Bela Bajaria
Bela Bajaria was named President, Universal Television, in June 2015. Bajaria has overseen creative programming for the studio since August 2011, producing hit primetime series across numerous networks, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Mindy Project, Bates Motel, Grimm, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.
One of the largest and most successful television studios in the country, Universal Television also produces the classic series Law & Order: SVU, as well as new series Shades of Blue, Chicago Medical, Uncle Buck, Emerald City and Crowded, among other projects.
Earlier, Bajaria held two key posts simultaneously: Senior Vice President, Cable Programming for CBS TV Studios, and Senior Vice President of Movies and Miniseries for the CBS network. Upon creating the cable division at CBS TV Studios in 2007, she shepherded many cable dramas and comedies from prolific writer/directors, including a docu-comedy for Showtime that was produced by Glenn Gordon Caron, Common Law, and Panic Boys for Showtime. While at CBS, Bajaria also worked on numerous cable projects by notable writers such as Carol Mendelsohn, Julian Fellowes, Augusten Burroughs, Anthony Zuiker and James Ellroy.
Bela Bajaria was named President, Universal Television, in June 2015. Bajaria has overseen creative programming for the studio since August 2011, producing hit primetime series across numerous networks, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Mindy Project, Bates Motel, Grimm, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.
One of the largest and most successful television studios in the country, Universal Television also produces the classic series Law & Order: SVU, as well as new series Shades of Blue, Chicago Medical, Uncle Buck, Emerald City and Crowded, among other projects.
Earlier, Bajaria held two key posts simultaneously: Senior Vice President, Cable Programming for CBS TV Studios, and Senior Vice President of Movies and Miniseries for the CBS network. Upon creating the cable division at CBS TV Studios in 2007, she shepherded many cable dramas and comedies from prolific writer/directors, including a docu-comedy for Showtime that was produced by Glenn Gordon Caron, Common Law, and Panic Boys for Showtime. While at CBS, Bajaria also worked on numerous cable projects by notable writers such as Carol Mendelsohn, Julian Fellowes, Augusten Burroughs, Anthony Zuiker and James Ellroy.
Bajaria simultaneously oversaw the CBS Sunday Night Movie - the #1 TV movie franchise for over 10 years. She was responsible for the critically acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise, oversaw production of eight TV movies in the popular Jesse Stone franchise and worked on many Emmy-nominated miniseries, including Joan of Arc, Jesus, Reagans, Elvis and Hitler. She oversaw over 130 movies that showcased such actors as William Hurt, Anna Paquin, Anne Bancroft, Anjelica Huston, Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon.
In September 2013, Bajaria was elected President of the industry organization Hollywood Radio & Television Society for a two-year term. She is involved in a variety of philanthropic endeavors, including SAHARA, a non-profit organization that serves victims of domestic violence. Bajaria has been honored by the I Have a Dream Foundation of Los Angeles with the Dream Keeper Award and was given the Industry Leadership Award from the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. Additionally, she is an executive board member of the Television Academy and serves on the board of Los Angeles’ Saban Community Clinic.
Bajaria resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.
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