folding ABC Signature to 20th TV under Carrie Burke; Hulu and ABC scripted teams are merging at Major Reorg under Simran Sethi, resulting in layoffs

Six years into the consolidation move, the ABC signature is no more. The production unit is winding down, its operations being folded into 20th Television under the 20th TV president. Carrie Burke.

Additionally, the ABC and Hulu Originals scripted drama and comedy teams are being consolidated under the ABC/Freeform EVP Simran Shetty who was promoted to President, Scripted Programming, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment.

They are being laid off as part of the restructuring Tracy Underwoodwho is stepping down as president of ABC Signature and entering into an overall production deal with Disney Television Studios and SVP Erin WehrenbergABC's Head of Comedy.

I hear the combination of the studios as well as ABC and Hulu's scripted teams is affecting about 30 Disney Entertainment television employees. Most of them are on the studio side, split relatively evenly between ABC Signature and 20th TV as several ABC Signature staff are moving bulk-up to 20th TV. That's in the ballpark of the number of people who left last month as a result of the shutdown of Paramount TV Studios, whose slate has been taken over by CBS Studios — even though the ABC signature is bigger than PTVS, and the Disney merger spans two different areas.

Burke and Sethi will continue to report to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and Business Operations at Disney General Entertainment; And Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney-branded television streaming originals, respectively, who announced the restructuring in an internal memo, called the layoff decisions “difficult” and “laborious.” (You can read their notes below) With the demise of ABC Signature, Disney TV Studios will now have 20th TV and 20th Animation.

Jordan HellmanHulu's Head of Scripted Content and former Head of Drama, who starred in top Hulu Originals The Handmaid's Tale And Dopsicis adding broadcast drama to his purview and will serve as EVP, Drama, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, reporting to Sethi. Brianna Bennett, ABC's SVP and head of drama, will report to Helman. With Hulu's head of comedy position vacant since May when Billy Rosenberg resigned and Wehrenberg left today, the combined comedy team will report to Sethi for the time being.

Additionally, ABC Signature is EVP Business Affairs and Operations Josh Sussman Elevated to lead the newly combined DET business affairs team, continues to report to Shrier who calls him “a thoughtful strategist” in his notes. Carlos Williams, EVP, Business Affairs and Operations, 20th Television, Freeform and Onyx Collective, will now report to Sussman.

has been updated: Underwood and Wehrenberg are considered the highest-profile executive departures. Additionally, one of Underwood's direct reports, Danny FeldheimABC Signature's SVP of comedy development is also leaving, with other organizational changes expected.

And then there was one

Speculation about a merger of Disney and Fox's leading TV studios began shortly after Disney announced its proposed acquisition of Fox assets in late 2017. There have been multiple rounds of studio consolidation since the Disney-Fox deal closed in 2019 — ABC Studios and its cable/streaming subsidiary ABC Signature were merged in August 2020, and Touchstone Television (fka Fox21) was folded into 20th TV in December of that year.

As part of various rounds of layoffs over the past two years, 20th TV and ABC Signature have consolidated their production and casting operations. In an environment where media companies are scrutinizing every aspect of their business to streamline and save costs, a complete merger of the two banners in the vein of CBS Studios absorbing PTVS appeared inevitable. (CBS Corporation previously merged Paramount Television and the smaller CBS Prods., which eventually became CBS Studios.)

Unlike CBS Studios and PTVS and NBCUniversal's Universal Television and UCP, which have kept a largely distinct profile, offering only one broadcast, for example, the focus of 20th TV and ABC Signature is difficult to distinguish, both developing for all platforms, creating existence. Both are more difficult to justify.

The larger, more established of the two, 20th TV, one of the key drivers of Disney's acquisition of the Fox assets, was ahead from the start. The studio went through a brief rough patch shortly after joining Disney, unable to land new series on ABC. But things quickly turned around under Burke's leadership for the past four years or so. 20th TV has delivered a string of successful shows on various platforms, notably surpassing the ABC signature, including Only murder in the building And dropout to Hulu, old man on FX/Hulu, Percy Jackson and the Olympians On Disney+, Tracker CBS, and some current breakouts, to Ryan Murphy Doctor Odyssey ABC and Grotesquery Also on FX/Hulu Nobody wants it on netflix.

Burke's expanded role comes on his 10-year anniversary at Disney and stints at Freeform and ABC before moving to TV for his 20th.

In his memo, Schrier noted that Burke is “an important and strategic leader across many of the company's divisions,” adding, “Over the past three years, he has built on the studio's unparalleled success in delivering groundbreaking hits.”

The ABC signing got a shot after the Fox merger when Top 20 TV development executive Jonny Davis was named president of the label (then ABC Studios) in 2019, bringing with him several high-profile overall deals. This included the deal with running back Drew Goddard high probabilitywhich made a strong debut on ABC and may be the last ABC signature hit for the broadcast network, the Disney production unit and its predecessors have joined such signature series for the network over the years, including Home Improvement, My Wife and Kids, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Black-ishand one of the most important series in ABC's history, Grey's Anatomy, which has just launched its 21st season.

By 2023, Davis was gone and, as a potential precursor to the long-awaited studio merger, ABC Signature was without a president for five months until company veteran Underwood was named to the position to backfill his previous role.

“Tracy is an exceptional leader whose passion and deep relationships with creative partners have contributed greatly to our organization, and we are excited to continue our relationship with her as a producer,” Schrier said. “I'm sure he'll continue to improve.”

Linear-streaming convergence

The combination of ABC and Hulu's scripted teams also makes sense as the lines have blurred, with the linear networks' role evolving into a first window for content that eventually ends up on streaming. NBCUniversal has had the same scripted programming teams across NBC, cable networks and Peacock for several years.

Disney made the first move in December 2020, when Hulu's Erwich added ABC content to its lineup. A few months later, ABC's non-scripted chief Rob Mills added oversight of non-scripted development and production as well as alternative studio operations for Hulu.

The process is now accomplished through the consolidation of the scripted teams, creating a single entry point for vendors to ABC and Hulu.

Erwich calls it “a one-stop shop for our creative partners.”

“It's designed to maximize one of our distinct advantages, which is the ability to launch content both linearly and streaming,” he added.

This is Shetty's second promotion in as many years. In 2023, he was named EVP, programming and content strategy, ABC Entertainment and Freeform, adding to the scope of the cable network he previously worked at. During his tenure as head of ABC's scripted programming team, the network has since launched hit series such as Abbott Elementary And Will Trent, As well as two recent standouts Doctor Odyssey And High probability. He also served as a driving force behind ABC's year-long development of the second cycle model and reverse windowing strategy, which involved making a show similar to Hulu. OMITB And it gives ABC a linear run to reach a new audience.

In his memo, Erwich called Sethi's promotion “recognition of Simran's excellent work as head of the ABC scripted programming team” and thanked Wehrenberg “for his creativity and leadership overseeing ABC comedy development and the current several years.”

Eric Schrier's note to staff:

team,

I'd like to share some organizational changes designed to help streamline our team while continuing to deliver the highest caliber shows.

Effective today, the ABC signature banner will sunset and its programming will be consolidated into 20th Television.

20th Television will continue to be overseen by Kerry Burke, who has been a key and strategic leader across many of the company's divisions. Over the past three years, he has built on the studio's unparalleled success in delivering groundbreaking hits.

Tracy Underwood will transition from her president, ABC signature role, to a new overall production deal with Disney Television Studios. Tracy is an exceptional leader whose passion and deep relationships with creative partners have contributed greatly to our organization, and we are excited to continue our relationship with her as a producer. I am sure he will continue to improve.

Additionally, Josh Sussman has been promoted and will now lead our business affairs team, reporting to me. Josh is a thoughtful strategist who has been an integral part of Disney Television Studios since 2016.
We are extremely fortunate to have an all-star team led by this extraordinary executive group, whose collective commitment to creative risk-taking and quality content delivery will drive our business into the future.

Unfortunately, combining these functions means saying goodbye to some of our colleagues and friends. These are very difficult decisions taken with great thought and consideration. I know change is challenging and you will all handle it with respect and compassion.

Looking ahead to what lies ahead, I am confident in the ability of this extraordinary team to improve our business. Please contact your HR business partner with any questions and I'm here if you need anything.

with gratitude,

Eric

—

Craig Erwich's note to staff:

team,

Today, we're announcing some important organizational changes that will unify our linear and streaming creative teams and establish a one-stop shop for our creative partners. It's designed to maximize one of our unique strengths, which is the ability to launch content both linearly and streaming.

Effective immediately, the ABC and Hulu scripted content teams will be combined under the direction of Simran Sethi, who has been promoted to president of scripted programming, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. The promotion is in recognition of Simran's excellent work as head of ABC's scripted programming team. Jordan Hellman will serve as EVP, Drama, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, adding broadcast drama to his portfolio. He will report to Simran.

On the comedy side, Erin Wehrenberg will be leaving the company. We are grateful to Erin for her creativity and leadership in overseeing ABC Comedy development and current affairs over the past several years and wish her well in her next chapter. The comedy team will report to Simran in the interim as we determine next steps.

Streamlining our creative functions has sadly reduced our valuable team. These are difficult decisions, and I want to acknowledge how deeply grateful I am for the contributions of our departing colleagues. Such transitions are never easy, but I know our team will navigate this moment with the utmost respect and care for each other.

As we look to the future, I have great confidence that your combined passion and innovation will continue to position our company as a leader in entertainment.

Thank you for all you do every day. I am very proud to work with you.

Craig