or


[12/19/06 - 10:12 AM]
NBC Universal Interactive Television Has Ground-Breaking Year in 2006
The company's 40 iTV programs or events across 12 business units generated over 130 million web votes and SMS messages.

[via press release from NBC Universal Television Studio]

NBC UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE TELEVISION HAS GROUND-BREAKING YEAR IN 2006

NEW YORK � December 19, 2006 � The television networks of NBC Universal had a ground breaking year in interactive television, launching a total of 40 iTV programs or events across 12 business units, and generating over 130 million web votes and SMS messages. The wide variety of iTV features ranged from choosing the "Lucky Case" for the chance to win $10,000 on NBC's "Deal or No Deal" to single-screen synchronous interaction with Bravo's "Top Chef" to in-show text alerts from the characters of USA Network's "The 4400."

"We need to find ways to engage consumers like never before," said Jeff Gaspin, President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, Digital Content and Cross-Network Strategy. "These interactive applications give us insight into our viewers' behavior and offer them opportunities to connect with their favorite programming."

"ITV is a huge area of growth for the company," said Jon Dakss, Director, iTV Product Development, NBC Universal. "It has significantly changed television viewing habits, making it a much more hands-on experience. Viewers are clearly responding in record numbers, and we are excited to launch a number of new interactive features in the coming year."

This year, NBCU achieved several milestones in the iTV universe. The company launched seven single-screen iTV applications, more than any media company in the U.S., reaching millions of viewers. In addition, NBCU's interactive programs, like "Deal or No Deal" and Bravo's "Project Runway" received over 100 million web votes and 30 million SMS messages. In February, NBC became the first U.S. network to deploy the same single-screen iTV application to multiple digital platforms simultaneously during the 2006 Winter Olympics.

NBCU's success in the iTV space has translated into several landmark sponsorship opportunities. Bravo's "Top Chef" and Sears Kenmore PRO accomplished three firsts for a U.S. network program by deploying the first sponsored 1-screen enhanced TV element over a digital cable network, the first 1-screen enhanced TV element for a show across multiple digital cable systems simultaneously, and the first sponsored cross-carrier video message to a cell phone. In Bravo's first season of "Top Chef," single-screen interactivity that was made available to Time Warner Cable digital subscribers culminated in a peak of an impressive 30% viewer participation.

NBCU's iTV department is part of a new NBC Universal division known as the Technology Growth Center, which continues to grow as NBCU's digital efforts expand. The iTV team has made two new hires further bolstering its team. Andy Castin joins from ABC/Disney as a Senior iTV Technical Producer, working with NBC's Sports and News divisions. Elena Ritchie from Motricity (formerly GoldPocket Wireless) also joins the group as an iTV Technical Producer and will focus on iTV initiatives for NBC's entertainment properties.

NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.





  [december 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 4400, THE (USA)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (CNBC)
· PROJECT RUNWAY (FREEFORM)
· TOP CHEF (BRAVO)





[01/28/25 - 12:30 PM]
ESPN Celebrates Black History Always on February 5 with Inaugural All-Black Staffed NBA Broadcast
In total, more than 40 Black employees will contribute to ESPN's NBA coverage across game and studio platforms throughout the day, the majority of whom contribute to its basketball coverage year-round.

[01/28/25 - 12:17 PM]
ABC News Studios Announces Two Gripping New True Crime Docuseries to Premiere in February, Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
Look for "Wicked Game: The Devil in the Desert" on February 4, followed by "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer" on February 18.

[01/28/25 - 12:00 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Jan. 20: "Back in Action" and "The Night Agent" Lead an Action-Packed Top 10
"XO, Kitty" Season 2 snapped up No. 2 on the English TV list with 9.2 million views - while Season 1 is also feeling the love at No. 5 with 3.8 million views.

[01/28/25 - 10:54 AM]
CBS Originals Return with Most-Watched Monday of The Season, Up +18% from Its Season Average
"NCIS" had its most watched episode of the season with an average audience of 7.31 million Live+SD viewers.

[01/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Releases Premiere Date, Key Art and First Look Images for New Limited Drama Series "Long Bright River"
"Long Bright River" is a suspense thriller series that tells the story of Mickey (Amanda Seyfried), a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis.

[01/28/25 - 09:10 AM]
MGM+ Orders Comedy Series "American Classic" Starring Oscar Winner Kevin Kline
"American Classic" centers on Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean, played by Kline, who suffers a spectacular public meltdown and returns to his hometown and the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance.

[01/28/25 - 09:09 AM]
Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads North for Season 22 - Destination Canada
The series premieres Thursday, March 13 on Bravo with an entire season of supersized episodes airing every Thursday night from 9 - 10:15 p.m.

[01/28/25 - 09:01 AM]
History's "The Food That Built America" Returns with a Delicious New Season on February 23 at 9/8c
From unlocking original ideas to elevating old favorites, this season unveils the inspiration and innovation behind the products that became household names.

[01/28/25 - 08:47 AM]
Ending 2024 as #1 Cable Entertainment Network on Friday & Saturday Nights, Reelz Orders 90 New Episodes of Hit Documentary Series "On Patrol: Live"
Hosted by Dan Abrams, "On Patrol: Live" follows live news-gathering protocols as 50+ cameras in regions across the country document for viewers in real time the nightly work of law enforcement officers on patrol.

[01/28/25 - 08:20 AM]
FOX Sports and FOX Deportes "Geaux" Marching Into Super Bowl LIX with 67 Hours of Gameday and Super Bowl Week Programming
On Super Bowl Sunday, FOX broadcasts five-and-a-half hours of pregame coverage beginning at 1:00 PM ET with FOX Super Bowl LIX Pregame live from three separate locations, including the FOX Sports set on New Orleans' iconic Bourbon Street.

[01/28/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Trailer and Key Art for Upcoming Biblical Drama Series "House of David"
The series will premiere on February 27 on Prime Video with three episodes and one episode weekly thereafter in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[01/28/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 8 - Official Trailer - Netflix
A new group of singles face the ultimate dating experiment. Will they find their soulmates and get married, or will looks get in the way of love?

[01/28/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Sets March 27 Premiere Date for the Highly Anticipated Third and Final Season of "Bosch: Legacy" with a "Bosch" Franchise Look-Back Teaser
Season three of "Bosch: Legacy" is based on Michael Connelly's best-selling novels Desert Star (2022) and The Black Ice (1993).

[01/28/25 - 06:47 AM]
FireAid Benefit Concert: How to Watch and Listen Live on Thursday, January 30
Featuring a lineup of iconic performers and the support of 25 broadcast partners, FireAid aims to raise funds for critical wildfire recovery and prevention efforts.

[01/28/25 - 05:26 AM]
The Jonas Brothers Are Coming Home for the Holidays with a "Jonas Brothers Christmas Movie" (wt) Set for 2025 on Disney+
In the movie, Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas face a series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London to New York in time to spend Christmas with their families.