NBCUniversal is shaking up its executive ranks for the second time this year. Bonnie Hammer will shift over to run Universal Television and Universal Content Productions, which will be rolled up into a single operation.
Comcast Cable’s Matt Strauss will now be in charge of Peacock, NBCU’s upcoming streaming service that will launch next year.
The moves are the second major company-wide executive shuffle in 2019. In January, NBCU put Hammer in charge of its streaming operations, with Sports Group head Mark Lazarus expanding his role to oversee cable operations. Hammer now moves back to the content development side, while Peacock gets someone in charge who has more of an operations background in Strauss.
“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. With our studios being a main pipeline for Peacock’s original content, she will continue to be integral to the future success of our streaming business,” said NBCU chief Steve Burke. “I worked with Matt for many years at Comcast Cable, and know firsthand that he is one of the most talented leaders in our company. He has great experience with video, digital technology and streaming and is the right person for the role at this juncture.”
Additionally, George Cheeks is moving back over the production side under Hammer as vice chairman of NBCU Content Studios. Cheeks will maintain his oversight of NBC’s late-night programming. This means that Paul Telegedy will take over as sole chairman of NBC Entertainment – the two had been sharing the job since Bob Greenblatt stepped down last year. Telegdy will also continue to oversee syndication and Universal Television Alternative Studio.
Pearlena Igbokwe and Dawn Olmstead will continue in their roles as head of Universal Television and Universal Content Productions respectively, jointly reporting to Hammer and Cheeks.
Strauss moves over from Comcast Cable, where he most recently served as executive vice president of Xfinity Services. Strauss was one of the architects of Comcast’s new streaming device, Xfinty Flex, which will also house Peacock when it launches.
Peacock will feature reboots of classic TV series “Battlestar Galactica,” “Saved By the Bell” and “Punky Brewster,” along with new comedies from Mike Schur, Rashida Jones and an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” An “SNL” docuseries from Lorne Michaels, a Jimmy Fallon talk show, a late night series with “Late Night’s” Amber Ruffin and another “Real Housewives” spinoff are also coming to the service. Additionally, Peacock will house a vast content library that includes former NBC sitcoms “The Office,” “Parks & Recreation,” “30 Rock,” “Cheers” and “Frasier.”