Universal TV gets new president

NBC Entertainment has promoted Bela Bajaria to president of production unit Universal Television, and named a new executive VP of comedy programming.

Bajaria was previously EVP, but has been upped after joining NBC in 2011 to rebuild the Peacock’s network studio operation.

“Bela has done an incredible job of starting a studio from scratch three years ago and launching a series of hits on programming services ranging from NBC and Fox to A&E and Netflix,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt.

“We’re very happy that Bela is going to continue to run the studio at a time when the demand for American television shows keeps growing in this country and around the world,” added Jennifer Salke, NBC Entertainment president, who also has overall oversight of Universal TV.

In her new post, Bajaria reports to Greenblatt and Salke.

This comes as Tracey Pakosta, who was previously Universal TV’s EVP, comedy, moves to NBC Entertainment to become EVP, comedy programming.

She replaces Vernon Sanders, who will return to his previous post as EVP, current programming, a post that encompasses drama and comedy.

NBC has struggled to land big-hitting comedies in recent years, and it is hoped the new structure will help to rectify this problem. “This will position NBC very strongly in the comedy business moving forward, which is a major goal for us,” said Salke.

There was no news on Pakosta’s replacement at Universal TV.