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[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. |
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| [via press release from NBC Universal Television Studio] |
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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.
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[06/18/26 - 12:30 PM] Wonder Project Unveils First-Ever Line-Up of Six Stand-Up Comedy Specials - "Wonder Presents: The Stand-Ups" - Beginning July 2 From award-winning comedy studio, New Metric Media, each of the six specials will debut weekly, starring comedians Caroline Rhea, K. Trevor Wilson, Sterling Scott, Ola Dada, Zabrina Douglas, and Erica Sigurdson.
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[06/18/26 - 11:11 AM] Prime Video Announces Season Three of "Fallout" Adds Emily Mortimer, Manny Jacinto, and Thomasin McKenzie to Cast The critically acclaimed global hit series, from Kilter Films, returns to Los Angeles this month to begin filming season three.
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[06/18/26 - 11:01 AM] Apple Original Films to Bring Beloved Children's Book "Little Santa" to the Screen How did Santa become Santa? The answer is in the evergreen musical comedy adventure, "Little Santa."
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[06/18/26 - 11:00 AM] FOX Creator Studios Expands Roster with New Wave of Creator Partners, Original Formats and Premium IP Now joining the FCS roster, which already ranges from culinary icon Gordon Ramsay to renowned comedian Tom Segura, are popular creators including Josh Richards, Emelia Hartford, Speeed Co, Sorted Food, MyHealthyDish, Mad Realities, and Christina Richardson.
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[06/18/26 - 10:31 AM] Netflix's "The God of the Woods" Rounds Out Cast with Tracy Letts, John Gallagher Jr. Lola Kirke, Colton Ryan and More The multi-generational drama series explores the Van Laar family's dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar from her family's summer camp - in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related.
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[06/18/26 - 10:31 AM] "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Announces a Strong Lineup of Summer Guest Hosts Tiffany Haddish will lead things off, hosting the week of July 6, followed throughout the summer by Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo and Jelly Roll.
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[06/18/26 - 10:12 AM] Missing Woman, Endless Questions: David Morrissey Stars in "Gone" - BritBox's Latest Gripping Crime Thriller Packed with twists and emotional stakes, the series premieres July 23 on BritBox.
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[06/18/26 - 10:01 AM] Proximity Media Television Signs New Creative Partnership with Netflix As part of the new deal, the team behind Proximity Media Television will exclusively develop new series for Netflix.
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[06/18/26 - 10:01 AM] NBC's Civilian-Led "New Blood" Season of "The Traitors" to Debut on Thursday, September 17 with a Supersized 2-Hour Premiere Event In lieu of celebrities and socialites, Emmy-winning host Alan Cumming will open the doors to his now-infamous Scottish castle to 22 everyday Americans, hand selected from a nationwide search resulting in over 60,000 hopeful applicants.
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[06/18/26 - 10:00 AM] New Animated Television Series "Warrior Cats," Based on Beloved Children's Book Saga, Lands at Disney+ and Disney Channel Created by Working Partners, a Coolabi Group company, and penned by Erin Hunter, the hugely successful "Warrior Cats" book series is about clans of wild cats.
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[06/18/26 - 09:31 AM] "Simon Says"... A New Twist on the Classic Game Is Coming to Netflix A new reality competition series based on the OG playground game of the same name is premiering on Netflix in 2027.
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[06/18/26 - 09:12 AM] Discovery's "Shark Week" Returns with 20 All-New Premieres Showcasing Nonstop Action, Epic Encounters, and Heart-Pounding Investigations Beginning Sunday, July 26 at 8PM ET/PT Featuring pioneering technology, groundbreaking investigations, and unbelievable stunts, each special dives into the mysterious worlds of these apex predators, bringing audiences closer to their raw power and untamed nature like never before.
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[06/18/26 - 09:01 AM] "Jeopardy! Masters" Returns to ABC with Season 4 The 2026 tournament will air from Friday, August 25 through Tuesday, September 8.
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[06/18/26 - 08:02 AM] Video: "Desire" - Official Trailer - Netflix When a married lawyer starts an affair with her daughter's swim coach, a torrid romance turns into a twisted game where everyone loses control.
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[06/18/26 - 08:01 AM] Video: "The Gilded Age" Season 4 - In Production Teaser - HBO Max Season 4 is coming this fall.
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