• by Wayne Friedman , October 7, 2019

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is shaking up the senior executive staff as it starts up a significant new streaming business and makes its traditional TV businesses more efficient.

Matt Strauss, most recently executive vice president of Xfinity Services for Comcast Cable, will become chairman of Peacock, NBC’s forthcoming streaming platform, launching in 2020.

Strauss oversaw Xfinity’s video, internet, home and voice businesses. He was a key executive in starting Xfinity Flex, a new internet-based TV program/app service. Strauss will report to Steve Burke, CEO of NBCUniversal.

Bonnie Hammer, longtime senior executive of NBCU cable networks -- most recently as chairman of NBC Cable Entertainment -- will take on a new title for the new entity housing NBCU TV's production units. She will be chairman, NBCUniversal Content Studios, which is the melding of Universal Television and Universal Content Productions. Hammer reports to Burke.

In addition, George Cheeks, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, will become vice chairman of NBCUniversal Content Studios, reporting to Hammer. Cheeks will continue to oversee NBC late-night programming.

Paul Telegdy will become the sole chairman of NBC Entertainment -- reporting to Jeff Shell, chairman of NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment. Telegdy will continue to oversee syndication and its unscripted TV programming, the Universal Television Alternative Studio.

Mark Lazarus continues as chairman of NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News. This includes cable entertainment networks, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, NBC’s owned-and-operated local stations and affiliate relations.