NBCUniversal has initiated another round of layoffs, heavily impacting its unscripted programming teams. At least two senior vice presidents on the reality TV side were affected, as well as numerous staff across NBC, Peacock, and Bravo. Among those laid off were Stephanie Steele, SVP of Unscripted Current Production, and Jenny Ramirez, SVP of Unscripted Formats.
Steele, known for overseeing true-crime shows such as “Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies” and “Face to Face with Scott Peterson,” had been with the company for nearly 15 years. Before joining NBCUniversal, she was SVP of Unscripted Programming for TBS, TNT, and TruTV. Christy Dees, VP of Development at Bravo, is also leaving after more than 15 years, having contributed to shows like “Summer House” and “The Real Housewives” franchises.
NbcUniversal unscripted team layoffs
These layoffs are part of a broader restructuring within NBCUniversal. The changes aim to recalibrate the company’s structure.
Under the new framework, Rachel Smith, who was promoted to EVP of Unscripted Content, Lifestyle and Documentaries in 2023, now oversees non-competition reality titles. NBC’s unscripted content includes popular shows such as “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice,” “American Ninja Warrior,” and “Deal or No Deal Island.” On the Peacock side, notable titles like “Love Island USA” and “The Traitors” continue to draw in audiences. Outside of the unscripted sector, there have also been some cuts in various scripted divisions.
Vivian Lin, VP of Development at UCP, has departed after just over two years with the company, following a seven-year tenure at Netflix. These changes reflect the ongoing evolution and strategic realignment within NBCUniversal’s diverse content offerings.
