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Syndication Divisions See Exec Shuffle as Peacock Picks Key Players to Run Merged Entities
The television industry tried to make sense of the unexpected upheavals at NBC and Universal's syndication divisions late last week as the Peacock quietly hammered out new deals for key executives in the broadcast and cable departments. The moves were made in preparation for the imminent acquisition of the U.S. entertainment assets of Vivendi Universal.
Universal Domestic Television President Steve Rosenberg's future with the merged giants was expected to be determined by April 26, contrary to reports late last week that he had resigned last Thursday. Reports had surfaced that Mr. Rosenberg wasn't happy with the offer he received to oversee domestic distribution. The job had been offered to NBC Enterprises President Ed Wilson, who did resign last Thursday.
While speculation about the syndie divisions swirled, decision-making among the companies' television production, international distribution, cable and ad sales ranks was quietly under way.
Among the movements:
* International distribution at NBC Enterprises will fall to Universal's co-president of distribution Belinda Menendez, according to sources.
* Insiders said NBC has given David Kissinger, president of Universal Television Productions, a one-year contract to join Angela Bromstead, executive VP of NBC Studios, as co-head of NBC Studios.
* Sources also said Bravo president and executive VP...