E! News on E! switching in 2020 from Los Angeles and prime time to New York and becoming a morning show as dozens of staffers are let go; new shows added to E!.

E! (DStv 124) is changing its weekday E! News done from Los Angeles in the United States from a prime time show to a morning show from 2020 that will be produced from New York, with up to 25 staffers who are getting retrenched.

In a statement, the channel supplied by NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) and carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and across Africa and that has broadcast the day-after's episode of E! News on the channel at 19:00 for many years, announced that E! News will become a 07:00 morning show done from New York.

According to industry reports from the United States, dozens of E! News staff on Los Angeles, some of whom have been with the show for over a decade, started to cry when they were told they're losing their jobs following a meeting on Tuesday.

It's not clear when or if Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy as two main E! News co-anchors doing the show from Los Angeles, will move to New York.

E! News, currently broadcast in more than 160 countries around the globe, will according to E! "evolve into a morning show at 07:00 out of 30 Rock in New York. The series will continue to feature the most talked-about stories in entertainment in a fast-paced, social and entertaining way that's tailored to a young, hyper-connected audience."

"The move to a morning time slot will allow fans to get their pop culture updates first thing in the morning and offer insights on celebrity stories that will unfold throughout the day."

In its statement, E! says it will expand its entertainment news programming with further "new hours of original weekday content" in 2020.

Tammy Filler, the executive vice president & editor-in-chief of E! News who joined E! in May 2019, will lead the channel's linear news expansion, which will include a variety of pop culture commentary formats, an in-home celebrity interview series, a weekly review show, as well as the New York-based E! News morning and daytime news series.

E! says the Nightly Pop series will expand to four nights per week and that the daytime series Daily Pop will continue to be broadcast on weekdays.

"The linear expansion complements E! News' tremendous multi-platform growth as the leading entertainment news source for millennial women," says E!

"The E! News footprint is unparalleled, and our growth continues with this investment in more edgy, comedic, personality-driven linear programming," says Tammy Filler.

 "We undoubtedly live in a 24/7 world where entertainment news is just a click away but what our viewers crave is analysis, commentary and point-of-view that goes deeper than a headline. We are leaning into what is uniquely E! and building on our success with a second home in New York and more hours of coverage."

In 2020 E! will add In the Room (working title) as a new series that will take viewers inside celebrity homes for in-depth interviews and conversation around their latest projects, products, passions and more.

Pop of the Morning (working title), similar to the LA-based Daily Pop but done from New York, will feature a panel of personalities delivering irreverent and unfiltered conversations centred around the buzziest entertainment news stories of the day.

BingE! Club (working title) will be a new weekly review series that will discuss what TV shows, movies, music, social sensations, viral videos and more that pop culture fans should be binge-watching.

E! says it is also "developing two additional celebrity and pop culture commentary formats to be broadcast in 2020" but didn't name or describe these shows.

Restructuring coming for the channels of NBCUniversal International Networks seen in Africa as NBCUI's pay-TV division moves to Sky's TV headquarters in London.

Restructuring, including people losing their jobs, is coming for the TV channels of NBCUniversal International (NBCUNI) seen in Africa like E! Entertainment (DStv 124), Universal TV (DStv 117) and Studio Universal (DStv 112) as NBCUI's pay-TV division must move to Sky's pay-TV headquarters at Osterley in London in the United Kingdom.

After Comcast's acquisition of Sky, part of the restructuring includes several organisational changes including to NBCUniversal International Networks for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, with Jeremy Darroch, Sky CEO, on Friday writing to staffers in an email that the restructuring is part of plans to "grow our audiences and bring our customers even better content" while working "more effectively and efficiently with our new colleagues".

Senior executives are expected to be a part of the staff that will be let go in the creation of NBCUniversal International's new channels business division for the region as NBCUI and Sky consolidate and integrate their programming departments.

NBCUI last restructured its distribution and network operations for the EMEA region in 2015.

"The first proposed change we have announced today is to combine NBCU's pay-TV channels with our own, basing them on our campus in Osterley. The second is to move NBCU's Europe, Middle East and Africa networks' London-based team to the same location," Jeremy Darroch told staff.

"In Germany, Sky will become the parent company of NBCU's Networks business and we plan to explore ways for both businesses to work more closely together, including possible co-location to Unterföhring."

"Finally, we are proposing that Sky's content sales and distribution activities, currently managed by Sky Vision, be operated by NBCU's Global Distribution business. We recognise that these proposals could have an impact on some of our colleagues within Sky and NBCU and, as always, they will be fully supported through these changes."

Kevin MacLellan, NBCU's chairman of global distribution and international, said in an email to staff that "Each of these proposals is the result of careful consideration from both NBCUniversal and Sky," admitting to it being a "difficult time" for some NBCU and Sky staffers.

"Affected employees are being spoken to in person today and will be fully supported with care, fairness and transparency over the coming weeks and months. Thank you for your sensitivity and support of your colleagues during this consultation period."

As part of the restructuring Sky Vision's 6 500 hours of programming will also be added to the catalogue of NBCUniversal International Distribution.

This division is responsible for sales of all TV and digital programming outside of North America for NBCUniversal with more than 120 000 TV episodes and over 4 000 movies as part of its catalogue.

NBCUniversal International acquires the new missing flight Canadian conspiracy drama series, Departure, coming to Universal TV on DStv in late-2019.

NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) has acquired the drama series Departure from Red Arrow Studios International with Archie Panjabi for broadcast in Europe and on Universal TV (DStv 117) in South Africa and across Africa.

Departure will start on Universal TV in South Africa, Africa, the UK, and Germany in late-2019, and on NBCUIN's other channel, 13th Street, in France, Spain and Poland after its premiere in Canada on the free-to-air Global Television.

Departure, a new conspiracy drama series, with director T.J. Scott and created by Vincent Shiao, is a Canada/United Kingdom treaty co-production produced by Shaftesbury in Canada and Greenpoint Productions in the United Kingdom, in association with Corus Entertainment and co-financed by Starlings Television.

Red Arrow Studios International handles the international sales outside of the United States.

Departure follows the mystery of Flight 716, a passenger plane that vanishes over the Atlantic Ocean.

Following the mysterious crash, recently widowed, aviation investigator Kendra Malley (Archie Panjabi of The Good Wife) is called in to investigate by her former boss and mentor Howard Lawson (Christopher Plummer).

"Departure's gripping storyline – steeped in conspiracy, mystery and intriguing characters – is a great fit for our international channel brands and will have our viewers on the edge of their seats," says Steve Patscheck, executive vice-president of global programming at NBCUniversal International Networks.

"We look forward to bringing this thrilling series and its stellar award-winning cast to our fans around the world."

Bo Stehmeier, president at Red Arrow Studios International, says "We are delighted NBCUniversal International Networks has come on board as a pay-TV partner for Departure. Audiences across Europe and Africa will be captivated by the action-packed, suspenseful storyline and all-star cast."

NBCUniversal International Networks changing the Universal Channel to UNIVERSAL TV with a new colour palette and new on-air look.

After 8 years, NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) is again changing the brand name and look of its flagship general entertainment channel, with the Universal Channel that is changing to UNIVERSAL TV (DStv 117), including a new on-air look.

The Hallmark Channel changed to the Universal Channel in March 2010 and the purple look that was introduced in May 2013 has now given way to the word "channel" falling away and replaced by "TV".

A coral colour palette has been introduced with the logo retaining the circular globe iconography and design that's again slightly amended.

The Universal Channel look is changing globally, with UNIVERSAL TV that switched in the United Kingdom earlier this month and UNIVERSAL TV in South Africa and across Africa that is the second market to follow.

NBCUIN says the "evolved proposition" for the new-look brand will continue to "highlight that characters are at the heart of great storytelling".

"UNIVERSAL TV’s reinvigorated identity best positions our flagship brand into the future as a relevant, compelling destination for fans of character-driven programming,” says Lee Raftery, the chief marketing and content officer and managing director for the United Kingdom and emerging markets at NBCUniversal International in a provided quote about the UNIVERSAL TV rebrand.

"In making this latest investment in UNIVERSAL TV – combined with the raft of top-quality shows we have recently acquired – we're reinforcing our commitment to delivering a must-watch destination for affiliate partners and viewers, alike."

The new UNIVERSAL TV look developed in collaboration between NBCUniversal International Networks' central marketing team, and the creative agency Red Bee who established the brand positioning, brand logo and creative concept, and the brand consultant Lee Hunt.

Specialist contributions were provided by Dalton Maag (the typeface design studio), Future Deluxe directed and produced brand idents motion and Zelig Sound is responsible for music and sound design.

Lee Raftery replaces Colin McLeod at NBCUniversal International Networks; job expanded to look after NBCUIN's channels in Africa.

NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) has named Lee Raftery as the replacement for the long-serving Colin McLeod who left earlier this year, as the new executive who will be looking after NBCUniversal International Network's TV channels available across Africa.

NBCUniversal International 's chief marketing officer Lee Raftery will now be in charge of leading strategy and performance for NBCUIN channels in emerging markets that include Africa and South Africa where its channels like Universal Channel, Studio Universal, E! Entertainment and Telemundo are carried on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform across the continent.

Lee Raftery, besides being appointed as managing director, UK and emerging markets, is also adding responsibility for content to his ongoing oversight of marketing. He is also named chief marketing and content officer at NBCUIN to oversee marketing and programming strategy across the whole of NBCUniversal International Networks' group.

Lee Raftery will report jointly to Satpal Brainch, the managing director for the EMEA region, NBCUniversal International distribution & networks and Kevin MacLellan, the chairman, global distribution & international.

"Lee has done an exemplary job of building an incredibly distinctive marketing and creative culture across the company.  He has proved himself to be a strong and decisive leader and I have every confidence that he will apply his considerable skills to lead the strategic vision within the UK/EM Networks group," says Kevin MacLellan in a statement.

"I am excited to take on this unique role, which blends my marketing and creative passion with a new leadership challenge in the UK and emerging markets networks team," says Lee Raftery in the statement. "Together with this talented group, we have an exciting opportunity to build further on our outstanding portfolio of brands and content".


Update Monday 17 July 2017 17:00: 
This story was updated from the original version first published, to:

(1) change the spelling in the second mention of Kevin MacLellan from the incorrect Kevin "MacLennan";
(2) and removing the word "becoming" after "also" in the sentence "Lee Raftery is also chief marketing and content officer at NBCUIN".
(3) remove the word "partial" from the headline, and the first sentence. Other reports still state that Lee Raftery is in part replacing Colin McLeod.

EXCLUSIVE. Studio Universal movie channel on MultiChoice's DStv changes its logo and on-screen look in a global refresh of the brand starting in Africa.

Movie channel Studio Universal (DStv 112) will change its on-screen look from tomorrow on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and this is how it will look.

The channel from NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) - part of NBCUniversal - is rolling out the brand refresh for Studio Universal in South Africa and Africa first, before the global refresh moves to other territories and countries like Latin America, Brazil and Italy over the coming months.

Red Bee, part of the Ericsson group, was responsible for the refreshed look, logo and on-screen imaging of the new Studio Universal from 1 October, and worked with NBCUIN's in-house creative and marketing team. The Studio Universal website will also be refreshed on Thursday.

The iconic world of film served as the inspiration of Studio Universal's new look. Studio Universal's look is now "a confident black and white marque with a cinematic feel", celebrating every aspect of movies.


Eight new idents were also created by Red Bee bringing to life Studio Universal and the "We Are Movies" tagline.

Each of the idents draws viewers in to carefully choreographed scenes, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the people whose skill and dedication bring stories to life and reflecting the audience's emotional connection to the movies.

Each ident - shot on location at Universal Studios in Hollywood - has an opposite version, either light or dark in tone, which uses the same set,key actors and props unveiling a very different scene and emphasising the magic of cinema.

"Since its launch four years ago, Studio Universal has gone from strength to strength in Africa and is now one of the leading entertainment channels in the market," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets at NBCUniversal International Networks.

"The channel's unique proposition, based around themed movie nights, continues to resonate with DStv subscribers and we believe that the brand refresh will further enhance their viewing experience."

"In refreshing Studio Universal we wanted to challenge typical movie-channel conventions, taking inspiration from the craft and dedication of movie-makers for our positioning, packaging,logo and tagline," says Marco Giusti, the senior vice president of the creative division at NBCUniversal International.

"We've firmly placed our love and passion for the movies at the heart of the Studio Universal brand with the aim of bringing viewers even closer to the full movie experience."