Heather Olander knew she would be taking on a challenge when she joined The CW as its first Head of Unscripted Programming.
Former NBCUniversal exec Olander, who previously oversaw shows such as Temptation Island and The Biggest Loser at USA Network, joined the broadcast network in January after Nexstar acquired it and following the hire of Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment.
“If you take the idea of a broadcast network and completely transform it into something brand new, that’s massive,” she told Deadline.
Heather Olander
The CW was moving to a new model; out were the majority of its youth-skewing scripted dramas and in were lower-cost co-productions and a healthy dose of unscripted television – Olander says around 50% of the schedule will be unscripted.
She admitted there were “red flags all around” but that was one of the reasons that she took on the challenge, comparing it to moving...
Former NBCUniversal exec Olander, who previously oversaw shows such as Temptation Island and The Biggest Loser at USA Network, joined the broadcast network in January after Nexstar acquired it and following the hire of Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment.
“If you take the idea of a broadcast network and completely transform it into something brand new, that’s massive,” she told Deadline.
Heather Olander
The CW was moving to a new model; out were the majority of its youth-skewing scripted dramas and in were lower-cost co-productions and a healthy dose of unscripted television – Olander says around 50% of the schedule will be unscripted.
She admitted there were “red flags all around” but that was one of the reasons that she took on the challenge, comparing it to moving...
- 6/7/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The CW is continuing its push into unscripted.
The network has hired former NBCUniversal exec Betsy Slenzak as VP, Unscripted Programming. She reports to Head of Unscripted Programming Heather Olander and will develop and run current production on alternative reality series, events and specials for the network.
Slenzak was previously VP, Entertainment Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she worked across reality competition, talent competition and game show formats for networks NBC, Bravo, E! and USA Network and streamer Peacock.
Her slate included series including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Peacock’s Love Island, The Traitors and Frogger.
The move follows the departure of Cyle Zezo, who was VP and Head of Alternative and Digital Programming, who Deadline revealed was leaving after nine years and was planning a move into production.
Olander joined earlier this year and has already been busy outlining the Nexstar-owned network’s unscripted strategy to producers,...
The network has hired former NBCUniversal exec Betsy Slenzak as VP, Unscripted Programming. She reports to Head of Unscripted Programming Heather Olander and will develop and run current production on alternative reality series, events and specials for the network.
Slenzak was previously VP, Entertainment Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she worked across reality competition, talent competition and game show formats for networks NBC, Bravo, E! and USA Network and streamer Peacock.
Her slate included series including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Peacock’s Love Island, The Traitors and Frogger.
The move follows the departure of Cyle Zezo, who was VP and Head of Alternative and Digital Programming, who Deadline revealed was leaving after nine years and was planning a move into production.
Olander joined earlier this year and has already been busy outlining the Nexstar-owned network’s unscripted strategy to producers,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
NBCUniversal has been hit with another round of layoffs as the company moves to further integrate its lifestyle networks.
The layoffs come as the company’s lifestyle networks further integrate operations following the departure of E! president Adam Stotsky earlier this month.
The reorganization divides Stotsky’s responsibilities to other executives at the company, combining E!’s marking, communications, development and programming operations with that of the other brands in the entertainment and lifestyle group. All will report to Frances Berwick, president of lifestyle networks.
Also Read: E! President Adam Stotsky to Step Down
NBCUniversal declined to comment on the number of employees who will be laid off, but an individual familiar with the situation said it is expected to amount to less than 5% of current staff across the group, which comprises cable networks Bravo, E!, Oxygen and others.
E! development exec Betsy Slenzak will jump to NBCU’s upcoming streaming service,...
The layoffs come as the company’s lifestyle networks further integrate operations following the departure of E! president Adam Stotsky earlier this month.
The reorganization divides Stotsky’s responsibilities to other executives at the company, combining E!’s marking, communications, development and programming operations with that of the other brands in the entertainment and lifestyle group. All will report to Frances Berwick, president of lifestyle networks.
Also Read: E! President Adam Stotsky to Step Down
NBCUniversal declined to comment on the number of employees who will be laid off, but an individual familiar with the situation said it is expected to amount to less than 5% of current staff across the group, which comprises cable networks Bravo, E!, Oxygen and others.
E! development exec Betsy Slenzak will jump to NBCU’s upcoming streaming service,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
In a major executive restructuring, NBCUniversal’s Lifestyle Group in undergoing further consolidation with the combining of key operations for E! with those for Bravo, Oxygen and Universal Kids, leading to the trimming of almost 5% of the group’s workforce. That includes integrating E! and Bravo’s development teams under Rachel Smith, currently Svp, Bravo Development.
As part of the consolidation, E!’s Evp Development and Production Amy Introcaso-Davis is leaving, while Betsy Slenzak, VP of Development, will be moving to NBCU’s upcoming streaming platform Peacock as VP of Development for Unscripted under Bill McGoldrick
The restructuring was foreshadowed by the recent exit of Adam Stotsky who stepped down as president of E!, bringing to an end an 18-year tenure at NBCUniversal. He is not going to be replaced, with his duties split among the leadership team.
Also leaving is Jerry Leo, Evp Program Strategy, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment & Production.
As part of the consolidation, E!’s Evp Development and Production Amy Introcaso-Davis is leaving, while Betsy Slenzak, VP of Development, will be moving to NBCU’s upcoming streaming platform Peacock as VP of Development for Unscripted under Bill McGoldrick
The restructuring was foreshadowed by the recent exit of Adam Stotsky who stepped down as president of E!, bringing to an end an 18-year tenure at NBCUniversal. He is not going to be replaced, with his duties split among the leadership team.
Also leaving is Jerry Leo, Evp Program Strategy, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment & Production.
- 9/19/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
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