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NBCU Reorg Could Alter Fate of Network, Insiders Believe

NBCU is undergoing a restructuring at its studio and programming divisions. Angela Bromstad, most recently president of NBCU’s London-based international production unit, will head scripted programming for broadcast and the Universal Media Studios unit.

Former Dancing with the Stars producer Paul Telegdy will take over on unscripted and specials programming, writes Mediaweek.

Katherin Pope, president of Universal Movie Studios, was ousted, prompting shock among Hollywood’s creative community, many of whom say her departure will have a negative impact on the network’s fortunes, according to TV Week. Teri Weinberg, former Reveille programmer who joined NBCU as executive vp of NBC Entertainment in 2007, was also let go, prompting speculation that NBC Entertainment co-chair Ben Silverman, who also came to NBC from production company Reveille, might be on the way out, as well. But NBCU chief Jeff Zucker said that, while the network has “not had a good fall,” there has been no loss of confidence in Silverman or his co-chair Marc Graboff.

News of the reorganization came days after NBCU announced it was cutting 500 jobs as part of a $500 million cost-cutting effort.

NBC announced Monday that it is “streaming” a single talk show across five nights of programming during prime time. Jay Leno, who is leaving The Tonight Show in May, will star as host of The Jay Leno Show at 10pm Monday through Friday. The show will save the network money, as it costs about a tenth of what it costs to produce a drama.