Universal Content Productions (UCP) and Universal International Studios (UIS) are merging into a single entity called Universal Global Television (UGT), Variety reports.
Leadership Changes and Structure
Beatrice Springborn, who has been leading both UCP and UIS, will serve as the president of UGT. The merger aims to streamline business and creative operations, enhancing alignment across the studio's slate.
Joining Springborn in the leadership team are Kelsey Balance as executive vice president of global series and Rebecca Franko as executive vice president of current. Balance brings her expertise from her role at UIS, while Franko continues her leadership from UCP.
Mark Binke will head production for the new global team, continuing his production leadership from UCP. Rob Howard remains in charge of UK operations, and casting responsibilities will be consolidated under Kimberly Hope, who previously oversaw casting for UTV.
Springborn's Vision
Springborn expressed excitement over the merger, saying, “Bringing the studios together to form Universal Global Television with a combined collaborative team allows us to benefit from an international marketplace, while maintaining our longstanding commitment to producing series for audiences in the UK and US.” She emphasized their commitment to global storytellers by leveraging the strengths of UCP and UIS, carrying their legacy forward.
Impact of the Merger
The merger will lead to six layoffs due to redundant roles under the new structure. In total, just under two dozen layoffs have occurred across NBCUniversal’s studio operations, NBC, and Peacock. These changes follow NBCU's strategic realignment after spinning off its cable operations into a separate entity, Versant.
Both UCP and UIS have been key content providers for NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. UIS has recently launched shows on Peacock like “All Her Fault” featuring Sarah Snook, “Day of the Jackal” starring Eddie Redmayne, and “Apples Never Fall,” based on the Liane Moriarty novel. UIS also produced the Netflix series “Too Much” from Lena Dunham.
Recent Productions
UCP has been behind several recent productions, including the live-action “Ted” series on Peacock, “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” “The Burbs” starring Keke Palmer, and “Cape Fear” for Apple TV.
As the merger unfolds, Universal Global Television aims to solidify its position in the international market while continuing to deliver compelling content for audiences globally.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ucp-uis-universal-global-television-beatrice-springborn-1236782723/
