ITV

Tag: Steve Burke

  • Disney eyes 10% stake in Hulu

    Disney eyes 10% stake in Hulu

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company wants to have a grip on the US streaming service Hulu. According to reports, Disney is in active discussions with AT&T to acquire the 10 per cent stake that WarnerMedia owns in the streaming platform.

    Disney holds 30 per cent stake in the WarnerMedia Company, combined with another 30 per cent deal with Fox which is finalied and if it succeeds in convincing AT&T, Disney will own 70 per cent of Hulu.

    According to the reports that originated in Variety, Disney’s intentions are to keep Hulu as an adult-oriented, general entertainment hub, while its forthcoming Disney+ SVoD service will complement it as a family-friendly platform. Disney would also likely seek to expand Hulu into international markets.

    NBCUniversal's CEO Steve Burke revealed back in January that Disney also wanted to buy the 30 percent stake the media conglomerate owns, but the company wasn't looking to sell. Disney's offer for AT&T's portion won't fall on deaf ears, though: AT&T has been thinking of selling WarnerMedia's portion to prepare for its own streaming service's launch later this year. 

  • NBC Broadcasting to restructure exec suites as chairman exits

    NBC Broadcasting to restructure exec suites as chairman exits

    MUMBAI: US-based NBC Broadcasting chief Ted Herbert is stepping down from his role as the chairman after 40 years in the industry. Herbert was key adviser to NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke. He saw a wide swath of territory including local advertising sales, the network’s owned television stations, affiliate relations and distribution of NBC-owned content.

    He was in the position since 2011 when Comcast Corp. completed its acquisition of NBCUniversal. Prior to that, he ran the E! cable network for Comcast.

    With this exit, Burke plans to restructure the executive suites at the network. NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus will take on Harbert’s title to become chairman of NBC Broadcasting and Sports. He will oversee affiliate relations, advertising and the owned-TV stations. Harbert other duties will be spread to other execs

    The syndication business will be overseen jointly by senior entertainment executives George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy.

    NBCUniversal Global Distribution chairman Kevin MacLellan will add domestic and new media distribution of NBC content to his responsibilities. Maggie McLean Suniewick has been named president of digital enterprises, which is a unit focusing on strategy and development in the digital space.

  • NBC Broadcasting to restructure exec suites as chairman exits

    NBC Broadcasting to restructure exec suites as chairman exits

    MUMBAI: US-based NBC Broadcasting chief Ted Herbert is stepping down from his role as the chairman after 40 years in the industry. Herbert was key adviser to NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke. He saw a wide swath of territory including local advertising sales, the network’s owned television stations, affiliate relations and distribution of NBC-owned content.

    He was in the position since 2011 when Comcast Corp. completed its acquisition of NBCUniversal. Prior to that, he ran the E! cable network for Comcast.

    With this exit, Burke plans to restructure the executive suites at the network. NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus will take on Harbert’s title to become chairman of NBC Broadcasting and Sports. He will oversee affiliate relations, advertising and the owned-TV stations. Harbert other duties will be spread to other execs

    The syndication business will be overseen jointly by senior entertainment executives George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy.

    NBCUniversal Global Distribution chairman Kevin MacLellan will add domestic and new media distribution of NBC content to his responsibilities. Maggie McLean Suniewick has been named president of digital enterprises, which is a unit focusing on strategy and development in the digital space.

  • NBCUniversal invests $200 million in Buzzfeed

    NBCUniversal invests $200 million in Buzzfeed

    MUMBAI: NBCUniversal is stepping up on its digital play. After recently investing $200 million in digital company Vox Media, the company has now made a $200 million equity investment in BuzzFeed, the technology-driven global media company. 

     

    “BuzzFeed has built an exceptional global company that harmonizes technology, data and superior editorial abilities to create and share content in innovative ways. They reach a massive, loyal audience and have proven to be among the most creative, popular and influential new media players. We are pleased to be making this investment and for our companies to partner and work together,” said NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke.

     

    “It’s a fascinating time for the media industry; social, mobile, digital, and broadcast platforms are converging to create new opportunities to connect with global audiences, and we’re excited to partner with NBCUniversal to combine our respective strengths to build the future of news and entertainment,” said BuzzFeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti.

     

    As part of the investment, the companies will also explore strategic partnerships across both organizations in the coming months.

     

    “BuzzFeed and NBCUniversal will be great strategic partners and we both have a lot to offer the other. We look forward to collaborating on television content, movies, the Olympics, and joint partnerships with ad agencies and brands,” said Buzzfeed executive chairman Kenneth Lerer.

  • Brian Williams demoted; Lester Holt to anchor ‘NBC Nightly News’

    Brian Williams demoted; Lester Holt to anchor ‘NBC Nightly News’

    MUMBAI: Brian Williams, who was suspended as the anchor of NBC Nightly News earlier this year, has been replaced by Lester Holt as the permanent anchor of the show.

     

    Holt, 56, has been a television news reporter for thirty-four years. He joined NBC in 2000 and became the full-time anchor of Weekend Nightly News in 2007. He also anchors Dateline and co-anchors Weekend Today.

     

    NBC News and MSNBC chairman Andrew Lack and NBCU CEO Steve Burke have decided that Williams will not be the anchor of Nightly News, which he hosted from 1996 to 2004.

     

    In a review conducted by NBCUniversal, it was found that Williams made a number of inaccurate statements about his own role and experiences covering events in the field. The statements in question did not for the most part occur on NBC News platforms or in the immediate aftermath of the news events, but rather on late-night programs and during public appearances, usually years after the news events in question.

     

    Williams will now join MSNBC as anchor of breaking news and special reports. He will work with NBCU News Group SVP of special reports Mark Lukasiewicz, who will help lead a team to strengthen MSNBC’s daytime coverage by further leveraging NBC News’ expertise in breaking news. In addition, Williams will serve as a breaking news anchor for NBC News live special reports when Holt is not available. He will begin the new role in mid-August.

     

    Speaking about Hold’s appointment as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News, Lack said, “Lester has done outstanding work for NBC News over the last ten years, and he’s performed remarkably well over the last few months under very tough circumstances. He’s an exceptional anchor who goes straight to the heart of every story and is always able to find its most direct connection to the everyday lives of our audience. In many ways, television news stands at a crossroads, and Lester is the perfect person to meet the moment.”

     

    Holt added, “This is an enormous honor. The respect and admiration I have for the Nightly News team has only grown deeper over the last several months that we’ve been together. Day-in and day-out under an uncomfortable spotlight they have produced world-class journalism. I’m very proud and grateful to be part of such an unflappable and dedicated team of professionals as we move forward together.”

     

    Speaking about Willians, Lack said, “Brian now has the chance to earn back everyone’s trust. His excellent work over twenty-two years at NBC News has earned him that opportunity.”

     

    Burke said, “First of all, I want to thank Lester Holt. Lester stepped into the anchor chair in a trying time and has really come through for us. We are lucky to have him and I know he will continue to do great things at NBC News for years to come.”

     

    “As you would imagine this was a difficult decision. Brian Williams has been with NBC News for a very long time and he has covered countless news events with honor and skill. As I said in February, we believe in second chances, and I am hopeful that this new beginning will be good for Brian and the organization. This matter has been extensively analyzed and deliberated on by NBC. We are moving forward,” Burke continued.

     

    On his return to NBC, Williams said, “I’m sorry. I said things that weren’t true. I let down my NBC colleagues and our viewers, and I’m determined to earn back their trust. I will greatly miss working with the team on Nightly News, but I know the broadcast will be in excellent hands with Lester Holt as anchor. I will support him 100 per cent as he has always supported me. I am grateful for the chance to return to covering the news. My new role will allow me to focus on important issues and events in our country and around the world, and I look forward to it.”

  • NBC Universal elevates Anand Kini as CFO

    NBC Universal elevates Anand Kini as CFO

    MUMBAI: NBC Universal has promoted Anand Kini as its chief financial officer.

     

    Most recently, Kini served as executive vice president, strategy and business insights and since February 2015 as interim CFO.

     

    Kini helped shape NBC Universal’s long term strategic direction, led the data-driven consumer and business insights division and the Information Technology group.In addition to his role as CFO, he will maintain responsibility for these other areas.He remains a member of the Executive Committee and reports to NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke.

     

    “Anand is a very important member of our executive team and his contributions have played a key role in our success. His business sense and his strategic vision have been invaluable.I know that he will bring that same focus and commitment to this new position,” said Burke.

     

    Prior to joining NBC Universal in July 2011, Kini was with Comcast Cable Communications as senior vice president, financial planning and analysis. In that role he managed Comcast Cable’s forecasting, annual budget, and three-year planning process, and served as a key analytical resource to help the cable businesses identify emerging market trends, evaluate competitive positioning and determine attractive growth strategies to drive strong financial returns.

     

    He joined Comcast in 2007 from Activision Blizzard, a video game publisher in Southern Calif., where he was vice president of financial planning. Prior to that, he was director of financial planning for Disney’s Parks and Resorts division.

  • Universal’s ‘Despicable Me 2? crosses $800mn worldwide

    Universal’s ‘Despicable Me 2? crosses $800mn worldwide

    MUMBAI: Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me 2 continues to rake it in around the globe. The animated sequel surpassed the $800 million mark with Friday’s estimated domestic grosses of $349.9 million and $451.4 million international bringing the worldwide take to $801.3 million.

     

    The Universal and Illumination Entertainment pic has opened at No.1 in 45 territories and is the second highest grossing pic of 2013 worldwide behind Iron Man 3. Domestically it’s No.2 and internationally only third behind Iron Man 3 and Fast & Furious 6.

     

    Last month NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke declared Despicable Me 2 the studios’ most profitable film in history; it’s also Uni’s second highest grosser of all time worldwide behind Jurassic Park.