NBCUniversal will enter the streaming wars with a service launching in early 2020 that will be run by longtime cable chief Bonnie Hammer.
Bonnie Hammer
The ad-supported streaming service will be available at no cost to NBCUniversal’s pay-TV subscribers in the U.S. and major international markets. Comcast Cable and Sky will provide the service to their collective 52 million subscribers in the U.S. and Europe. An ad-free version will also be available for a fee. Viewers without pay TV service can buy a subscription to the service.
NBCU will continue to license content to other studios and platforms, while retaining rights to certain titles for its new service.
While the company plans to continue to retain its 30% stake in Hulu, its strategy has come under some scrutiny in recent months as Disney and WarnerMedia have charged ahead with efforts to hold off Netflix and other streaming giants. When its acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets closes in the coming weeks, Disney will control 60% of Hulu, which just said last week it now reaches 25 million subscribers.
“NBCUniversal has some of the world’s most valuable intellectual property and top talent, both in front of and behind the camera. Many of the most-watched shows on today’s popular streaming platforms come from NBCUniversal. Our new service will be different than those presently in the market and it will be built on the company’s strengths, with NBCUniversal’s great content and the technology expertise, broad scale and the wide distribution of Comcast Cable and Sky,” said Steve Burke, CEO, NBCUniversal, in the official announcement.
He added, “People are watching premium content more than ever, but they want more flexibility and value. NBCUniversal is perfectly positioned to offer a variety of choices, due to our deep relationships with advertisers and distribution partners, as well as our data-targeting capabilities. Advertising continues to be a major part of the entertainment ecosystem and we believe that a streaming service, with limited and personalized ads, will provide a great consumer experience.”
Hammer, Lazarus and Shell will continue to report directly to Burke. Langley continues to report to Shell.
(Excerpt) Read More at: Deadline.com