Director, Live Entertainment

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Director, Live Entertainment role will have a crucial role in contributing to Versant’s next generation of live programming. Partnering with EPs, showrunners, producers, writers, social platform collaborators, and internal and external stakeholders, this leader will champion innovation and push the evolution of live content. Reporting to the SVP, Live Entertainment, the Director will play a vital role in creating and scaling dynamic live event franchises across the Versant portfolio, spanning E!, USA, SYFY, and Oxygen.

The executive will be immersed in the worlds of broad entertainment programming, celebrity and pop culture, have a strong and sophisticated creative vision, and are intuitively aware of what will resonate with a broad range of audiences. They will be expected to be dialed into competitive trends, be capable of identifying emerging talent and bring premium content ideas and event concepts to life.

An understanding of social video and platforms, and livestreaming and content creation across social platforms is required. A solid knowledge of the evolving world of AVOD & SVOD streaming platforms is also required.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with the Live Entertainment team in the development and production of live Entertainment programming
• Take new project pitches, assess, and communicate ideas internally and make recommendations for action.
• Innovate and redefine/refresh existing properties.
• Collaborate with the SVP and VP on a multi-platform content plan and assist in the development and delivery of all creative elements.
• Build relationships within the Entertainment community with producers, showrunners, and production companies.
• Build strong talent relationships and identify opportunities to grow and develop new talent.
• Work with creative partners at social platforms – e.g. YouTube, TikTok, Meta – to develop unique, innovative and immersive live special event content and partnerships.
• Supervise the production of and provide notes on cuts for various development reels, including casting reels, presentations, and full pilots.
• Maintain relationships with agents and talent to stay current in terms of industry climate & future trends.
• Work with Business Affairs to close talent and production deals.
• Work with Production Management to ensure that agreed to concepts are fully realized in production.
• Keep track of competitive network slates/trends and help keep us ahead of what’s next.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 7 years working in Live television production and unscripted television series development at a network, production company, or studio or as a producer with a track record of successful creative projects in entertainment/live events featuring immersive viewer experiences.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated understanding of the dynamic nature of live audiences and how best to engage with them across multiple platform