UCP Adds to Current Programming Team

Universal Content Productions (UCP) has expanded its leadership team with the hiring of Rebecca Franko and Kenny Tsai, both as senior VPs of current programming.

Franko and Tsai will manage day-to-day current series across cable and streaming platforms, work closely with development on series pick-ups, serve as liaisons between production and other departments, manage up-and-coming writers and build and maintain industry relationships. Franko will oversee JOE vs CAROLE, Ted, Gaslit and more, while Tsai will have oversight of Queer as Folk, The Umbrella Academy and Chucky, among others.

Prior to joining UCP, Franko was head of development at Spondoolie Productions, where she managed series development and production. She produced Hulu’s Veronica Mars and The CW’s The Lost Boys pilot and co-produced The CW’s iZombie. Before that, she spent 19 years at Warner Bros. Television, working on series such as NBC’s Chuck, CBS’s The New Adventures of Old Christine, Hulu’s 11.22.63, FOX’s Lethal Weapon and The CW’s The 100 and Gossip Girl.

Tsai was previously VP of current programming at Universal Television, where he was responsible for overseeing a roster of drama and comedy series that includes the recently launched Bel-Air on Peacock, as well as Netflix’s Master of None and Never Have I Ever, Amazon Prime Video’s Harlem, Peacock’s Saved by the Bell and Apple TV+’s Little America.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca and Kenny to the team to help guide UCP’s growing slate of premium programming,” said JoAnn Alfano, executive VP of scripted current series and head of international business development at UCP, to whom Franko and Tsai will report. “Our impressive slate requires equally impressive executives. Rebecca is a highly respected executive and producer with a wealth of experience, and Kenny is a star with a record list of accomplishments.”