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)





[04/07/25 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Documentary Films Presents "The Dark Money Game" Featuring Two Films, "Ohio Confidential" and "Wealth of the Wicked," Debuting April 15 & 16
The films investigate the shadowy world of political donations and fundraising 15 years after the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizen's United case, which enabled unlimited spending by hidden sources on many political campaigns.

[04/07/25 - 09:31 AM]
The Sabotage Game Is Back in "Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out" Where Culinary Skills Meet Culinary Curveballs
The nine-episode series premieres on Tuesday, May 13 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network, and streams next day on Max.

[04/07/25 - 09:00 AM]
Prime Video Releases Key Art for Benito Skinner's Comedy Series "Overcompensating"
The comedy series, produced by A24, Strong Baby and Amazon MGM Studios, will premiere all eight episodes on May 15 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[04/07/25 - 08:30 AM]
Quirky New Zealand Crime Drama, "The Brokenwood Mysteries," Returns to Acorn TV on Monday, April 21
Starring Neill Rea as Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd and Fern Sutherland as by-the-book Detective Kristin Sims, the captivating series sees the formidable duo and their team investigate crimes in the sleepy and secret-filled town of Brokenwood, New Zealand.

[04/07/25 - 08:04 AM]
Three Mothers United by Tragedy Share Their Heart-Wrenching Journey for Answers in "The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood"
The three-part docuseries will premiere on Sunday, May 11 from 8-11pm ET/PT on ID and will stream on Max.

[04/07/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Havoc" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a drug heist swerves lethally out of control, a jaded cop fights his way through a corrupt city's criminal underworld to save a politician's son.

[04/07/25 - 07:04 AM]
Acorn TV Greenlights Brooke Shields Crime Drama "Allie & Andi"
Set in a quaint New England colonial town, the six-episode murder mystery series follows a bestselling novelist (Shields) who forms an unlikely alliance with an aspiring writer and influencer to find the killer of a close friend.

[04/07/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Battle Camp" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In "Battle Camp," the greatest stars from across Netflix's broad slate of reality and doc-series return to face the ultimate physical and mental competition, where a giant spinning wheel randomly decides who stays and who goes.

[04/07/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "G20" - Final Trailer - Prime Video
When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target.

[04/07/25 - 06:00 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Second Installment of Animated Trilogy "WondLa"
Hailing from Skydance Animation and based on Tony DiTerlizzi's New York Times bestselling book series "The Search for WondLa," the series is showrun and executive produced by Bobs Gannaway.

[04/06/25 - 05:31 PM]
Video: Coming Soon to Max
Really slumming it this year. All of your favorite original series, documentaries, and more are coming soon to Max.

[04/04/25 - 10:48 AM]
Video: Watch A First Look - ID's "All Access PD: Grand Rapids" Premieres Tuesday, April 8 at 10/9c on ID
The new series offers unprecedented access to the inner workings of the Grand Rapids Police Department.

[04/04/25 - 10:32 AM]
New Season of "Gold Rush: White Water" Premieres Friday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
Last year, Dustin Hurt's crew struck a 6-ounce, $70K nugget - the biggest in Gold Rush history. This season, he's risking everything for more.

[04/04/25 - 09:01 AM]
Hit the Gas! Prime Video Releases Premiere Date and First-Look Images for Electrifying New YA Drama "Motorheads"
All 10 episodes will debut exclusively on Prime Video on Tuesday, May 20 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[04/04/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Wolf Man" Beginning April 18
Directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Leigh Whannell, the film stars Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Sam Jaeger, Matilda Firth, Benedict Hardie and more.