Vast Work Opportunities, Too Much Political Drama - Program Manager NBCUniversal Employee Review

3.0
Dec 14, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Ample opportunity to improve processes and learn new skill sets. Ability to move within the company after 14-24 months, depending on desired move. Gain insights into broadcast, film, production, and 'backlot' processes in entertainment industry. Some perks, such as employee discounts, ability to view films in advance of release date, and gym facility (on the Universal Studio lot).

Cons

- IMLP internship 'graduates' are given carte blanche into management roles without real experience and are not allowed to fail, even if they cannot deliver or perform, as blame for the failure will be shifted to others. - Most IMLP under-performers are never terminated, only shifted from department to department to keep the statistics of the program appealing to executive management. - Finger-pointing instead of root cause and corrective actions to process issues. - Neoptism of 'cliques' instead of focusing on performance and REAL achievement. - Individuals that perform well and promote collaboration are seen as threats to mid- and upper management. - Formal training (some required for promotion to management) reserved for select few, even if you offer to pay for the formal training yourself. - Long hours are frequent due to poor planned, which is passed-down from higher management.

Explore other reviews about NBCUniversal

5.0
May 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible Scheudling Super inclusive Great environment Helpful coworkers

Cons

Long hours although this typically comes with the job title

3.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

NBCUniversal is full of smart, funny, talented people who genuinely care about the work. I learned a tremendous amount there, especially about programming, production, audience strategy, brand management, budgets, talent, internal politics, and how a major media company actually functions when the glossy press release meets the spreadsheet. The brands are still powerful. NBC, Peacock, Bravo, USA, SYFY, E!, and the broader portfolio have real history, real audiences, and real cultural weight. When the company is aligned, it can move beautifully. You get exposure to major shows, high-level conversations, complex productions, and the kind of institutional knowledge you cannot really get anywhere smaller. It is also a place where you can build real taste and real judgment. You see what works, what almost works, what dies in a conference room, and what somehow survives three leadership changes and a budget cut.

Cons

The biggest downside is instability. NBCUniversal has been through major structural change, including the cable network spinoff into Versant, divestitures, reorganizations, and significant layoffs. That kind of uncertainty changes the job. You are not just doing the work. You are trying to understand which version of the company you work for this quarter. Decision-making can also be slow and heavily layered. There are a lot of smart people, but sometimes too many of them need to bless the same sentence, deck, cut, budget, or idea. The result is that good work can get sanded down, delayed, or rerouted through a maze wearing a lanyard. The company also asks people to do more with less, then less with less, then somehow make it feel premium. That is exhausting. Especially for employees who care deeply and are trying to protect the creative, the business, and their own sanity without being handed a map.

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