Bonnie Hammer, Once Called ‘Queen of Cable,’ Plans to Exit NBCU After Celebrated Tenure

As a longtime admirer of Bonnie Hammer‘s illustrious career, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe at her remarkable journey through the ever-evolving landscape of television. From her early days at WGBH in Boston to her tenure overseeing NBCU’s general-entertainment cable networks, Hammer has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to identify and nurture the next big thing in TV.


As a seasoned television critic, I find myself reflecting on the impending departure of Bonnie Hammer from her esteemed position as Vice Chairman of NBCUniversal. Two reliable sources have confirmed that she will be stepping down at the year’s end, signaling the culmination of her contractual obligations with the company. This decision comes after an illustrious career that saw her influence extend over a diverse range of beloved shows, from “This Old House” and “Zoom,” to “Monk” and “Mr. Robot.

Hammer has been with NBCU since 2004, when Universal Television, once part of Barry Diller’s entertainment empire, merged with the NBC portfolio. In all, she has spent around 50 years in the TV business, also working for Lifetime and Boston’s public-TV outlet WGBH. At NBCU, she has helped orchestrate the merger of some of the company’s big TV production studio assets and worked on the launch of its Peacock streaming service.

These individuals assert that it’s her choice whether or not to renew her contract, and this decision isn’t connected to the recent announcement about splitting most of NBCU’s cable properties into a different corporation.

NBCUniversal declined to make executives available for comment.

Hammer is recognized primarily for her extended period managing NBCU’s general-entertainment cable networks. During this tenure, her team introduced numerous successful “blue skies” series that showcased optimistic characters, offering a refreshing contrast to the grim tone of shows like “The Sopranos” and “The Shield” on FX and HBO. Some examples of these series include “Royal Pains,” “Psych,” and “Burn Notice.” Hammer’s leadership at USA Network coincided with a 13-year streak as the most-watched cable network focused on entertainment.

Before she moved to New York City, however, Hammer shook things up in Boston during an early stage of her career. Working at WGBH, the Boston PBS affiliate, she had a hand in seminal public-TV series like “This Old House” and the kid-series “Zoom.” She would go on to executive produce the local morning-news program “Good Day!” for ABC affiliate WCVB.

Before moving up the ranks at NBCU, Hammer would work on documentaries at Lifetime, and then work for Diller at Universal Television, where she would help boost the fortunes and acceptability of what was once known as the World Wrestling Federation and also to manage a nascent cable network known as the Sci-Fi Channel.

She collaborated with several well-known television executives and producers such as Frances Berwick, Jeff Wachtel, and Chris McCumber. Moreover, Hammer gained recognition not just for her TV career but also as a photographer; her images have been featured in publications like the Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and various other media outlets.

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2024-11-23 00:16