NBCUniversal International Studios

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 […]

NBCUniversal’s Alfano switches to Universal TV

NBCUniversal exec JoAnn Alfano, former producer of 30 Rock, is joining NBC’s Universal Television as executive vice president of current series and new business development. Alfano will report to Universal TV president Pearlana Igbokwe. In her new position, Alfano will oversee and manage all aspects of Universal TV’s current series department and will also help […]

BBCWW hires NBCU formats exec as exec producer

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has hired NBCUniversal (NBCU)’s Anaïs Baker as executive producer for fact ent, entertainment and formats. This comes as part of a push to produce more factual entertainment and entertainment format. Baker, who joins this month, will report to Tracy Forsyth, BBCWW’s genre director for fact ent, entertainment and formats. The new exec […]

NBCU hires Fifty Fathoms production chief

NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS) has hired the head of production at UK prodco Fifty Fathoms, Charlotte Bloxham, to take on the same role. Bloxham will oversee NBCUIS’s scripted productions from UK-based producers Heyday Television, Working Title Television and the core NBCUIS business. At Endemol Shine UK-owned Fifty Fathoms, Bloxham has been head of production since […]

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 […]

ABC brings in ex-NBCU exec as business affairs head

ABC Studios International (ABCSI) has brought in ex-NBCUniversal International exec Guy Sheppard as head of business affairs. Sheppard will report to Howard Davine, executive vice president of business operations at ABC Studios. From his base in London, Sheppard will lead the business affairs and deal-making functions of ABC Studios International. His exit from NBCU International […]

NBCU hires ex-Endemol Shine exec for formats

NBCUniversal International Studios has brought in former Endemol Shine Group formats sales chief Ana Langenberg to replace Yvonne Pilkington, who exited recently. Langenberg has joined as senior VP of format sales and productions at NBCUniversal International Formats, which is part of NBCUIS. Pilkington exited recently after a long spell at the international arm of Comcast-owned […]

Formats chief Pilkington exits NBCU

NBCUniversal (NBCU) International Studios’ format chief, Yvonne Pilkington, has left her role, TBI has learned. Pilkington has been with the international arm of Comcast-owned NBCU since 2009, but is leaving for a career change. Her role saw her lead all format development, production and sales, working on shows such as Top Chef and The Real […]

Working Title UK hires ex-BBC comedy chief

Working Title Television UK has hired former BBC comedy chief Mark Freeland to run its comedy unit. He will join the NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS)-backed producer as head of television comedy, working closely with Andrew Woodhead, managing director of Working Title Television, as well as NBCUIS president Michael Edelstein and executive VP of scripted JoAnn […]

Argonon launches prodcos with NBCU & All3 execs

UK-based Argonon Group has established a pair of joint venture production entities, with execs from NBCUniversal and All3Media behind them. Barefaced TV will focus on factual entertainment formats for the UK and international markets, while Bandicoot is billed as a multi-genre production house. Lucy Golding and Rosie Bray (pictured right, l-r), who were joint heads […]