Jeff Wachtel


Exclusive: NBCU International Studios COO to exit

NBCUniversal International Studio’s (NBCUIS) chief operating officer Sarah Cooper is to step down from her position, TBI can reveal. Cooper (pictured) joined the UK-based production division of NBCU in 2013 with a far-reaching remit that included working with then NBCUIS president Michael Edelstein to drive value from its shows, which include period drama Downton Abbey, […]

Edinburgh TV Festival unveils State of the TV Nation panel

YouTube’s EMEA chief Ben McOwen Wilson, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon (pictured) and Lionsgate TV Group president Sandra Stern are among senior executives set to appear on a ‘State of the TV Nation’ panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August. They will be joined by All3Media CEO Jane Turton and president of NBCUniversal International […]

NBC exec to lead unscripted at Matchbox Pictures

NBC exec Dan Munday has been named head of unscripted at Australian prodco Matchbox Pictures. The exec, who has more than 20 years’ experience both in the US and Australia, is to join the NBCUniversal International Studios-backed firm in June, based out of Sydney. He will oversee the creation, development and management of all Matchbox […]

ABC Australia exec joins Matchbox Pictures as MD

NBCUniversal-owned Safe Harbour producer Matchbox Pictures has appointed ABC Australia exec Alastair McKinnon (pictured, right) as managing director. The exec was most recently head of content investment and planning at the public broadcaster, where he was responsible for overseeing content production, business and planning activities across all genres and platforms for ABC’s entertainment and specialist […]

NBCU finds Edelstein replacement

Jeff Wachtel is relocating from LA to London to become the replacement for Michael Edelstein at NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS). Currently NBCU Cable Entertainment’s chief content officer, Wachtel (pictured) will begin his new role as president of NBCUIS in January before moving to London in the summer of 2018. He will be in charge of […]

McCumber rises as NBCU rejigs entertainment

NBCUniversal is shaking up its entertainment networks division, with USA Networks president Chris McCumber heading up a new-look unit. McCumber will be president of NBCU Entertainment Networks, a group comprising USA, Syfy, Chiller and Cloo. Syfy president Dave Howe is being moved to a new post as president, strategy and commercial growth at NBCU Cable […]

Syfy visits grindhouse with Blood Drive

US cable channel Syfy has greenlit Blood Drive, a 13-part scripted series based on the classic grindhouse movie genre. Billed as “high-octane” and “over-the-top”, the show is set in a dystopian future in LA where the city’s last good cop is forced to join a gory cross-country death race in cars powered by blood. Executive […]

Universal adapting Telemundo telenovelas for US nets

Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions have taken exclusive options on two drama series from US Hispanic broadcaster and NBCUniversal stablemate Telemundo. NBCUniversal production unit Universal Television will adapt El Señor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies) for US audiences. The show has been a hit for Telemundo, becoming its highest rated telenovela […]

USA orders action drama from Tim Kring, Gideon Raff

USA Network has commissioned a six-episode run of DIG, an action adventure event series from Heroes creator Tim Kring and Homeland’s Gideon Raff. The series has been in development at Keshet Media Group and US producer BermanBraun and will now go into production via that pair and Covert Affairs producer Universal Cable Productions and with […]

Mark Stern out as NBCU rejigs Syfy

NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment has made its latest round of executive changes, handing a USA Networks boss control of Syfy and saying goodbye to Mark Stern as a result. Bill McGoldrick will helm the network as executive VP, original content, effective immediately. The move sees Stern, currently Syfy president, original programming and co-head, original content at […]