From red carpets to resident aliens and driving ranges, NBCUniversal’s SpinCo has given its first indication of what its programming strategy might look like with the hiring of Val Boreland as president of entertainment.
Boreland will oversee programming for cable networks including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E! , SyFy and Golf Channel as the Comcast-owned company spins those assets into its own entity.
Borland’s background — who currently serves as executive vice president and president of content acquisitions, television and streaming for NBCUniversal — suggests a mix of third-party acquisitions combined with original series.
She has overseen content acquisition for NBC, the cable networks and Peacock and was credited with the latter’s acquisition of the streaming rights to a Paramount drama series Yellowstone And so is her deal John Wick Prequel Continental.
But it also has original programming experience, as NBCUniversal was quick to point out in its announcement. Prior to joining NBCU, Borland was Executive Vice President and Head of Programming and Production at Revolt, the music network launched by the now-embattled Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2013. In this role, she oversaw all content programming, strategy, production, development, talent and experience. music.
Before that, she was Vice President of Programming at Comedy Central from 2005 to 2012 and Vice President of Programming at Lifetime for ten years.
The question people in Hollywood are asking now is: How much original content will Borland oversee and who will buy it?
Currently, USA Network has two original scripted series on the air: Resident alien and Rain maker. Alan Tudyk’s drama series recently moved from Syfy to USA Network for its upcoming fourth season.
Deadline understands that rain maker, Which is based on the John Grisham novel and a film adaptation, remains at SpinCo-bound USA but will likely move to NBC or Peacock, which reside at NBCUniversal.
Rainmaker It was USA Network’s first new scripted series order in some time and was conceived as the first of a number of “Blue Sky” shows that USA Network had been planning to do prior to the spin-off.
With cancellation Chucky And move Resident alien To the USA, SyFy was based solely on Canadian written originals such as SurrealEstate And the next alive.
On the unscripted front, USA Network makes its debut The unknowna competing series of Traitors producer Studio Lambert, in August, although the show didn’t really make a name for itself during its first season.
E! He has House of Villains, Snoop Dogg’s Parenthood: Corey and Wayne’s Story And a long-lasting series Failedbut Oxygen, with its focus on true crime, arguably airs the most SpinCo Networks originals.
Includes chain Cold justiceproduced by Dick Wolf, is heading into its eighth season this year alongside Trial of Evil, Murder in New York and Fatal family disputesafter last year it launched new titles such as Deadly Waters with Captain Leethe less Deck Captain, he had 20y Anniversary of I snapped.
Corey Abraham, senior vice president of unscripted development, crime and documentary, NBCUniversal Entertainment, is in charge of most of these shows and sources have spoken about her as someone who could join SpinCo.
But Abraham’s role — covering all of its networks and Peacock — also highlights one of the other challenges of filling SpinCo with NBCU executives. After the previous restructuring, many senior executives acquired and developed software across channels and services; For example, Corey Henson oversees formats and competition series across the board including The unknownwhile her lifestyle and real-life counterpart Rachel Smith does too, so untangling some of these tangles will be essential.
This is similar on the script front, where Lisa Katz, president of scripted content for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, oversees all scripts for the two cable networks, NBC and Peacock.
As one insider put it, there will be no “lifting and shifting” of companies.
There’s also the matter of the studio; Universal Studio Group, consisting of Universal Television, UCP and UIS, will report to Donna Langley, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios. The split won’t be as drastic as the one that occurred at 20th Television and Fox after Disney acquired the former and is still producing shows for the former, largely because it will still be under Comcast’s control, but it will likely require some additional paperwork.
Donna Langley, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, and Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, are also expected to unveil new leadership plans, so SpinCo CEO Mark Lazarus and his team may have to wait to find out, sources noted. The extent of the impact. Before knowing their own strategy.