NBC Universal breaks its silence in Golden Globes controversy, admits it is trying to "influence" some "necessary changes"

Los Angeles Times

NBC Universal went from paying $21 million a year for Golden Globe Awards rights in 2018 to paying a staggering $60 million a year through 2026. The Los Angeles Times reports that Globes are no longer profitable for NBC Universal, but it does provide benefits in helping promote NBC shows and NBC Universal cable channels, especially the E! network and its red carpet coverage. As The Times' Meg James reports, NBC's silence has only added to the HFPA's diversity controversy. “In this day and time, you can’t air a program on your network and then step back and say ‘We have nothing to do with it’,” Todd Boyd, a professor of cinema and media studies at USC School of Cinematic Arts, told The Times. “NBC has a great deal of influence because they finance the organization and air the Golden Globes on their network. They need to be involved in changing these unfortunate circumstances.” In an interview with The Times, NBCUniversal Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Craig Robinson responded to the criticism and said the network has spent the last three weeks working behind the scenes in collaboration with its two partners — the HFPA and Dick Clark Productions, which produces the ceremony. “Our perceived silence on this should not be equated with apathy or a lack of concern,” Robinson said. “We are taking these issues very seriously, and we also understand our role and the importance of our role in encouraging HFPA to make what we deem to be necessary changes — and we are using that influence.” During multiple meetings with the HFPA, Robinson said NBC Universal has stressed that the HFPA needs reforms for its continued viability. He said NBC Universal has urged HFPA to recruit more Black members and to address its questionable business practices.