NBC News adding hundreds of jobs in streaming push

NBC Universal plans to hire hundreds of additional employees and add several hours of additional shows as it works to expand its streaming services, the company announced Tuesday.

The company said it is adding 200 new positions and several new hours of live, original programming to NBC News Now, its digital streaming network. The positions will be filled over the next several months, and the new slate of NBC News Now programming will debut this fall. 

The outlet has already made more than 70 new hires to staff its programing on the streaming service. 

“When we combine the power of our portfolio, across our many platforms, our reach and impact is unmatched,” said Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCU News Group, in a statement. “Our core focus is to consistently innovate in how our brands deliver distinctive, high-quality journalism. This substantial investment in streaming and digital allows us to meet the needs of news consumers in a rapidly-changing digital media industry.”

NBC’s new streaming schedule this fall will include a daily prime-time news show anchored by senior national correspondent Tom Llamas. The network will also add a daily evening show and a weekly special newsmagazine series hosted by senior Washington correspondent and anchor Hallie Jackson. Joshua Johnson, who currently hosts a weekend program on MSNBC, is getting an evening news analysis and explainer program.

Launched in 2019, NBC News Now averages more than 44 million views and 14 million hours watched per month, the company said. 

Earlier this month, CNN announced it was adding CNN+, a subscription-based service with the goal of creating digital streaming content for an online audience for the outlet. Fox News launched the streaming service Fox Nation in 2018.