BONNIE HAMMER SIGNS NEW MULTIYEAR DEAL WITH NBC UNIVERSAL
Adds NBC Universal's Cable Studio And Emerging Networks to her Portfolio
Continues to Lead USA Network and SCI FI Channel
NEW YORK - March 24, 2008 - NBC Universal has named Bonnie Hammer President, Cable Entertainment and Cable Studio. The announcement was made today by Jeff Gaspin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group, and Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal. In a new multiyear deal, Hammer adds to her current duties executive responsibility for the newly formed NBC Universal Cable Studio (formerly part of Universal Media Studios) and NBC Universal's Emerging Networks. Hammer had served as President, USA Network and SCI FI Channel, since May 2004. She will continue to oversee these networks and will continue to report to Gaspin.
In her new role, Hammer will oversee NBC Universal Cable Studio, which is responsible for critically acclaimed shows including USA Network's "Monk," "Psych," "The Starter Wife" and "In Plain Sight," and SCI FI's "Battlestar Galactica" and "Eureka." In addition, she will identify and develop new scripted programs for the company's cable group and for external cable channels. Universal Media Studios Senior Vice President Richard Rothstein will now report to Hammer.
Hammer will also oversee NBC Universal's successful Emerging Networks group, led by Dan Harrison. The group includes Chiller, Sleuth and Universal HD.
"Bonnie is one of the most talented executives in the industry, with an amazing track record of success," said Gaspin. "I am excited that she'll be able to put her exceptional branding, programming and leadership skills toward an expanded portfolio of cable assets."
"Bonnie's achievements with USA and SCI FI have been spectacular," said Zucker. "She's a multitalented executive who knows how to run a network, program it successfully, and inspire a team. I'm thrilled to have her play a bigger role at NBCU."
"I'm thrilled to re-up at NBCU, where I've got, from my point of view, the best job in the business," said Hammer. "It's an exciting new opportunity not only to manage creative assets from concept through development to final product but also to help realize the enormous potential of the Emerging Networks group. And as a bonus, I get to continue working with the two great teams at USA and SCI FI, as well as all my friends and colleagues at NBCU."
Under Hammer's leadership, USA Network and SCI FI Channel have both experienced record ratings performances. USA Network was the No. 1 basic cable network for the second year in a row in 2007, with its highest ratings ever in every key measurement. SCI FI Channel finished the year as the sixth-ranked basic cable network, in its target demographic of adults 25-54, the highest ranking in its history, and had its best year ever among adults 18-34.
Hammer had served as president of SCI FI since April 2001, adding responsibility for USA Network in May 2004. She led USA Network's groundbreaking "Characters Welcome" branding initiative and directed cable entertainment's first foray into the digital social networking space with ShowUsYourCharacter.com. Recent successes at SCI FI Channel include the miniseries "Tin Man," which was the most-watched event in the channel's 15-year history. In 2007, Hammer was honored with NATPE's Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, and was also inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame.
Hammer's previous titles include executive vice president and general manager of SCI FI Channel, and senior vice president of SCI FI Programming and USA Original Productions. At USA, she partnered with Vincent McMahon to transform the WWF franchise into a ratings powerhouse and cultural phenomenon. She also created USA's "Erase the Hate" campaign, which earned a National Emmy Governor's Award.
Before joining Universal Television, Hammer was an original programming executive at Lifetime, where she executive produced several award-winning documentaries for Lifetime Television Network and was honored with the Lillian Gish Award, the Cine Golden Eagle, and the National Association for Youth's Mentor Award. Prior to this, she executive produced "Good Day!" for WCVB in Boston, and produced the series "This Old House," "Infinity Factory," and "Zoom" for PBS.
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