NBCUniversal alum Frances Manfredi to lead copros, distribution at Future Shack

LA-based production company Future Shack Entertainment has named former NBCUniversal exec Frances Manfredi as partner and head of distribution and content strategy.

Frances Manfredi

In the new role, Manfredi, who was previously the president of content acquisitions and strategy at US streamer Peacock, will oversee coproductions, distribution and content strategy.

The appointment comes after the New York-based exec served as a consultant to Future Shack and helped to secure distribution partners for the company’s upcoming shows Murder in a Small Town and Good Cop/Bad Cop.

Before Peacock, Manfredi spent eight years as the president of NBCU Cable & New Media Distribution and before that was a distribution exec at CBS. It was there that she worked with Jeff Wachtel, who co-founded Future Shack alongside Sam Michaels and Yusik Choi in 2022.

Manfredi has been involved in several major content agreements over the past two decades, including the first major studio deal with Netflix in 2006 and selling the off-network rights to shows including 30 Rock, House, The Office and Law & Order.

Future Shack is currently in production on Good Cop/Bad Cop for The CW, Roku and Australian streamer Stan.

The comedic police procedural, set to premiere next year, is a coproduction from Future Shack and Jungle Entertainment starring Leighton Meester, Clancy Brown and Luke Cook.

The company is also in production with Vancouver-based Sepia Films on Canadian psychological crime drama Murder in a Small Town, which will premiere in the fall on US broadcaster Fox and Corus-owned Canadian broadcaster Global.

“As we devote more of our efforts to the world of global sales and production, her experience and relationships will be indispensable,” said Future Shack co-founders Wachtel, Michaels and Choi in a statement.

Manfredi said: “Future Shack’s focus on great storytelling with global appeal delivered through creative distribution models presents a unique opportunity in today’s challenged content market.”