NBCUniversal, following its successful Paris Olympics and Paralympics ad sales, has announced a restructuring of its sports ad sales team. The company is consolidating its sports ad sales operations into one unified division, aiming to streamline its strategy for selling advertising across all its sports franchises.
Dan Lovinger, who previously held the position of President of Olympic and Paralympic Sales, is leaving the company. Peter Lazarus has been appointed as the new Executive Vice President of the combined division, reporting to Alison Levin, President of Advertising Sales.
This move reflects the evolving landscape of sports viewership, with a growing emphasis on streaming and delayed viewing. NBCUniversal is seeking to capitalize on the continued popularity of live sports by providing advertisers with a more comprehensive approach to reaching sports audiences across all its platforms.
"We are excited to launch a new era in sports ad sales, creating a more unified and comprehensive approach to serve our advertisers and partners," said Alison Levin. "This new structure will allow us to leverage the power of our entire sports portfolio to deliver greater value and reach for brands looking to connect with passionate fans."
Lovinger, during his time at NBCUniversal, spearheaded ad sales for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, including the implementation of programmatic buying for streaming ads.
The company had previously emphasized its commitment to customized solutions for advertisers looking to achieve specific marketing objectives.
Looking ahead, NBCUniversal has a busy sports schedule, including the 2026 Winter Olympics, the return of NBA games, and continued expansion of its Peacock streaming platform. This restructure aims to streamline its approach to selling advertising across these diverse platforms and capitalize on the growing popularity of live sports.