NBCUniversal Content Distribution Chief Matt Bond to Retire

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Matt Bond, the leader in charge of content distribution at NBCUniversal, has announced his departure from this position after spending over two decades with NBCU and Comcast.

As we reach the peak of my career journey, I believe it’s the perfect moment, both personally and professionally, for me to embark on a new phase – retirement. Yet, the company has kindly invited me to offer guidance in an advisory role for some time to come, and I am honored to accept this opportunity.

Bond’s departure coincides with NBCUniversal’s intention to divide a part of its cable channels and related businesses into SpinCo, an independent publicly traded company apart from Comcast. The separation deal is anticipated to be finalized by the end of 2025.

As a cinephile, I, just like Bond, shared that I and Matt Schnaars, the president of content distribution at NBCU, are navigating a transition phase. We’re collaborating closely with Matt Strauss, the freshly appointed chairman of the NBCUniversal Media Group, to figure out where our team fits within the new structure of the Media Group. Rest assured, as we iron out these specifics, we will keep you in the loop about any updates.

Following the spin-off, NBCUniversal will consist of the NBC broadcast network and stations, the Peacock streaming platform (a major contributor to Peacock’s success), Bravo (the reality TV powerhouse), NBC News Group, NBC Sports, Telemundo, the Universal theme parks and resorts, as well as NBCU’s film and television studios. The newly formed entity named SpinCo, which includes CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, and other assets, is being headed by CEO Mark Lazarus, who was previously the chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.

As the chairman of content distribution at NBCUniversal, Bond has been in charge of managing all distribution contracts for content suppliers across multichannel video providers and new media distributors. This includes the distribution of NBCU’s linear cable and broadcast networks, signals from NBC-owned television stations, and their TV Everywhere, video on demand movie and TV services.

Prior to working at NBCU, Bond served as the Executive Vice President of Content Acquisition at Comcast Cable. In this role, he managed the strategic planning of Comcast’s content library, which included negotiating programming deals for all Comcast cable systems. Additionally, he supervised content acquisition for new media rights and spearheaded strategic multiplatform initiatives such as On Demand Online. Under his leadership, XfinityTV.com was successfully launched.

Read Bond’s memo to NBCU staff:

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year.

Initially, I’d like to express my appreciation for your remarkable efforts throughout the significant deal cycle from 2023 to 2024. We successfully closed 17 deals, which were crucial for NBCUniversal at a time when we were navigating the overlap of streaming and traditional cable services and pioneering innovative packaging strategies. We not only met our financial targets but also ensured room for Peacock’s expansion. Remarkably, we managed this feat without any distribution interruptions, as we have consistently done for the past 13 years. I am pleased to say that NBCUniversal has never been in a stronger position regarding distribution.

After much contemplation, both personally and professionally, I’ve chosen this moment as the ideal time for my retirement. However, the company has graciously asked me to take on an advisory role moving forward, which I am more than happy to accept. Many of you may be aware that I have been pondering this decision for some time now, taking into account my own personal hurdles. As Lisa often reminded me, “It’s always best to leave when the party is still in full swing.

Matt Schnaars and I are collaborating on a transition phase, and we’re coordinating extensively with Matt Strauss to align our team with the revised Media Group setup. During this process, we’ll make sure to keep you informed about the specifics as they become available.

I am deeply appreciative and proud to have been a member of the Comcast NBCUniversal team for over two decades. Since joining Comcast in 2002, I’ve never even considered seeking employment elsewhere. Comcast is like an extended family that truly values its members, and this caring attitude stems from Brian and permeates throughout the entire organization. The company has consistently exceeded my expectations and shown me more kindness than I ever thought I would receive.

As a fan among fans, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have collaborated with each one of you – truly remarkable talents who lead the pack in our field. Side by side, we’ve weathered numerous transformations within the television landscape, with many more on the horizon. Yet, the enthusiasm for our creative output remains unwavering, and I’m confident that the future shines brightly as innovations broaden our content’s reach. Through it all, our team has proven its adaptability, finding ingenious ways to capitalize on change and solidifying NBCU’s status as an unrivaled symbol of success within the industry. I am well aware that this level of achievement doesn’t come without effort – it’s the product of countless sleepless nights, many spent beyond regular office hours, including weekends and holidays.

I am incredibly proud of what we’ve all achieved in the past ten years. It’s truly an outstanding accomplishment. Our team is small, but each member plays a vital role in our overall success. In essence, as Winston Churchill put it, it’s not common to owe so much to so few.

I won’t be going far and look forward to continuing to work with you all in my new capacity.

Thank you for everything.
Matt

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2025-01-15 22:16