NBCU Execs Donna Langley, Mark Lazarus Promoted in Restructuring; Susan Rovner Exits

Marta Balaga UTA has boarded sales on Mark H. Rapaport’s Fantasia premiere “Hippo.” “We are very excited for this one,” said UTA’s Billy Offer, admitting a number of distributors have already expressed interest. “It’s so oddly relatable and so singular in its approach, and vision, that I really wanted to help make sure it got the right platform to shine. Fantasia is a perfect launchpad for this type of film.”   Produced by Kinematics in association with Rough House Pictures, it counts Danny McBride and David Gordon Green among its executive producers. 

Tony Bennett‘s wife Susan Benedetto paid tribute to the late singer after he died Friday in New York. He was 96.

Tony Bennett's wife Susan Benedetto paid tribute to the late singer after he died Friday in New York. He was 96.Susan took to Bennett's verified Instagram account and posted a moving message to the fans, friends and colleagues «who celebrated his life and humanity and shared their love of him and his musical legacy.»She added, «And as sad as today has been for all of us we can find joy in Tony's legacy forever.» The sweet message was signed by Susan and the couple's son, Danny.

Tony Bennett’s death was announced today. He died at 96 year old after battling Alzheimer’s since the year 2016. He and his wife, Susan Benedetto, had a romance for the ages, spanning two decades after first meeting in the 1980s.

Jazz icon Tony Bennett had a decades-long romance with Susan Benedetto.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor In a tough moment for the economics of TV, NBCUniversal went to market with a greater emphasis on big tentpole events and a little less on individual TV shows and specific networks. The Comcast-backed media conglomerate believes advertiser interest in larger properties such as the 2024 Olympics, a planned celebration of the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” and its annual “BravoCon” helped buoy its efforts in TV’s annual “upfront” market, when U.S. media companies try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory ahead of their next cycle of programming. NBCU expects the volume of commitments it sold this year to be flat with its efforts in 2022, according to a person familiar with the matter — no small feat when advertisers have been wary of spending amidst spikes in inflation, fears of a recession and the complexities of strikes by writers and actors in Hollywood.

EXCLUSIVE: MGM Alternative is undergoing some leadership changes.

The news Thursday about Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley’s ascent to bring TV content under her domain doesn’t just speak to the greater NBCUniversal plan to have a more unified strategy across theatrical, TV and streaming.

EXCLUSIVE: Susan Rovner has praised her colleagues and acknowledged the tough decision to leave after NBCUniversal’s latest restructure was unveiled.

Donna Langley is a dame in waiting no more. The veteran movie executive, with deep ties to Hollywood filmmakers and a knack for shepherding blockbusters to the screen, ascended to NBCUniversal’s content throne on Thursday, one of the big winners in a sweeping reorganization made by company CEO Mike Cavanagh. In her new role as chief content officer, Langley won’t just be overseeing Universal’s slate of films. She will also take ownership of its TV and streaming creative strategy. It’s an elevation that many industry players saw as inevitable – after all, how much longer could the company keep the in-demand executive without expanding her portfolio?

David Zaslav should be sending a fruit basket right about now to Comcast President Mike Cavanagh.

Anyone looking for a sign of Comcast President Mike Cavanagh’s strategy as the recently installed overseer of NBCUniversal got a bright one Thursday.

NBCUniversal is going through another restructure.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV Critic What’s NBC nowadays? Even before the ongoing writers strike scrambled the network’s fall schedule, its identity — historically quite strong as a place for chewy, grown-up dramas and chic, cerebral sitcoms — had seemed hazy. Promising comedies, the sort that might have grown to fulfill the role recently played by “30 Rock” or “Superstore,” got unceremoniously booted from the air after barely a chance to thrive; new dramas, from “Ordinary Joe” to “The Thing About Pam,” seemed painfully undistinguished.  It’s been a tough few years. And as much as the departure of former NBCUniversal chairman Susan Rovner, a career TV executive previously known for her work at Warner Bros. Television, is just latest bit of media industry consolidation, it’s also a moment to observe that the legacy network and its corporate siblings have struggled to find a way forward. (Rovner’s replacement, Donna Langley, will oversee both film and television for the company.) In the years since Rovner came into the job in 2020, there have been limited bright spots — the “Night Court” revival on NBC, “Poker Face” on streamer Peacock. But there’s been a general tone of a lack of faith in the core of what NBC is and does, one that makes today’s news feel like less of a surprise than it otherwise might.

Donna Langley is set to take control of content and creative ops across NBCUniversal’s portfolio of brands, as TV chief Susan Rovner exits the company. The shakeup in leadership is the first major restructuring move made by Mike Cavanagh since he took over ousted Jeff Shell’s position atop the Comcast-owned media company. In a memo to staff Thursday, Cavanagh announced NBCUniversal will be reorganized into four key units: NBCUniversal Studio Group, led by Langley, NBCUniversal Media Group, run by chairman of TV and streaming Mark Lazarus, NBCU News Group, run by existing news boss Cesar Conde, and the Universal Destinations and Experiences Group headed up by parks boss Mark Woodbury.

EXCLUSIVE: A significant shakeup in the European indie film space is underway with the formation of new studio Vuelta Group, Deadline can reveal.

Joey King brings her fashion glamour A-game to the exclusive gala dinner for Pomellato’s new High Jewelry Collection “Ode to Milan” on Monday night (July 3) held at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, France.

Viaplay has unveiled a new operating model as it battles the economic downturn.

Max Beesley found himself in an uncomfortable situation on Good Morning Britain when he was quizzed on his fellow Suits co-star Meghan Markle.

Prince Christian of Denmark won’t accept his royal pension from the government when he turns 18 this October, opting to focus on finishing his studies.  The 17-year-old, who is second in line to the Danish throne behind his father Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, will only seek the funding entitled to him on his 18th birthday either when he turns 21 or if there is a "change of throne" before that, the Danish Royal House said in a release on its website and social media.  The teenage prince will also continue to only be involved in official royal duties to a "limited extent," the palace explained, adding that it was in agreement with the Ministry of State that the royal’s "main priority" should be completing his education.  When he turns 21 it’s expected that he’ll join in royal events to a "greater extent," depending on where he is in his education, the royal house said.  Christian’s grandmother is Queen Margrethe II, 83, who has been on the Scandinavian country’s throne for more than 50 years, and he is the oldest of his siblings: Princess Isabella, 15, and Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.  The queen stirred controversy in her own family last year when the Danish Royal House announced in September that the four children of her youngest son Prince Joachim would no longer be called prince or princess but instead count and countess.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS