NBCUniversal, a media conglomerate, has been experiencing declines in traditional TV viewership across its cable networks such as Bravo, E!, MSNBC, and USA, as well as on its broadcast network, NBC. Nonetheless, Universal Pictures, which is among the smaller movie studios in Hollywood, has been highly successful with its recent releases of movies such as “Jurassic World: Dominion,” “Minions: Rise of Gru,” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the last of which has become Universal’s highest-grossing animated film in its history. Furthermore, the studio is planning to release other highly anticipated films this year, including the 10th iteration of the “Fast and Furious” franchise and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” To adapt to the changing distribution landscape, Universal Pictures has implemented flexible distribution strategies that use a staggered rollout between theaters and its streaming service, Peacock, for bigger films. The company is also set to open theme parks in Las Vegas and Frisco, Texas, in the next several years, which is a promising development as this division has reported higher attendance and guest spending leading to record profits. NBCUniversal’s news group, which includes MSNBC, NBC News, and CNBC, is trying to counter the declining traditional viewership through an advertising-supported news streaming service, NBC News Now, and new products for subscribers, such as the CNBC Pro service. The news group has scored some programming successes, including “Inside With Jen Psaki,” a Sunday show hosted by the former White House press secretary. NBCUniversal’s quarterly earnings report, due this week, is highly anticipated by industry analysts.
