NBCUniversal said it will be launching a new streaming service in 2020, offering premium content for free in the US and major international markets. The service will be ad-supported, running on partnerships with advertisers and distributors, but there will also be an ad-free version, for a non-specified fee.
The new service will take advantage of NBCUniversal’s reach to over 90 million US households. Comcast Cable and Sky will also provide the service to their 52 million subscribers. It will feature the company’s content library but also original programming and content from outside partners. NBCUniversal said it will continue to license content to other studios and platforms, while retaining rights to certain titles for its new service.
The streaming service will be led by Bonnie Hammer, who has been promoted to chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and Digital Enterprises. She will head a team that includes executives from Sky’s OTT offering, Now TV and NBCUniversal. The company’s Digital Enterprises group, led by Maggie Suniewick, will also move into the group. Hammer was previously chairman of NBCUniversal’s Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios, overseeing Hollywood studios UCP and Wilshire Studios.
NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke also announced a reorganisation of his senior leadership team, which will alight its content businesses under two executives, Mark Lazarus and Jeff Shell. Lazarus has been named chairman for NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News and will assume responsibility for most of the company’s East Coast-based content businesses, including the cable entertainment portfolio, NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. Lazarus will also continue to oversee the NBC Sports Group, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations and NBC Affiliate Relations.
Shell has been named chairman, NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment. He will continue to oversee film and will also now be responsible for NBCUniversal’s international division and Telemundo.
