NBC renames O&O group

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NBC Owned-and-Operated Stations Group has been renamed the NBC Local Media Division. As he announced the change, John Wallace, President of the NBC Local Media Division, also announced two key leadership positions within the organization. Brian Buchwald has been named Senior Vice President, Local Digital Media and Multiplatform, and Mark French has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of NBC Everywhere, a new unit focusing on the company’s growing digital place-based network. Both report directly to Wallace.


"Our stations produce local content for a multitude of platforms beyond their primary channels, including broadband networks in a variety of genres, multiple digital channels, and various media platforms outside of the home. ‘NBC Local Media’ better reflects the full scope of our capabilities, as well as our ability to offer clients a fully-integrated, local media solution across the full portfolio of our assets," said Wallace.

In his new role, Buchwald will be responsible for developing new business models and enterprises, including joint ventures, investments and partnership opportunities, that extend NBCU’s expertise in local media to a broader geographic footprint. He will also work closely with the group’s general managers to ensure that the core stations business remains dominant in the growing multi-platform media environment. In addition, he will explore alternative content production models, as well as new formats and channels for local content distribution.

As General Manager of NBC Everywhere, French will focus on expanding NBCU’s presence on alternative distribution platforms through strategic content and advertising partnerships with a focus on NBC’s local markets. He will also work closely with NBC Universal’s sales and marketing groups to integrate the digital out of home offerings into NBCU’s 360-degree offerings. French will also work closely with the NBC Agency and local stations to program the various Out of Home channels.

Buchwald previously led the distribution partner network for hulu.com and also served as the General Manager of nbbc (National Broadband Company).
French rejoined the NBCU Television Stations in 2005 as Director of Multi-Media Sales and Strategic Marketing, responsible for developing multi-media marketing initiatives for the NBC stations. In 2006 he was promoted to Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships.