NBC RESTRUCTURES NETWORK AND STUDIO PROGRAMMING DIVISIONS BY JOINING TOGETHER NBC ENTERTAINMENT AND UNIVERSAL MEDIA STUDIOS, AND APPOINTING TWO EXECUTIVES TO OVERSEE WORLDWIDE NEW PREMIUM CONTENT COMPANY
ANGELA BROMSTAD RETURNS TO UNIVERSAL CITY TO OVERSEE COMBINED UNIT FOR SCRIPTED PROGRAMS
PAUL TELEGDY JOINS NBC TO HEAD COMBINED NETWORK AND STUDIO UNSCRIPTED PROGRAMS AND SPECIALS DIVISIONS
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - December 8, 2008 - NBC is restructuring its studio and network programming divisions and has hired two veteran programming executives to oversee the combined unit's programming. Angela Bromstad, who most recently served as President, NBC Universal International Production, in London, will head the combined unit's scripted entertainment division, serving as President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. Former BBC Worldwide America executive and "Dancing with the Stars" producer Paul Telegdy will oversee NBC's unscripted and specials programming, serving as Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios.
The announcements were made today by Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, who both serve as Co-Chairmen, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and to whom Bromstad and Telegdy will report. Both appointments are effective January 5.
The restructure, which is part of the company's emphasis on a more global orientation, aims to eliminate job redundancy in the development and current programming areas, improve efficiency and accountability, and create an innovative, economically viable business model in the fast-changing television business. NBC Entertainment will continue to buy projects from third party studios and Universal Media Studios will continue selling programming to third party networks, as it is successfully doing now.
Additionally, Bromstad will continue to oversee international production for NBC Universal (along with Pete Smith, President, NBC Universal International) and Telegdy will additionally be charged with the international exploitation of formats produced by the alternative division. Both Bromstad and Telegdy will be based in Universal City, CA.
Teri Weinberg, who has served as Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment, will continue to work under her contract through this transition period before launching her own production company and returning to her roots of hands-on producing. The Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody Award-winning producer ("The Office," "Ugly Betty") is expected to sign a production deal with Universal Media Studios to develop a variety of television projects and return to the shows she was previously producing.
Craig Plestis, who has been Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, will launch and become president of a new production banner, Apogee Studios, under a deal through the newly formed alternative studio housed within Universal Media Studios and run by Paul Telegdy. He'll continue in his current role until Telegdy joins NBC in early January and will assist with the transition, before starting his new role producing content and becoming a key supplier of alternative projects for NBC Universal.
Silverman said: "As part of our continued reorganization and evolution, not only as a broadcaster but also as a content company, we are further integrating our international production operations and re-orienting our domestic production operations into a centralized hub as we look to produce more content more efficiently and more globally." He continued, "Angela and Paul are two experienced executives who have worked across the world making content and are perfectly positioned to lead the network and studio operations."
Regarding the merging of network and studio operations, Graboff added, "We think one creative programming organization, with one team and one focus, makes much more sense in today's environment. We believe simplicity and clarity is the key going forward, and that the creative talent with whom we do business will welcome the reduced layers of bureaucracy. This newly structured team will also be working with third party studios as much as ever, and will be continuing to look for opportunities to license programs to third party networks."
Bromstad has been an executive at NBC Universal over the last decade. In 2007, she moved to London to create a new international TV production studio for the company, and recently oversaw the acquisition of the premiere production company, Carnival, by NBC Universal. Previously, as President, NBC Universal Television Studio (now named Universal Media Studios), Bromstad was responsible for the development of Emmy-winning series such as "30 Rock," "Heroes," and "Friday Night Lights," and oversaw the production of other popular hits including "House," "The Office," "Monk," "Battlestar Galactica" and the "Law & Order"-branded dramas.
Telegdy, who most recently was Executive Vice President, Sales, Content and Production, BBC Worldwide America, is recognized for his trans-Atlantic co-productions, both from a business and creative standpoint. During his career in a variety of positions there, he oversaw the sale and launch of "Dancing with the Stars" and executive produced "Grease: You're the One That I Want" and "I'm with Stupid" (both for NBC) and "Viva Laughlin" for CBS.
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