NBCU Renames TV Studio, Shuffles Execs

UNIVERSAL CITY: NBCUniversal has renamed its TV production company, Universal Media Studios, as Universal Television, putting in place a new leadership team to head the group.

The newly named studio is led by Bela Bajaria as executive VP. Bajaria, who joined NBCUniversal last month, reports to Robert Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment.The team will include Russell Rothberg, former the senior VP of drama programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios who will now lead the drama department as senior VP. Erin Underhill, formerly the senior VP of current programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios, becomes the senior VP of drama, reporting to Rothberg.

For comedy, Tracey Pakosta comes to Universal Television as senior VP of comedy. Beth Klein, most recently at Showtime, will lead the new casting department as senior VP of casting at Universal Television. An additional comedy exec will be named shortly.

“We are excited to embark on the rebuilding of the studio,” said Bajaria. “This incredible group brings a wide range of experience, great creative relationships and a strong belief in the studio business. We look forward to working in partnership with the creative community to produce quality shows for a variety of networks under the Universal Television banner.”

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates our commitment to our studio business,” added Greenblatt. “Content creation is vitally important, and this new group will supervise all of the studio’s current programming as well as plan for our expansion into the future. We are fortunate to have attracted a team with the highest integrity and skill who will work closely with the NBC Entertainment group and also sell and produce shows for a range of other networks. The name change to Universal Television harkens back to a company that was once a juggernaut of the business and will serve to reinforce to the creative community our stated goal of producing quality television.”