Universal Content Productions Explained

Universal Content Productions LLC
Former Name:Universal Cable Productions LLC (2008–19)
Type:Division
Industry:Television production
Television syndication
Predecessor:USA Cable Entertainment
Location City:Universal City, California
Key People:Jennifer Gwartz (EVP)[1]
Parent:NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group (2008–2019)
Universal Studio Group (2019–present)
Location Country:United States

Universal Content Productions LLC (UCP),[2] formerly known as Universal Cable Productions LLC is an American television production company operating within the Universal Studio Group division of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast.[3]

History

Universal Cable Productions

In July 2008, Universal Cable Productions was split off from Universal Media Studios (UMS) and placed into NBC Universal's NBCU Cable Entertainment division. Originally, UCP was set up to produce shows for USA Network, Syfy, and other cable channels, and was a successor-in-interest to Universal's former cable production division USA Cable Entertainment, which was obtained via Vivendi Universal's acquisition of USA Networks' entertainment assets in 2001 and folded into NBC Universal Television Studio in 2004 when NBC merged with Vivendi Universal to form NBC Universal.[3] Cable-produced shows by Universal Media Studios, including shows that were previously produced under the USA Cable Entertainment name, were produced under Universal Cable Productions.

Since then, UCP has moved to producing 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.[4]

Universal Content Productions

In early 2019, Universal Cable Productions changed its name to Universal Content Productions to reflect its move into streaming, with production of The Umbrella Academy for Netflix and Peacock.[5] In October 2019, Universal Content Productions, along with Universal Television, was transferred from NBCUniversal Broadcast, Cable, Sports and News to NBCUniversal Content Studios.[6]

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.[7] It was announced that Dawn Olmstead would leave in order to join Anonymous Content.[8] In February 2021, UCP started an Asian incubator program, with Soo Hugh being one of the first overall deals.[9] In May 2021, UCP Audio was renamed USG Audio.[10] In May 2021, Jennifer Gwartz joined the company after she left 20th Television.[11] In 2021, Elliot Page has signed a deal with the studio.[12]

Filmography

Television series

TitleYearsNetworkNotes
2001–2011 co-production with Wolf Films
UCP co-produced the series from 2008 to 2011 when it moved to NBC's sister channel USA
Monk 2002–2009 co-production with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television
UCP only co-produced the final two seasons.
Battlestar Galactica 2004–2009 continued from Universal Television
co-production with David Eick Productions, R&D TV and Sky UK
UCP only co-produced the final season
Revival of the 1978–1979 series of the same name by Glen A. Larson.
Psych 2006–2014 co-production with Pacific Mountain Productions and Tagline Television. UCP only co-produced seasons 3–8.
Eureka 2006–2012 continued from Universal Television
UCP only handled the final three seasons.
In Plain Sight 2008–2012 co-production with Pirates' Cove Entertainment (seasons 1–2), Tiny Clambake Productions (season 2), McNamara Paper Products (season 3) and Frontier Pictures (seasons 4–5)
UCP handled the rest of the series with Universal Media Studios handling the first few episodes.
The Starter Wife 2008 co-production with Haypop Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and McGibbon-Parriott Productions
Royal Pains 2009–2016 co-production with 34 Films, Prospect Park and Open 4 Business Productions
Warehouse 13 2009–2014
Caprica 2010
Covert Affairs 2010–2014 co-production with Corman & Ord and Hypnotic Films & Television
Being Human 2011–2014 co-production.with Muse Entertainment Enterprises
UCP replaced Zodiak Media as the co-production company for the International release of the show's fourth season.
Fairly Legal 2011–2012 co-production with Steve Stark Productions, Garfield St. Productions, and Ocko & Company
Suits 2011–2019 co-production with Untitled Korsh Company and Hypnotic Films & Television
Necessary Roughness 2011–2013 co-production with Still Married Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Alphas 2011–2012 co-production with BermanBraun
Against the Wall 2011 co-production with Paid My Dues Productions and Open 4 Business Productions
I Just Want My Pants Back 2011–2012 co-production with Hypnotic
2012
Defiance 2013–2015 co-production with Five & Dime Productions
Playing House 2014–2017 co-production with A24, Parham St. Clair Productions and Open 4 Business Productions
Satisfaction 2014–2015 co-production with Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, Rhythm Arts Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television
Dominion 2014–2015 co-production with FanFare Productions, Film Afrika, Bold Films, and Sony Pictures Television
Based on the 2010 film Legion by Screen Gems
Ascension 2014 co-production with Sea to Sky Entertainment, Levens, Blumhouse Productions and Lionsgate Television
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce 2014–2018 co-production with Tiny Pyro Productions
12 Monkeys 2015–2018 co-production with Division Street and Atlas Entertainment
Based on the 1995 film of the same name by Universal Pictures
Dig 2015 co-production with Tailwind Productions, G. Raff Productions, The Jackal Group and Keshet International
The Royals 2015–2018 co-production with Mastermind Laboratories, Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate Television
Killjoys 2015–2019 co-production with Mendacity Pictures, Bell Media and Temple Street Productions
UCP only handles the International release of the series.
Mr. Robot co-production with Anonymous Content and Esmail Corp
Difficult People 2015–2017 co-production with Paper Kite Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and Jax Media
Childhood's End 2015 co-production with Michael De Luca Productions, Monastic Productions and Weed Road Pictures
The Magicians 2015–2020 co-production with McNamara Moving Company, Man Sewing Dinosaur and Groundswell Productions
Colony 2016–2018 co-production with Carlton Cuse Productions, (season 1) Cuse Productions (season 2), Genre Arts (season 3) and Legendary Television
Hunters 2016 co-production with Gangtackle Entertainment and Valhalla Entertainment
Queen of the South 2016–2021 co-production with Frequency Films, Friendly Films, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions, Touchstone Television (seasons 1–4) and 20th Television (season 5)
HarmonQuest 2016–2019 co-production with Harmonious Claptrap and Starburns Industries
Falling Water 2016–2018 co-production with Gangtackle Productions and Valhalla Entertainment
Aftermath 2016 co-production with Bell Media and Halfire Entertainment
Channel Zero 2016–2018 co-production with Eat The Cat and UTMK Limited
Eyewitness 2016 co-production with Adi TV Studios
Shooter 2016–2018 co-production with Leverage Entertainment, Closest to the Hole Productions and Paramount Television
Based on the 2007 film of the same name by Paramount Pictures
Incorporated 2016–2017 co-production with Pearl Street Films, Algorithm Entertainment and CBS Television Studios
Imposters 2017–2018 co-production with Villa Walk Productions and Riverrun Films
The Arrangement co-production with Sneaky Pictures, Inc., All3Media America and Main Event Media
Blood Drive 2017 co-production with Strong & Dobbs
The Sinner 2017–2021 co-production with Iron Ocean
Damnation 2017–2018 co-production with No Possum Productions, Entertainment 360, Turnpike and Netflix
Happy! 2017–2019 co-production with Original Film, Littleton Road and Hypernormal (season 2)
Netflix distributed the series in other countries
Unsolved 2018 co-production with HemingwayTaylor
Impulse 2018–2019 co-production with Hypnotic
The Purge[13] co-production with Blumhouse Television, Platinum Dunes,[14] Man in a Tree Productions and Racket Squad Productions (season 1)
Based on the 2013 film of the same name and its sequels by Universal Pictures
Dirty John 2018–2020 co-production with Atlas Entertainment, Los Angeles Times Studios and Nutmegger
Homecoming co-production with Amazon Studios, Anonymous Content, Esmail Corp, Gimlet Media, Red Om Films and We Here At
Deadly Class 2019 co-production with Gozie AGBO, Chipmunk Hill, Getaway Entertainment, Giant Generator, 2 Miles Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television
The Act[15] Hulu[16] co-production with Eat the Cat and Writ Large
The Umbrella Academy[17] 2019–2024 co-production with Dark Horse Entertainment, Borderline Entertainment (seasons 1–2) and Irish Cowboy (seasons 3–4)
Pearson 2019 co-production with Untitled Korsh Company, Hypnotic Films & Television and Major Migraine, Inc.
Treadstone 2019–2020 co-production with Captivate Entertainment, Tailwind Productions and Imperative Entertainment
Dare Me co-production with Megan Abbott, Drowning Girl Productions, Fair Harbour Productions and Film 44
Briarpatch 2020 co-production with Anonymous Content, Voodoo Ltd., Esmail Corp and Paramount Television Studios
The At Home Variety Show Featuring Seth MacFarlane co-production with Jax Media and Fuzzy Door Productions
Brave New World co-production with Amblin Television and David Wiener
A Wilderness of Error co-production with Truth Media, Rachael Horovitz Prods., Blumhouse Television and FXP
Resident Alien 2021–2025 co-production with Jocko Productions, Amblin Television and Dark Horse Entertainment
Punky Brewster 2021 co-production with Armogida Brothers Productions, Main Event Media and Universal Television
Remake of the 1984–88 series of the same name by NBC Productions
Dr. Death 2021–2023 co-production with Littleton Road Productions, Escape Artists and Wondery
Dr Death: The Undoctored Story 2021 co-production with Wondery and Peacock Media Productions
One of Us Is Lying 2021–2022 co-production with 5MM
Chucky 2021–2024 co-production with Pheidippides, David Kirschner Productions and Eat The Cat
Based on the 1988 film Child's Play by United Artists, as well as its sequels by Universal Pictures and Rogue Pictures
Joe vs. Carole 2022 co-production with Matchbox Pictures and Wondery
The Girl from Plainville co-production with Happy Friday Productions, Lewellen Pictures, Echo Lake Entertainment and Littleton Road Productions
Gaslit co-production with Esmail Corp., Anonymous Content, Red Om Films, and Slate
Candy[18] Hulu[19] co-production with Eat The Cat, Iron Ocean, Boss Clown Productions and 20th Television
Angelyne
Queer as Folk[20] co-production with Red Production Company, All3Media International, Piece of Work and Furnace Room Films
The Resort 2022 co-production with Esmail Corp, Anonymous Content, Quadraturin and All for Ramonez
The End Is Nye[21] [22] [23] co-production with Universal Television Alternative Studio, Fuzzy Door Productions and Beetlecod Productions
Quantum Leap 2022–2024 co-production with Universal Television, Dean Georgaris Entertainment 2.0 and Quinn's House
A Friend of the Family[24] 2022 co-production with Eat the Cat
Based on a True Story[25] 2023–2024 co-production with Overlook Productions and Aggregate Films
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off[26] 2023 co-production with Marc Platt Productions, Complete Fiction, Faust Av and Science Saru
Ted 2024–present co-production with Fuzzy Door Productions and MRC Television
Based on the 2012 film of the same name by Seth MacFarlane
Apples Never Fall 2024 co-production with Matchbox Pictures, Call Me Mel Productions Inc., Universal International Studios and Heyday Television
Teacup[27] co-production with Parkside Baroo, Inc., Atomic Monster and Population
Hysteria![28] [29] co-production with Good Fear Content, GoldDay, Drive–Thru Productions and Cat Dead, Details Later, Inc.
Suits LA 2025 co-production with Untitled Korsh Company and Hypnotic Films & Television[30]
Long Bright River co-production with Original Film, Pascal Pictures, Black Mass Productions and Sony Pictures Television
[31] co-production with NBC News Studios and Littleton Road Productions
Based on the documentary of the same name by NBC News Studios
The Copenhagen Test co-production with Atomic Monster and Bully Pile Productions
The 'Burbs 2026 upcoming; co-production with Hear Tell, Fuzzy Door Productions and Imagine Entertainment
Based on the 1989 film of the same name by Joe Dante
Cape Fear TBA upcoming; co-production with Eat the Cat and Amblin Television
Based on the 1991 film of the same name by Universal Pictures[32]
The Five-Star Weekend upcoming; co-production with Dinner Party Productions
Ted: The Animated Series upcoming; co-production with Fuzzy Door Productions and MRC Television
Based on the 2012 film of same name by Seth MacFarlane[33]
Untitled Casper the Friendly Ghost live-action series upcoming; co-production with DreamWorks Animation Television
The Von Bulow Affair upcoming;
Based on the book of the same name by William Wright
All the Colors of the Dark TBA upcoming; co-production with Thousand Voices and Dinner Party Productions
Based on the novel of the same name by Chris Whitaker[34]
1313 upcoming; co-production with Atomic Monster and LAB Brew
Based on the 1964 TV series The Munsters by Allan Burns and Chris Hayward[35]

Podcasts

TitleNetworkOriginal runNotes
The End Up UCP Audio Upcomingnear-future scripted podcast produced by Esmail Corp.
House of Prayer unscripted podcast about an investigation into an alleged cult
Untitled troubled-teen industry podcast unscripted podcast about a lost teen takes a look at the business of therapeutic schools and their links to politicians, Hollywood and a cults

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jennifer Gwartz Joins Beatrice Springborn at UCP. . 10 May 2021.
  2. Web site: 1998-02-04 . UNIVERSAL CONTENT PRODUCTIONS LLC . 2024-04-20 . OpenCorporates.
  3. News: Lafayette . Jon . NBC Taps Cable-Studio Bosses . 15 August 2012 . TVWeek . 20 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323170925/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/07/nbc_taps_cablestudio_bosses.php . 23 March 2012 .
  4. News: Andreeva . Nellie . NBCU's UMS And UCP Are Branching Out To Produce For Broadcast And Cable Networks . 15 August 2012 . Deadline Hollywood . 13 June 2011.
  5. News: Goldberg . Lesley . Sam Esmail Renews Overall Deal With Universal Content Productions . 3 June 2019 . The Hollywood Reporter . 8 February 2019 . en.
  6. News: Littleton . Cynthia . Low . Elaine . NBCUniversal Shakeup: Bonnie Hammer to Head Studios, Paul Telegdy Goes Solo at NBC . 8 October 2019 . Variety . 7 October 2019 . en.
  7. News: Universal Content Productions Launches Podcast Network With Sam Esmail Original. The Hollywood Reporter. en. 2019-11-08.
  8. Web site: White. Peter. 2020-11-02. UCP President Dawn Olmstead Joins Anonymous Content As CEO. 2020-11-03. Deadline. en-US.
  9. Web site: Zorrilla. MΓ³nica Marie. 2021-02-26. Soo Hugh Signs Overall Deal With UCP, Will Launch Talent Incubator. 2021-02-27. Variety. en-US.
  10. Web site: UCP Audio Gets a New Name and New Chief, but Focus Remains Mining Podcasts for TV Content . 11 May 2021 .
  11. Web site: Goldberg. Lesley. 2021-05-10. Jennifer Gwartz Joins Beatrice Springborn at UCP. 2021-05-11. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  12. Web site: Baysinger. Tim. 2021-08-31. Elliot Page Signs First-Look Deal With UCP. 2021-09-01. TheWrap. en-US.
  13. Web site: Blumhouse Launches Indie TV Studio With ITV; 'The Purge' Becomes Series, Roger Ailes Fox News Series At Showtime. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr.. Fleming. April 4, 2017. July 17, 2023.
  14. News: Otterson . Joe . 'The Purge,' 'Treadstone' Canceled at USA Network . 14 May 2020 . Variety . 13 May 2020 . en.
  15. Web site: True-Crime Anthology Series From Nick Antosca & Michelle Dean In Works At Hulu. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. July 27, 2023. July 17, 2023.
  16. Web site: Hulu Orders 'The Act' True-Crime Anthology Series From Nick Antosca & Michelle Dean. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. May 18, 2018. July 17, 2023.
  17. Web site: Deal puts 'Umbrella Academy' on track. USA Today. Bill. Keveney. July 7, 2015. July 17, 2023.
  18. Web site: Elisabeth Moss to Play Killer Candy Montgomery in Limited Series for UCP. Deadline. July 7, 2020. April 25, 2023.
  19. Web site: Hulu Lands Elisabeth Moss True Crime Drama Series 'Candy' from UCP. Deadline. December 2, 2020. April 25, 2023.
  20. Web site: 'Queer As Folk Reboot Picked Up To Series At Peacock. Deadline. April 8, 2021. April 25, 2023.
  21. Web site: Peacock Orders New Bill Nye Series 'The End Is Nye' Examining Earthly Threats. Deadline Hollywood . Greg. Evans. March 2, 2021. April 27, 2023.
  22. Web site: Bill Nye to Host Peacock Science Series, Brannon Braga and Seth MacFarlane to Produce (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Joe. Otterson. March 2, 2021. September 20, 2024.
  23. Web site: Peacock orders new Bill Nye series. Kidscreen. Ryan. Tuchow. March 3, 2021. September 20, 2024.
  24. Web site: 'The Act' Creator Developing Jan Broberg Kidnap Series at UCP . Variety. Will. Throne. May 7, 2023. April 25, 2023.
  25. Web site: 'Based on a True Story' Comedy Thriller From Craig Rosenberg & Jason Bateman Lands Straight-To-Order At Peacock. Deadline Hollywood . Peter. White. April 11, 2022. May 15, 2023.
  26. Web site: 'Scott Pilgrim' Anime Series in the Works From UCP, Netflix (Exclusive) . The Hollywood Reporter. January 7, 2022. May 18, 2023.
  27. Web site: Cordero. Rosy . Yvonne Strahovski Joins Peacock's Ian McCulloch/James Wan Horror Drama Teacup. Deadline Hollywood. February 28, 2024.
  28. Web site: Petski. Denise. Satanic Panic Thriller From Good Fear & 'Dungeons & Dragons' Duo Gets Straight-To-Series Order At Peacock. Deadline Hollywood. August 5, 2022. August 5, 2022.
  29. Web site: Petski. Denise. Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson Among 6 Cast In Peacock's Satanic Panic Thriller Series 'Hysteria!'. Deadline Hollywood. February 28, 2024. February 28, 2024.
  30. Web site: NBC Picks Up Suits: L.A. & Grosse Pointe Garden Society To Series; Releases First-Look Photos. Cordero. Rosy. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. July 19, 2024. July 19, 2024.
  31. Web site: Peacock Orders DEVIL IN DISGUISE: JOHN WAYNE GACY, ALL HER FAULT, MR. THROWBACK, and More. Give Me My Remote. Marisa. Roffman. February 14, 2024.
  32. Web site: 'Cape Fear' Series From Nick Antosca, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese & UCP Heats Up TV Marketplace. November 21, 2023. Nellie. Andreeva. November 21, 2023. Deadline Hollywood.
  33. Web site: Rice. Lynette. Ted: The Animated Series Ordered By Peacock. Deadline Hollywood. May 9, 2025. May 9, 2025.
  34. Web site: Rice . Lynette . UCP To Adapt Chris Whitaker's New Novel 'All The Colors Of The Dark' Into Series . . June 20, 2024.
  35. Web site: UCP Developing Horror Reboot Of 'The Munsters'. Lynette. Rice. Deadline. May 22, 2024. February 23, 2025.

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