Los Angeles, California – In a significant consolidation move that has been taking shape over the past six years, ABC Signature is officially being dissolved. The production unit’s operations will now be integrated into 20th Television under the leadership of 20th TV President Karey Burke.

Moreover, to streamline operations, the scripted drama and comedy teams of ABC and Hulu Originals will be merged under the leadership of Simran Sethi, who has been promoted to the role of President of Scripted Programming for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment.

As part of this restructuring, Tracy Underwood will be stepping down as the President of ABC Signature and will transition into an overall producing deal with Disney Television Studios. Erin Wehrenberg, who is currently the SVP and Head of Comedy at ABC, will also be leaving her position.

The consolidation of the studios and scripted teams will affect approximately 30 Disney Entertainment Television employees, primarily from ABC Signature and 20th TV. This move follows a similar trend in the industry, with other studios undergoing restructuring and consolidation.

The revamped structure will see Burke and Sethi reporting to Eric Schrier, President of Disney Television Studios & Business Operations, and Craig Erwich, President of ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, respectively. The executives emphasized the challenging nature of the decisions made in their internal memos.

The changes also mark the promotion of Jordan Helman to EVP of Drama for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, overseeing broadcast drama. Additionally, ABC Signature’s EVP Business Affairs and Operation, Josh Sussman, has been elevated to lead the new combined DET business affairs team.

With the dissolution of ABC Signature, Disney TV Studios will now comprise 20th TV and 20th Animation, streamlining operations and consolidating resources for better efficiency and effectiveness in the current competitive media landscape. The move is part of a wider industry trend towards consolidation and optimization of resources to remain competitive and relevant.