Universal Content Productions

Universal Content Productions (UCP) is a television production company operating within the NBCUniversal Content Studios division of NBCUniversal.[2]

Universal Content Productions
Formerly
Universal Cable Productions (2008–2019)
Division
IndustryTelevision production company
Television syndication
FoundedJune 1, 2008 (2008-06-01)
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
United States
Key people
Dawn Olmstead (president)[1]
ProductsTV series
Podcasts
ParentNBCUniversal Content Studios
Websitenbcuni.com/universal content productions

History

Universal Cable Productions

In July 2008, Universal Cable Productions was split off from Universal Media Studios (UMS) and placed into NBCUniversal's NBCU Cable Entertainment division. The unit was placed under the direction of a management team consisting of five executives. Originally, UCP was set up to produce shows for NBCU and other cable channels.[2]

Formerly at UMS, Doug Liman and Dave Bartis' Hypnotic Films & Television moved to UCP after a few shows were turned down at UMS.[3] Hypnotic signed a two-year overall deal with UCP.[4] Hypnotic produced Covert Affairs with UCP for USA Network, then I Just Want My Pants Back, its first non-NBCU channel production, for MTV. With Hypnotic and a first chief operating officer hired, UCP has expanded enough that they are moving to produce shows for any network or channel, broadcast or cable. Its NBCU Broadcasting counterpart, Universal Television, has also moved to be a full-service TV studio.[3]

In July 2011 through its affiliated company, NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution, Psych and Monk, UCP shows, have been picked up for off network syndication on Ion Television.[5]

UCP signed a "pod deal", a complete development deal that includes ownership of all projects making it impossible to shop a rejected project around, with Tagline. A third pod deal was signed with Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla Entertainment in April 2012.[6] In July of that year, the company signed an exclusive development deal with John Legend's Get Lifted Film Company.[7]

Universal Content Productions

In early 2019, Universal Cable Productions changed its name to Universal Content Productions to reflect the move to streaming, with production of Umbrella Academy for Netflix and NBCUniversal's streaming service, which was eventually named Peacock.[8] In October 2019, Universal Content Productions, along with Universal Television, was transferred from NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News to NBCUniversal Content Studios.[9]

In February 2019, it was announced that writer/producer/director Sam Esmail had signed his production company Esmail Corp. to a four-year exclusive deal with UCP with whom he had already produced Mr. Robot, Homecoming, and Briarpatch.[10]

Wilshire Studios was narrowing its focus to docuseries in May 2019. Live event productions shifted to E!’s live events team.[1]

UCP announced in November 2019 the 2020 launch of their podcast channel UCP Audio. The studio will produce both scripted and unscripted content with the first scripted podcast from Esmail Corp.[11]

Shows produced
Title Channel Original running Notes
Law & Order: Criminal IntentNBC/USA2001–11with Wolf Films. UCP co-produced the series from 2008-11 when it moved to NBC's sister channel USA
MonkUSA2002–09with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television. UCP only co-produced the final two seasons.
PsychUSA2006–14with Pacific Mountain Productions and Tagline Television. UCP only co-produced seasons 3–8.
EurekaSyfy2006–12UCP only handled the final three seasons.
In Plain SightUSA2008–12with Pirates' Cove Entertainment, Tiny Clambake Productions, McNamara Paper Products and Frontier Pictures. UCP handled the rest of the series with Universal Media Studios handling the first few episodes.
The Starter WifeUSA2008with Haypop Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and McGibbon-Parriott Productions
Royal PainsUSA2009–16with 34 Films, Prospect Park and Open 4 Business Productions
Warehouse 13Syfy2009–14
CapricaSyfy2010
Covert AffairsUSA2010–14with Corman & Ord and Hypnotic
Being HumanSyfy2011–14with Muse Entertainment Enterprises. UCP replaced Zodiak Media as the co-production company for the International release of the show's fourth season.
Fairly LegalUSA2011–12with Steve Stark Productions, Garfield St. Productions, and Ocko & Company
SuitsUSA2011–19with Untitled Korsh Company and Hypnotic Films & Television
Necessary RoughnessUSA2011–13with Still Married Productions and Sony Pictures Television
AlphasSyfy2011–12with BermanBraun
Against the WallLifetime2011with Paid My Dues Productions and Open 4 Business Productions
I Just Want My Pants BackMTV2011–12with Hypnotic
DefianceSyfy2013–15with Five & Dime Productions
Playing HouseUSA2014–17with A24 Films, Parham St. Clair Productions and Open 4 Business Productions
SatisfactionUSA2014–15with Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, Rhythm Arts Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television
DominionSyfy2014–15with FanFare Productions, Film Afrika, Bold Films, and Sony Pictures Television
AscensionSyfy2014with Sea-to-Sky, Levens, Blumhouse Productions, and Lionsgate Television
Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceBravo2014–18with Tiny Pyro Productions
12 MonkeysSyfy2015–18with Division Street and Atlas Entertainment
DigUSA2015with Tailwind Productions, G. Raff Productions, The Jackal Group and Keshet Media Group
The RoyalsE!2015–18with Mastermind Laboratories, Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate Television
KilljoysSyfy2015–19with Mendacity Pictures, Bell Media and Temple Street Productions. UCP only handles the International release of the series.
Mr. RobotUSA2015–19with Anonymous Content and Esmail Corp
Difficult PeopleHulu2015–17with Paper Kite Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and Jax Media
Childhood's EndSyfy2015with Michael De Luca Productions and Weed Road Productions
The MagiciansSyfy2015–20with McNamara Moving Company, Man Sewing Dinosaur and Groundswell Productions
ColonyUSA2016–18with Cuse Productions (formerly Carlton Cuse Productions) and Legendary Television
HuntersSyfy2016with Valhalla Entertainment
Queen of the SouthUSA2016–presentwith Frequency Films, Friendly Films, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios
HarmonQuestSeeso
VRV		2016–presentwith Harmonious Claptrap and Starburns Industries
Falling WaterUSA2016–18with Gangtackle Productions and Valhalla Entertainment
AftermathSyfy2016with Bell Media and Halfire Entertainment
Channel ZeroSyfy2016–18with Eat The Cat and UTMK Limited
EyewitnessUSA2016with Adi TV Studios
ShooterUSA2016–18with Leverage Entertainment, Closest to the Hole Productions and Paramount Television
IncorporatedSyfy2016–17with Pearl Street Films and CBS Television Studios
ImpostersBravo2017–18with Villa Walk Productions and Riverrun Films
The ArrangementE!2017–18with Sneaky Pictures, Inc., All3Media and Main Event Media
Blood DriveSyfy2017with Strong & Dobbs
The SinnerUSA2017–presentwith Iron Ocean
DamnationUSA2017–18with Entertainment 360, Sigma Films and Netflix
Happy!Syfy2017–19with Original Film and Littleton Road
UnsolvedUSA2018with HemingwayTaylor
The PurgeUSA2018–2020with Blumhouse Television, Platinum Dunes Television,[12] Man in a Tree Productions and Racket Squad Productions
ImpulseYouTube Premium2018–presentwith Hypnotic
Dirty JohnBravo/USA2018–presentwith Atlas Entertainment, Los Angeles Times Studios and Nutmegger
HomecomingAmazon Prime2018–presentwith Amazon Studios, Anonymous Content, Esmail Corp., Gimlet Media, Red Om Films, and We Here At
Deadly ClassSyfy2019with Gozie ABCO, Chipmunk Hill, Getaway Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television
The ActHulu2019with Eat the Cat
The Umbrella AcademyNetflix2019–presentwith Dark Horse Entertainment and Borderline Entertainment
PearsonUSA2019with Untitled Korsh Company, Hypnotic Films & Television and Major Migraine, Inc.
TreadstoneUSA2019–2020[12]with Captivate Entertainment and Imperative Entertainment
Dare MeUSA2019-2020with Megan Abbott, Drowing Girl Productions, Fair Harbour Productions and Film 44
BriarpatchUSA2020–presentwith Anoymous Content, Esmail Corp. and Paramount Television
Brave New WorldPeacock (was USA and Syfy)with Amblin Television; upcoming
Stranger in a Strange LandSyfywith Paramount Television; upcoming
The Von Bulow AffairInvestigation Discoveryupcoming
CandyBravoupcoming
The Raven CycleSyfywith Legendary Television and Groundswell Productions; upcoming
Resident AlienSyfywith Amblin Television and Dark Horse Entertainment; upcoming
Mile HighUSAwith Legendary Television; upcoming
Dr. DeathPeacockwith Escape Artists; upcoming
AngelynePeacockupcoming
One of Us is LyingPeacockupcoming
Psych 2: Lassie Come HomePeacockupcoming

Podcasts produced
Title Channel Original running Notes
The End Up UCP Audio upcoming near-future scripted podcast produced by Esmail Corp.[11]
House of Prayerunscripted podcast about an investigation into an alleged cult[11]
Untitled troubled-teen industry podcastunscripted podcast about a lost teen takes a look at the business of therapeutic schools and their links to politicians, Hollywood and a cults[11]

References
  1. Blichert, Frederick (May 31, 2019). "Wilshire to shift focus to premium docuseries". Realscreen. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  2. Lafayette, Jon (July 20, 2008). "NBC Taps Cable-Studio Bosses". TVWeek. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (June 13, 2011). "NBCU's UMS And UCP Are Branching Out To Produce For Broadcast And Cable Networks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (August 5, 2010). "MTV Greenlights 'Pants' Drama Pilot from Universal Cable Prods. & Doug Liman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (July 27, 2011). "ION Acquires 'Psych', 'Monk' & 'House'". Deadline. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  6. James, Meg (April 16, 2012). "Universal Cable Productions signs deal with Gale Anne Hurd". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  7. Obenson, Tambay A. (July 31, 2012). "John Legend Entering TV Business; Signs Development Deal With Universal Cable". indiewire.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  8. Goldberg, Lesley (February 8, 2019). "Sam Esmail Renews Overall Deal With Universal Content Productions". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  9. Littleton, Cynthia; Low, Elaine (October 7, 2019). "NBCUniversal Shakeup: Bonnie Hammer to Head Studios, Paul Telegdy Goes Solo at NBC". Variety. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (2019-02-08). "Sam Esmail Inks Massive New Overall Deal With Universal Content Productions". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  11. "Universal Content Productions Launches Podcast Network With Sam Esmail Original". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  12. Otterson, Joe (May 13, 2020). "'The Purge,' 'Treadstone' Canceled at USA Network". Variety. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
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