Senior Counsel, Platform Distribution & Partnerships

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Job Description

About Platform Distribution & Partnerships: Platform Distribution and Partnerships is a division of NBCUniversal's media group responsible for the distribution and monetization of the company’s multi-billion-dollar linear and streaming services portfolio to pay-tv providers, NBC broadcast affiliates, consumer technology platforms and devices, and consumer brands. A key revenue-generator, the division is comprised of content distribution, affiliate relations and strategic partnerships across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo and various FAST channels. 

The Senior Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs will provide advice and support with respect to the negotiation and management of NBCUniversal’s distribution relationships, including:

• Distribution of its portfolio of linear and on-demand properties, including the NBC and Telemundo owned television stations, national cable networks, and regional sports networks and related on-demand content to cable, satellite, and online TV providers such as Comcast Cable, YouTube TV, DIRECTV, Charter Communications, DISH Network, and Hulu Live.
• Publication of the Peacock direct-to-consumer streaming service via its application on connected TV, mobile device, and gaming platforms (e.g., Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung, Xumo, Google TV, Xfinity, Sony PlayStation and Apple devices) and via hosted channels stores (e.g., Prime Video Channels, YouTube Primetime Subscriptions, The Roku Channel).
• Bundling of Peacock subscriptions with third-party products and services (e.g., YouTube Premium, Apple TV, Walmart+, Instacart) and other Peacock promotional partnerships (e.g., American Express cashback offers).
• Distribution of NBCUniversal’s growing portfolio of free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channels to connected TV and mobile device-associated platforms (e.g., The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Samsung TV Plus) as well as standalone FAST platforms (e.g., Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex).

In addition to drafting and negotiating these agreements, the Senior Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, will be responsible for partnering with numerous NBCUniversal business units (e.g., Ad Sales, NBC Sports, Owned Television Stations) and their legal teams to align distribution priorities with companywide objectives, as well as provide advice and ensure compliance with respect to current agreements.

Responsibilities: 

• Draft, review, negotiate and interpret complex distribution agreements with distribution partners for the television stations and networks, Peacock and network apps, and FAST channels.
• Provide business-facing, actionable, relevant, and practical legal advice to business teams regarding analysis and planning of, and compliance with, current and future agreements.
• Partner with NBCU business and legal personnel across the company to maintain deal alignment and information flow.
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the fast-changing television distribution landscape and the entertainment business.
• Maintain an awareness and understanding of the latest developments in law and technology as they relate to the distribution of media content, including privacy, ad tech, consumer functionality, security, and windowing of content.
• Serve as a strategic business partner to department executives to identify and resolve business and legal issues (including issues relating to contract interpretation).
• Other matters as needed at the direction of the division’s Senior Vice President.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience working on high-stakes contracts and their negotiation.
• Law degree and member of a state bar in good standing.
• Experience in media licensing and distribution transactions.

Desired Characteristics:

• Experience and comfort with providing business-facing, actionable, relevant and practical advice to both legal and business counterparts.
• Demonstrable superiority at drafting sophisticated legal agreements.
• Curiosity, emotional intelligence, and enthusiasm for collaborating with others.
• Excellence at detail-oriented, yet practical, analysis of legal agreements.
• Ability to thrive in high-pressure situations and manage numerous matters at once.
• Ambition, tenacity, and willingness to stretch into new areas of law and business.
• Ability to manage a cyclical deal calendar with ebbs and flows of activity.
• Demonstrated interest in entertainment and media.
• Willingness to work overtime and on weekends during key deals with short notice.

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the New York, NY office a minimum of four days per week.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $175,000 - $215,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible).

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.