NBC announces restructuring plans

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- NBC announced this week it is restructuring its U.S. studio and network programming divisions in an effort to improve efficiency.

The company also said it has hired two veteran programming executives to oversee the combined unit's programming.

Angela Bromstad, who most recently served as president of NBC Universal International Production in London, will head the combined unit's scripted entertainment division, serving as president of primetime entertainment for NBC and Universal Media Studios.

Former BBC Worldwide America executive and "Dancing with the Stars" producer Paul Telegdy is to oversee NBC's unscripted and specials programming, serving as executive vice president of alternative programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios.

The announcements were made by Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, who serve as co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios and to whom Bromstad and Telegdy will report. Both appointments are effective Jan. 5.

The restructuring "aims to eliminate job redundancy in the development and current programming areas, improve efficiency and accountability, and create an innovative, economically viable business model in the fast-changing television business," NBC said.

NBC Entertainment will continue to buy projects from third-party studios and Universal Media Studios will continue selling programming to third-party networks, as it is successfully doing now, the company said.