NBCUniversal has become the latest in an ever-growing list of media companies to announce its plans to launch a video streaming service. Alongside the service, the Comcast-owned firm has restructured its leadership team.

The ad-supported streaming platform will be available at no cost to NBCUniversal’s pay TV subscribers in the US, as well as being available to Comcast Cable and Sky’s 52m combined subscribers. An ad-free version of the service will also be available for a fee, while non-pay TV customers can also purchase a subscription to the service. The service is expected to launch early next year.

“Many of the most-watched shows on today’s popular streaming platforms come from NBCUniversal. Our new service will be different than those presently in the market and it will be built on the company’s strengths, with NBCUniversal’s great content and the technology expertise, broad scale and the wide distribution of Comcast Cable and Sky,” said Steve Burke, CEO at NBCUniversal.

“People are watching premium content more than ever, but they want more flexibility and value. NBCUniversal is perfectly positioned to offer a variety of choices, due to our deep relationships with advertisers and distribution partners, as well as our data-targeting capabilities. Advertising continues to be a major part of the entertainment ecosystem and we believe that a streaming service, with limited and personalized ads, will provide a great consumer experience.”  

In order to position the company for the launch of the service, Bonnie Hammer has been promoted to chairman of direct-to-consumer and digital enterprises at NBCUniversal – having previously been chairman of the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group.

Separately, Mark Lazarus has been named chairman of NBCUniversal broadcast, cable, sports and news, while Jeff Shell is now chairman of NBCUniversal firm and entertainment and Donna Langley has been promoted to sole chairman of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.