Bonnie Hammer, a highly respected TV executive with a long and successful career in the industry, is set to step down from her role as vice chairman of NBCUniversal at the end of the year. This decision comes as her current contract with the company is set to expire. Hammer has been a key figure at NBCU since 2004, when Universal Television merged with the NBC portfolio. With around 50 years of experience in the TV business, she has also worked for Lifetime and WGBH in Boston.
During her time at NBCU, Hammer played a crucial role in the merger of the company’s TV production studio assets and the launch of the Peacock streaming service. Her departure is said to be a personal decision and not related to NBCU’s recent announcement to spin off its cable assets into a separate company. NBCUniversal has declined to comment on the matter.
One of Hammer’s most notable achievements is her tenure overseeing NBCU’s general-entertainment cable networks, where she and her team launched a variety of popular series known for their optimistic protagonists. This approach provided a stark contrast to the darker and grittier content found on networks like FX and HBO. Under Hammer’s leadership, USA Network saw great success with series like “Royal Pains,” “Psych,” and “Burn Notice,” making it the most-watched entertainment-focused cable network for 13 consecutive years.
As Bonnie Hammer prepares to leave NBCUniversal, her legacy as a trailblazing TV executive is sure to be remembered. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
