NBCUniversal SpinCo Programming Strategy Val Boreland
From red carpets to resident aliens and driving ranges, NBCUniversal’s SpinCo has given its first indication what its programming strategy might look like with the hire of Val Boreland as President of Entertainment.
Boreland oversees programming for cable channels including USA Network (CNBC), MSNBC, Oxygen (E! ), SyFy, Golf Channel, and Oxygen as Comcast spins off its assets into a separate entity.
Boreland, who is the EVP and head of content acquisitions for TV & Streaming at NBCUniversal, has a background that suggests a mixture of original series alongside third-party purchases.
She is credited for overseeing the acquisition of content for NBC and the cable networks, as well as Peacock. Peacock was credited for its savvy purchase of streaming rights for the Paramount drama Yellowstone and the prequel to John Wick The Continental.
NBCUniversal has been quick to note that she also has original programming experience. Boreland worked as the EVP and Head of Production at Revolt in 2013, the music network founded by Sean “Diddy”. She was responsible for all content, strategy, production, talent, and music.
She was previously SVP of Programming for Comedy Central from 2005 to 2012, and Vice President of Programming for Lifetime.
Boreland is now being asked by Hollywood how much original content he will oversee and who will buy it.
The Rainmaker, a drama series starring Alan Tudyk, recently moved from Syfy to USA Network for its upcoming fourth season. Alan Tudyk’s drama series, which will be in its fourth season soon, recently moved from Syfy over to USA Network.
Deadline understands that The Rainmaker, which is based on the John Grisham novel and film adaptation, is still set up at SpinCo-bound USA but could potentially move to either NBC or Peacock, which are staying at NBCUniversal.
The Rainmaker is the first new scripted show USA Network has ordered in a long time. It was envisioned as one of several “Blue Sky” series that USA planned to produce before the spin-off.
SyFy, after cancelling Chucky and moving Resident Alien from Canada to the USA, has relied solely on Canadian-scripted originals like SurrealEstate and Revival.
The Traitors’ producer Studio Lambert produced The Anonymous in August. However, the show failed to make an impact during its first season.
E! Oxygen is the network that has the most original content among the SpinCo channels. Its focus on true crime and Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood, Cori & Wayne’s Story, are just a few examples.
Cold Justice produced by Dick Wolf is entering its eighth season in this year, along with Prosecuting Evil and New York Homicide. Last year, Snapped celebrated its 20th anniversary and launched new titles like Deadly Waters featuring Captain Lee the Below Deck Captain.
Sources have suggested that Cori Abraham could join SpinCo. She is currently SVP of Unscripted Development at NBCUniversal Entertainment and is responsible for the majority of this programming.
Abraham’s role – which includes all of NBCU’s networks and Peacock – also highlights another challenge of bringing NBCU executives to SpinCo. After a previous restructuring, many top executives buy and develop content across all channels and services. For example, Corie Smith oversees lifestyle and reality programming, and her lifestyle counterpart Rachel Smith also does so.
Lisa Katz, President of Scripted Content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming oversees the scripted content for cable networks NBC and Peacock.
One insider said that there will not be a “lift and move” in the corporate world.
The question of studios is also important. Donna Langley will be the Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios. She will oversee Universal Studio Group which includes Universal Television, UCP and UIS. It won’t be as dramatic as the split between 20th Television, Fox, and Disney after Disney bought the former but still produced shows for Fox, in part because Comcast will still control the latter, but there will be some paperwork.
Sources say that Donna Langley and Matt Strauss are expected to announce new leadership plans. SpinCo CEO Mark Lazarus and the team will have to wait and see what happens before determining their own strategy.
