Universal Content Productions LLC
FormerlyUniversal Cable Productions LLC (2008–2019)
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
Television syndication
Founded1 June 2008; 15 years ago (2008-06-01)
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
United States
Key people
Jennifer Gwartz (EVP)[1]
Products
  • TV series
  • Podcasts
ParentUniversal Studio Group
Websitenbcuni.com/ucp

Universal Content Productions LLC (UCP)[2] 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 NBCUniversal's NBCU Cable Entertainment division. Originally, UCP was set up to produce shows for NBCU and other cable channels,[3] but 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 the move to 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, Jennifer Gwartz joined the company after she left 20th Television.[10] In 2021, Elliot Page has signed a deal with the studio.[11]

Shows produced

Title Original running Network Notes
Law & Order: Criminal Intent 2001–2011 NBC/USA Network 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 USA Network co-production with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television
UCP only co-produced the final two seasons.
Battlestar Galactica 2004–2009 Syfy continued from Universal Television
co-production with David Eick Productions, R&D TV and Sky UK
UCP only co-produced the final season
A revival of the 1978–1979 series of the same name by Glen A. Larson.
Psych 2006–present USA Network/Peacock with Pacific Mountain Productions and Tagline Television. UCP only co-produced seasons 3–8.
Eureka 2006–2012 Syfy continued from Universal Television
UCP only handled the final three seasons.
In Plain Sight 2008–2012 USA Network 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 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 Syfy
Caprica 2010
Covert Affairs 2010–2014 USA Network co-production with Corman & Ord and Hypnotic
Being Human 2011–2014 Syfy 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 USA Network 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 Syfy co-production with BermanBraun
Against the Wall 2011 Lifetime co-production with Paid My Dues Productions and Open 4 Business Productions
I Just Want My Pants Back 2011–2012 MTV co-production with Hypnotic
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome 2012 Machinima.com
Defiance 2013–2015 Syfy co-production with Five & Dime Productions
Playing House 2014–2017 USA Network 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 Syfy 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 Bravo co-production with Tiny Pyro Productions
12 Monkeys 2015–2018 Syfy with Division Street and Atlas Entertainment
Based on the 1995 film of the same name by Universal Pictures
Dig 2015 USA Network co-production with Tailwind Productions, G. Raff Productions, The Jackal Group and Keshet International
The Royals 2015–2018 E! co-production with Mastermind Laboratories, Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate Television
Killjoys 2015–2019 Syfy with Mendacity Pictures, Bell Media and Temple Street Productions
UCP only handles the International release of the series.
Mr. Robot USA Network co-production with Anonymous Content and Esmail Corp
Difficult People 2015–2017 Hulu co-production with Paper Kite Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and Jax Media
Childhood's End 2015 Syfy co-production with Michael De Luca Productions, Monastic Productions and Weed Road Pictures
The Magicians 2015–2020 with McNamara Moving Company, Man Sewing Dinosaur and Groundswell Productions
Colony 2016–2018 USA Network co-production with Carlton Cuse Productions, (season 1) Cuse Productions (season 2), Genre Arts (season 3) and Legendary Television
Hunters 2016 Syfy co-production with Gangtackle Entertainment and Valhalla Entertainment
Queen of the South 2016–2021 USA Network with Frequency Films, Friendly Films, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions, Touchstone Television (seasons 1–4) and 20th Television (season 5)
HarmonQuest 2016–2019 Seeso/VRV co-production with Harmonious Claptrap and Starburns Industries
Falling Water 2016–2018 USA Network co-production with Gangtackle Productions and Valhalla Entertainment
Aftermath 2016 Syfy co-production with Bell Media and Halfire Entertainment
Channel Zero 2016–2018 with Eat The Cat and UTMK Limited
Eyewitness 2016 USA Network co-production with Adi TV Studios
Shooter 2016–2018 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 Syfy co-production with Pearl Street Films, Algorithm Entertainment and CBS Television Studios
Imposters 2017–2018 Bravo co-production with Villa Walk Productions and Riverrun Films
The Arrangement E! with Sneaky Pictures, Inc., All3Media America and Main Event Media
Blood Drive 2017 Syfy co-production with Strong & Dobbs
The Sinner 2017–2021 USA Network co-production with Iron Ocean
Damnation 2017–2018 with No Possum Productions, Entertainment 360, Turnpike and Netflix
Happy! 2017–2019 Syfy with Original Film and Littleton Road and Hypernormal (season 2). Netflix distributed the series in other countries.
Unsolved 2018 USA Network with HemingwayTaylor
Impulse 2018–2019 YouTube Premium co-production with Hypnotic
The Purge[12] USA Network co-production with Blumhouse Television, Platinum Dunes,[13] 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 Bravo/USA Network co-production with Atlas Entertainment, Los Angeles Times Studios and Nutmegger
Homecoming Amazon Prime Video co-production with Amazon Studios, Anonymous Content, Esmail Corp, Gimlet Media, Red Om Films and We Here At
Deadly Class 2019 Syfy with Gozie AGBO, Chipmunk Hill, Getaway Entertainment, Giant Generator, 2 Miles Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television
The Act[14] Hulu[15] with Eat the Cat and Writ Large
The Umbrella Academy[16] 2019–present Netflix co-production with Dark Horse Entertainment, Borderline Entertainment (seasons 1–2), and Irish Cowboy (season 3)
Pearson 2019 USA Network co-production with Untitled Korsh Company, Hypnotic Films & Television and Major Migraine, Inc.
Treadstone 2019–2020 with Captivate Entertainment, Tailwind Productions and Imperative Entertainment
Dare Me with Megan Abbott, Drowning Girl Productions, Fair Harbour Productions and Film 44
Briarpatch 2020 with Anonymous Content, Voodoo Ltd., Esmail Corp and Paramount Television Studios
The At Home Variety Show Featuring Seth MacFarlane Peacock with Jax Media and Fuzzy Door Productions
Brave New World co-production with Amblin Television and David Weiner
A Wilderness of Error FX co-production with Truth Media, Rachael Horovitz Prods., Blumhouse Television and FXP
Resident Alien 2021–present Syfy with Jocko Productions, Amblin Television and Dark Horse Entertainment
Punky Brewster 2021 Peacock co-production with Armogida Brothers Productions, Main Event Media and Universal Television, a remake of the 1984-88 series of the same name by NBC Productions
Dr. Death with Littleton Road Productions, Escape Artists and Wondery
Dr Death: The Undoctored Story with Wondery and Peacock Media Productions
One of Us Is Lying 2021–2022 co-production with 5MM
The 45 Rules of Divorce MBC 4
Shahid VIP		 co-production with S Productions, Image Nation Abu Dhabi and twofour54
Arabic adaptation; Based on the 2014-2018 television series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce by Marti Noxon
Chucky 2021–present Syfy
USA Network		 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 Peacock co-production with Matchbox Pictures and Wondery
The Girl from Plainville Hulu with Happy Friday Productions, Lewellen Pictures, Echo Lake Entertainment and Littleton Road Productions
Gaslit Starz with Esmail Corp., Anonymous Content, Red Om Films, and Slate
Candy[17] Hulu[18] with Eat The Cat, Iron Ocean, Boss Clown Productions and 20th Television
Angelyne Peacock with Esmail Corp, Compostition 8, The Hollywood Reporter and Anonymous Content
Queer as Folk[19] with Red Production Company, All3Media International, Piece of Work and Furnace Room Films
The Resort 2022–present with Esmail Corp, Anonymous Content, Quadraturin and All for Ramonez
The End Is Nye[20] with Universal Television Alternative Studio, Fuzzy Door Productions and Beetlecod Productions
Quantum Leap NBC co-production with Universal Television, Dean Georgaris Entertainment 2.0 and Quinn's House
A Friend of the Family[21] 2022 Peacock co-production with Eat the Cat
Based on a True Story[22] 2023–present co-production with Overlook Productions and Aggregate Films
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off[23] 2023 Netflix co-production with Marc Platt Productions, Complete Fiction, Faust Av and Science Saru
Ted 2024 Peacock co-production with Fuzzy Door Productions and MRC Television
Based on the 2012 film of the same name by Universal Pictures
Apples Never Fall co-production with Matchbox Pictures, Call Me Mel Productions Inc., Universal International Studios and Heyday Television
Cape Fear TBA TBA upcoming; co-production with Eat the Cat and Amblin Television
Based on the 1991 film of the same name by Universal Pictures[24]
The Von Bulow Affair Investigation Discovery upcoming;
Based on the William Wright boom of the same name.
Untitled Casper the Friendly Ghost live-action series Peacock upcoming; co-production with DreamWorks Animation Television


Podcasts produced

Title Channel Original running Notes
The End Up UCP Audio upcoming near-future scripted podcast produced by Esmail Corp.[7]
House of Prayer unscripted podcast about an investigation into an alleged cult[7]
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[7]

References

  1. ^ "Jennifer Gwartz Joins Beatrice Springborn at UCP". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ "UNIVERSAL CONTENT PRODUCTIONS LLC". OpenCorporates. 1998-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  3. ^ a b Lafayette, Jon (20 July 2008). "NBC Taps Cable-Studio Bosses". TVWeek. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (13 June 2011). "NBCU's UMS And UCP Are Branching Out To Produce For Broadcast And Cable Networks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (8 February 2019). "Sam Esmail Renews Overall Deal With Universal Content Productions". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  6. ^ Littleton, Cynthia; Low, Elaine (7 October 2019). "NBCUniversal Shakeup: Bonnie Hammer to Head Studios, Paul Telegdy Goes Solo at NBC". Variety. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d "Universal Content Productions Launches Podcast Network With Sam Esmail Original". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  8. ^ White, Peter (2020-11-02). "UCP President Dawn Olmstead Joins Anonymous Content As CEO". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. ^ Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (2021-02-26). "Soo Hugh Signs Overall Deal With UCP, Will Launch Talent Incubator". Variety. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (2021-05-10). "Jennifer Gwartz Joins Beatrice Springborn at UCP". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  11. ^ Baysinger, Tim (2021-08-31). "Elliot Page Signs First-Look Deal With UCP". TheWrap. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 4, 2017). "Blumhouse Launches Indie TV Studio With ITV; 'The Purge' Becomes Series, Roger Ailes Fox News Series At Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (13 May 2020). "'The Purge,' 'Treadstone' Canceled at USA Network". Variety. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (July 27, 2023). "True-Crime Anthology Series From Nick Antosca & Michelle Dean In Works At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (May 18, 2018). "Hulu Orders 'The Act' True-Crime Anthology Series From Nick Antosca & Michelle Dean". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Keveney, Bill (July 7, 2015). "Deal puts 'Umbrella Academy' on track". USA Today. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "Elisabeth Moss to Play Killer Candy Montgomery in Limited Series for UCP". Deadline. July 7, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "Hulu Lands Elisabeth Moss True Crime Drama Series 'Candy' from UCP". Deadline. December 2, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "'Queer As Folk Reboot Picked Up To Series At Peacock". Deadline. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Evans, Greg (March 2, 2021). "Peacock Orders New Bill Nye Series 'The End Is Nye' Examining Earthly Threats". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Throne, Will (May 7, 2023). "'The Act' Creator Developing Jan Broberg Kidnap Series at UCP". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  22. ^ White, Peter (April 11, 2022). "'Based on a True Story' Comedy Thriller From Craig Rosenberg & Jason Bateman Lands Straight-To-Order At Peacock". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "'Scott Pilgrim' Anime Series in the Works From UCP, Netflix (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 21, 2023). "'Cape Fear' Series From Nick Antosca, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese & UCP Heats Up TV Marketplace". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2023.

External links

NBCUniversal
Authority control databases
Categories