Universal Studio Group consolidates divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe oversees TV studio restructuring

Universal Studio Group consolidates from four to three divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe oversees the merger of UCP and Universal International Studios into Universal Global Television under Beatrice Springborn.

Objective Facts

Universal Studio Group is consolidating from four to three divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman of Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted, proceeds with the long-rumored consolidation of UCP and Universal International Studios, with the combined entity named Universal Global Television and run by Beatrice Springborn. Springborn will serve as President of UGT alongside UTV President Erin Underhill and Universal Television Alternative Studio President Toby Gorman. High-profile departures include UCP's EVP Jennifer Gwartz and SVP Marc Velez, both development executives, as well as EVP Casting and Talent Development Steven O'Neill, with six positions being eliminated as a result of the UCP-UIS merger. Overall, 22 jobs have been impacted across USG (UTV, UCP, UIS and UTAS), NBC and Peacock. The staff reductions are part of a broader round of layoffs at NBCUniversal's TV operations related to realignment in the wake of the January spinoff of the bulk of the company's cable networks into Versant.

Deep Dive

The consolidation of UCP and Universal International Studios follows similar, albeit larger-scale moves in the past year and a half at Disney (where ABC Signature became part of 20th TV) and Paramount (where MTV Entertainment and Showtime were folded into a relaunched Paramount TV Studios). While a broader consolidation of USG's scripted operations, more specifically Universal Television and UCP, had been rumored, there are no current plans to go all the way. The merger is meant to streamline business and creative operations under Springborn while also providing greater alignment of the slate. This consolidation occurs within a broader industry trend: in 2025, over 17,000 jobs were cut across television, film, broadcast, news and streaming, up 18% from the prior year, as the industry has wrestled with consolidation and other pressures. UIS and UCP both feed content to NBCUniversal streamer Peacock, with UIS' recent launches including shows like "All Her Fault" starring Sarah Snook, "Day of the Jackal" with Eddie Redmayne, and "Apples Never Fall". The next phase will be whether Igbokwe's expanded role consolidating studio production with NBC Entertainment (announced in January 2025) creates pressure for further vertical integration of the remaining studio divisions.

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Universal Studio Group consolidates divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe oversees TV studio restructuring

Universal Studio Group consolidates from four to three divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe oversees the merger of UCP and Universal International Studios into Universal Global Television under Beatrice Springborn.

Jun 17, 2026
What's Going On

Universal Studio Group is consolidating from four to three divisions as Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman of Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted, proceeds with the long-rumored consolidation of UCP and Universal International Studios, with the combined entity named Universal Global Television and run by Beatrice Springborn. Springborn will serve as President of UGT alongside UTV President Erin Underhill and Universal Television Alternative Studio President Toby Gorman. High-profile departures include UCP's EVP Jennifer Gwartz and SVP Marc Velez, both development executives, as well as EVP Casting and Talent Development Steven O'Neill, with six positions being eliminated as a result of the UCP-UIS merger. Overall, 22 jobs have been impacted across USG (UTV, UCP, UIS and UTAS), NBC and Peacock. The staff reductions are part of a broader round of layoffs at NBCUniversal's TV operations related to realignment in the wake of the January spinoff of the bulk of the company's cable networks into Versant.

Objective Deep Dive

The consolidation of UCP and Universal International Studios follows similar, albeit larger-scale moves in the past year and a half at Disney (where ABC Signature became part of 20th TV) and Paramount (where MTV Entertainment and Showtime were folded into a relaunched Paramount TV Studios). While a broader consolidation of USG's scripted operations, more specifically Universal Television and UCP, had been rumored, there are no current plans to go all the way. The merger is meant to streamline business and creative operations under Springborn while also providing greater alignment of the slate. This consolidation occurs within a broader industry trend: in 2025, over 17,000 jobs were cut across television, film, broadcast, news and streaming, up 18% from the prior year, as the industry has wrestled with consolidation and other pressures. UIS and UCP both feed content to NBCUniversal streamer Peacock, with UIS' recent launches including shows like "All Her Fault" starring Sarah Snook, "Day of the Jackal" with Eddie Redmayne, and "Apples Never Fall". The next phase will be whether Igbokwe's expanded role consolidating studio production with NBC Entertainment (announced in January 2025) creates pressure for further vertical integration of the remaining studio divisions.