when an output deal with HBO elapsed last year,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
If NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation Monday morning was any indication, the week ahead will be a relatively low-key affair, with plenty of pitching, with very little in the way of specifics.
There will be one constant, however: Striking writers.
Outside of Radio City Music Hall on Monday, a crowd of more than 200 writers marched in front of the venue’s various entrances, calling for a fair deal.
The strike was also present during the presentation itself, where the usual parade of actors and stars was replaced by a cavalcade of NBC News anchors, like Willie Geist and Savannah Sellers, who introduced clip packages for the company’s lineup of TV shows and films.
“If you squint a little bit, I could be Colin Jost,” Geist said, before introducing a Saturday Night Live clip reel.
But the strike was also addressed overtly, with executives resigned to navigate the upfront with the uncertainty it will create.
There will be one constant, however: Striking writers.
Outside of Radio City Music Hall on Monday, a crowd of more than 200 writers marched in front of the venue’s various entrances, calling for a fair deal.
The strike was also present during the presentation itself, where the usual parade of actors and stars was replaced by a cavalcade of NBC News anchors, like Willie Geist and Savannah Sellers, who introduced clip packages for the company’s lineup of TV shows and films.
“If you squint a little bit, I could be Colin Jost,” Geist said, before introducing a Saturday Night Live clip reel.
But the strike was also addressed overtly, with executives resigned to navigate the upfront with the uncertainty it will create.
- 5/15/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated with Mark Marshall comments. Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, and interim ad sales chief Mark Marshall weren’t on the production call sheet until very recently for the company’s upfront at Radio City on Monday morning.
Pressed into action after the stunning, consecutive exits over the past few weeks of CEO Jeff Shell and ad sales and partnerships chief Linda Yaccarino, who left to become CEO of Twitter just last week, Lazarus opened the event with self-effacing humor. Following a song-and-dance sequence featuring Ted, Seth Macfarlane’s bawdy, talking teddy bear, Lazarus asked the crowd, “What was more surprising today? Being welcomed by a foul-mouthed teddy bear or seeing me here onstage?”
He continued, “In all seriousness, Linda and I worked together for many, many years here at NBC.” He expressed gratitude “for her many contributions and for building an excellent team here. We want...
Pressed into action after the stunning, consecutive exits over the past few weeks of CEO Jeff Shell and ad sales and partnerships chief Linda Yaccarino, who left to become CEO of Twitter just last week, Lazarus opened the event with self-effacing humor. Following a song-and-dance sequence featuring Ted, Seth Macfarlane’s bawdy, talking teddy bear, Lazarus asked the crowd, “What was more surprising today? Being welcomed by a foul-mouthed teddy bear or seeing me here onstage?”
He continued, “In all seriousness, Linda and I worked together for many, many years here at NBC.” He expressed gratitude “for her many contributions and for building an excellent team here. We want...
- 5/15/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
NBCUniversal started its upfront session by addressing the elephant lurking in every room in Hollywood: the WGA strike.
“We are grateful for the contribution writers make to our company and respect their right to demonstrate it may take some time, but I know we will eventually get through this and the result will be a stronger foundation on which we can all move forward together,” NBCU Streaming Head Mark Lazarus said during the New York event.
Also Read:
Jon Cryer Comedy and Tom Hanks Docuseries Headline NBC’s 2023-2024 Schedule
Unsurprisingly, the event scaled back on its celebrities, relying on more executives and reality TV stars to introduce its clips and segments. This is a major departure for the upfronts, an advertiser-focused event that networks often use to flex their roster of talent. This absence was most prominent during a spot plugging “Saturday Night Live’s” upcoming 50th season. Instead...
“We are grateful for the contribution writers make to our company and respect their right to demonstrate it may take some time, but I know we will eventually get through this and the result will be a stronger foundation on which we can all move forward together,” NBCU Streaming Head Mark Lazarus said during the New York event.
Also Read:
Jon Cryer Comedy and Tom Hanks Docuseries Headline NBC’s 2023-2024 Schedule
Unsurprisingly, the event scaled back on its celebrities, relying on more executives and reality TV stars to introduce its clips and segments. This is a major departure for the upfronts, an advertiser-focused event that networks often use to flex their roster of talent. This absence was most prominent during a spot plugging “Saturday Night Live’s” upcoming 50th season. Instead...
- 5/15/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
The NBCUniversal upfront today kicked off a week of events in New York amid a writers strike.
Given the lack of A-list scripted stars, the company turned to one of its animated stars to kick off the morning.
Ted, the Seth MacFarlane-voiced star of the eponymous movie and upcoming Peacock series, opened with a song-and-dance number with a few barbs.
Related: 2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
Most notably, the stoned bear pointed out that Twitter “may seem like the place to begin, but [it] just let the crazies back in,” particularly relevant given that NBCU ad chief Linda Yaccarino departed days before the upfronts to become CEO of Elon Musk’s social media site.
Other highlights for the ad crowd include, “How can I pay for all my hookers and blow without adverts on my shows?” and “As long as husbands keep killing their wives,...
Given the lack of A-list scripted stars, the company turned to one of its animated stars to kick off the morning.
Ted, the Seth MacFarlane-voiced star of the eponymous movie and upcoming Peacock series, opened with a song-and-dance number with a few barbs.
Related: 2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
Most notably, the stoned bear pointed out that Twitter “may seem like the place to begin, but [it] just let the crazies back in,” particularly relevant given that NBCU ad chief Linda Yaccarino departed days before the upfronts to become CEO of Elon Musk’s social media site.
Other highlights for the ad crowd include, “How can I pay for all my hookers and blow without adverts on my shows?” and “As long as husbands keep killing their wives,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming chairman Mark Lazarus addressed the shocking departure of advertising powerhouse Linda Yaccarino, who exited the company after more than a decade on Friday to serve as the new chief executive officer of Twitter.
“So what was more surprising today, being welcomed by a foul mouthed teddy bear or seeing me up here on stage?,” Lazarus told an audience of advertisers during the company’s Upfront presentation on Monday, referencing a raunchy musical opening from Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. “In all seriousness, Linda and I’ve worked together for many, many years here at NBC and in our time in sales at Turner, and for her many contributions and for building an excellent team here. We want to thank her and wish her well.”
Since joining NBCUniversal in 2011, Yaccarino’s team has generated more than $100 billion in ad sales, expanded the company’s reach globally and helped launch Peacock.
“So what was more surprising today, being welcomed by a foul mouthed teddy bear or seeing me up here on stage?,” Lazarus told an audience of advertisers during the company’s Upfront presentation on Monday, referencing a raunchy musical opening from Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. “In all seriousness, Linda and I’ve worked together for many, many years here at NBC and in our time in sales at Turner, and for her many contributions and for building an excellent team here. We want to thank her and wish her well.”
Since joining NBCUniversal in 2011, Yaccarino’s team has generated more than $100 billion in ad sales, expanded the company’s reach globally and helped launch Peacock.
- 5/15/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike has taken to the TV upfront presentations, and NBCUniversal was first in line for a picket line.
Ahead of the company’s Monday morning upfront presentation, the first of the week, hundreds of protestors surrounded New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Signs read, “We are not in ‘Severance,'” “Here’s a pitch: Pay US!,” “Don’t Piss on My Legs and Tell Me It’s Streaming,” as well as “Who wants to watch ‘The Real Housewives of David Zaslav’?” citing the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and the push for reality TV sans writers.
Inside the building, Seth MacFarlane’s teddy bear “Ted,” who is soon coming to NBCU’s Peacock via series, kicked things off with a funny and very R-rated song-and-dance number. The animation was done “months ago,” one insider told IndieWire — so, well before the strike. That also...
Ahead of the company’s Monday morning upfront presentation, the first of the week, hundreds of protestors surrounded New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Signs read, “We are not in ‘Severance,'” “Here’s a pitch: Pay US!,” “Don’t Piss on My Legs and Tell Me It’s Streaming,” as well as “Who wants to watch ‘The Real Housewives of David Zaslav’?” citing the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and the push for reality TV sans writers.
Inside the building, Seth MacFarlane’s teddy bear “Ted,” who is soon coming to NBCU’s Peacock via series, kicked things off with a funny and very R-rated song-and-dance number. The animation was done “months ago,” one insider told IndieWire — so, well before the strike. That also...
- 5/15/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
The WGA is into week three of a strike after failing to ink a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) before the clock ran out May 1. Among the issues the two sides could not come to an agreement on are mini-rooms, the use of AI and streaming residuals.
The WGA has planned pickets at upfront locations throughtout the week, including Disney’s presentation at the North Javits Center Tuesday, the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront Wednesday morning at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and YouTube’s upfront Wednesday evening at Lincoln Center.
The WGA had also planned to picket Netflix’s first-ever upfront presentation, which was set to take place at the Paris Theater near the Plaza Hotel Wednesday afternoon. That led to the streamer scrapping the in-person event, which will now be held virtually.
Variety will update this post throughout the week with details...
The WGA has planned pickets at upfront locations throughtout the week, including Disney’s presentation at the North Javits Center Tuesday, the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront Wednesday morning at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and YouTube’s upfront Wednesday evening at Lincoln Center.
The WGA had also planned to picket Netflix’s first-ever upfront presentation, which was set to take place at the Paris Theater near the Plaza Hotel Wednesday afternoon. That led to the streamer scrapping the in-person event, which will now be held virtually.
Variety will update this post throughout the week with details...
- 5/15/2023
- by Jennifer Maas and Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
2nd Update: Elon Musk has officially named Linda Yaccarino as Twitter’s new CEO.
“I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!, Musk tweeted Friday. “@LindaYacc will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology. Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app.”
I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!@LindaYacc will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology.
Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app. https://t.co/TiSJtTWuky
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2023
Previous Update: NBCUniversal confirmed that sales chief Linda Yaccarino is leaving the company, amid reports that she will become Twitter’s new CEO.
Mark Marshall, who is currently president of advertising sales and client partnerships, will become interim chairman...
“I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!, Musk tweeted Friday. “@LindaYacc will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology. Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app.”
I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!@LindaYacc will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology.
Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app. https://t.co/TiSJtTWuky
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2023
Previous Update: NBCUniversal confirmed that sales chief Linda Yaccarino is leaving the company, amid reports that she will become Twitter’s new CEO.
Mark Marshall, who is currently president of advertising sales and client partnerships, will become interim chairman...
- 5/12/2023
- by Dade Hayes and Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
In a dramatic shakeup just days before the TV upfronts, NBCUniversal says that Linda Yaccarino, its longtime head of ad sales, will depart the company effective immediately.
Yaccarino will be joining Twitter, where she will be the social platform’s new CEO. Twitter owner Elon Musk announced Yaccarino’s hire Friday.
Yaccarino “will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology,” Musk tweeted. “Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app.”
Musk previously said that he would “transition to being exec chair & Cto, overseeing product, software & sysops” when the new CEO started, suggesting that he will continue to oversee Twitter’s product and software development.
Meanwhile at NBCU, Yaccarino will be succeeded by Mark Marshall, who has been promoted to interim chairman of global advertising and partnerships. Marshall, however, will report to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming,...
Yaccarino will be joining Twitter, where she will be the social platform’s new CEO. Twitter owner Elon Musk announced Yaccarino’s hire Friday.
Yaccarino “will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology,” Musk tweeted. “Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app.”
Musk previously said that he would “transition to being exec chair & Cto, overseeing product, software & sysops” when the new CEO started, suggesting that he will continue to oversee Twitter’s product and software development.
Meanwhile at NBCU, Yaccarino will be succeeded by Mark Marshall, who has been promoted to interim chairman of global advertising and partnerships. Marshall, however, will report to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming,...
- 5/12/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBCUniversal shook up its ad-sales executive suite with just days to go before the company is slated to present its next slate of programing to advertisers.
Linda Yaccarino, the company’s longtime chairman of advertising and partnerships, is leaving the company. She has entered talks to become CEO of Twitter, according to a person familiar with the matter. Mark Marshall, a veteran executive who leads advertising sales for all of NBCU’s national media properties, has been named interim chairman of ad sales for the company. He will report to Mark Lazarus who oversees NBCU’s TV and streaming businesses.
“We are grateful for Linda Yaccarino’s leadership of NBCUniversal’s Advertising Sales business, and for the innovative team and platform she has built. Linda has made countless contributions to the company during her twelve year tenure, and we wish her the best,” said Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast...
Linda Yaccarino, the company’s longtime chairman of advertising and partnerships, is leaving the company. She has entered talks to become CEO of Twitter, according to a person familiar with the matter. Mark Marshall, a veteran executive who leads advertising sales for all of NBCU’s national media properties, has been named interim chairman of ad sales for the company. He will report to Mark Lazarus who oversees NBCU’s TV and streaming businesses.
“We are grateful for Linda Yaccarino’s leadership of NBCUniversal’s Advertising Sales business, and for the innovative team and platform she has built. Linda has made countless contributions to the company during her twelve year tenure, and we wish her the best,” said Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast...
- 5/12/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
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