CMCSA Comcast Corporation

By Joe Flint 

Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal has consolidated its TV-production business and named a new head of its soon-to-be launched streaming service as part of a broad realignment of its entertainment operations, the company said Monday.

Bonnie Hammer, the veteran cable-programming executive who most recently was in charge of Peacock, the NBCUniversal streaming service due to launch next year, has been named chairman of the newly created NBCUniversal Content Studios.

In her new role, Ms. Hammer will oversee all TV production at NBCUniversal, which includes content for NBCU-owned outlets including NBC and USA Network and Peacock as well as content produced for rivals including Netflix Inc.

"Bonnie's great taste, deep Hollywood relationships, and strong track record of generating popular and award-winning programming make her ideally suited to oversee this new division," said NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke, to whom Ms. Hammer will report.

Longtime Comcast executive Matt Strauss, who most recently was executive vice president of the cable operator's Xfinity Services unit overseeing video and internet operations, will become chairman of Peacock. He also reports to Mr. Burke.

Peacock is set to debut next April with a slate of both classic shows including "The Office" and original programming. Talent signed up to make shows for the service include Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore.

News of the NBCUniversal restructuring was first reported by Variety.

Unlike Walt Disney Co.'s Disney+ and AT&T Inc.'s HBO Max, Peacock is seeking to be more of a complement to cable services and less of a direct competitor. The service will be free to Comcast cable subscribers. NBCUniversal is also seeking to cut deals with other pay-TV distributors that would allow them to offer Peacock to their subscribers free as well, a person familiar with the matter said.

Peacock will be available to cord-cutters as well for a fee. Peacock will be ad supported but also have an advertising free version at a higher price.

As part of the restructuring, George Cheeks, who had been co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, will now become vice chairman of the Content Studios unit report to Ms. Hammer.

Paul Telegdy now becomes sole chairman of NBC Entertainment with oversight over the broadcast network's prime-time lineup and he continues to report to Jeff Shell, chairman of NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment.

Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 07, 2019 14:58 ET (18:58 GMT)

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