Latest news: Universal Content Productions (UCP) and Universal International Studios (UIS) will be merged to become one integrated studio unit, Variety has learned. The new division was named Universal Global Television (UGT).
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Beatrice Springborn, who currently serves as president of both UCP and UIS, will become president of UGT. The merger is intended to streamline business and creative operations under Springborn, while aligning greater direction.
Along with Springborn, UGT’s management team will include Kelsey Ballance as vice president of global series and Rebecca Franco as current vice president. Mr. Ballance currently serves in that role at UIS, and Mr. Franco heads UCP.
Mark Binke will lead production for the new global team, with Binke currently leading production for UCP. Rob Howard will continue to lead the UK business. Casting will be consolidated under Kimberly Hope, who currently oversees casting for UTV.
“By bringing together the studios to form a joint team, Universal Global Television (UGT), we will be able to benefit from international markets while maintaining our long-standing commitment to producing series for audiences in the UK and US,” Springborn said. “We are doubling down on our investment in world-class storytellers, building on the strengths that have defined UCP and Universal International Studios and carrying that tradition into the next phase.”
The merger will result in six layoffs as UGT eliminates duplicate roles under the new studio structure. A total of just under 20 people were laid off across NBCUniversal’s studio operations, NBC and Peacock. The job cuts come as NBCU reorganizes after spinning off most of its cable business into an independent company, Versant.
Both UIS and UCP feed content to NBCUniversal streamer Peacock. UIS’s recently launched shows on the platform include “All Her Faults,” starring Sarah Snook, “The Day of the Jackal,” starring Eddie Redmayne, and “Apples Never Fall,” based on Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name. UIS also recently produced the Lena Dunham Netflix series “Too Much.”
Meanwhile, UCP has recently produced the live-action “Ted” series on Peacock, as well as shows such as “The Devil in Disguise,” “The Burbs,” starring KeKi Palmer, and “Cape Fear” for Apple TV.
