NBCU
Latest
G4 returns today on YouTube and Twitch
G4 is back, starting with a weekly series that will air on YouTube and Twitch ahead of its official relaunch this summer.
Comcast may force Roku to drop some NBCUniversal channels
Roku may lose NBCUniversal channels as early as this weekend.
Major broadcasters sue nonprofit TV service over copyright infringement
CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox have joined forces in a fight against Locast, a nonprofit streaming service funded in part by AT&T Inc and Dish Network Corp. The service is marketed as a distribution alternative for people who can't get local TV signals through their antenna, but it's also earned a reputation as a free alternative for consumers who are tired of their cable bills. According to The Wall Street Journal, the four networks claim Locast is retransmitting their local TV signals without permission, therefore violating copyright law.
NBCUniversal is using machine learning to make ads more relevant
Advertisers have been targeting their messages to relevant media for as long as advertising has existed. Kids' TV channels are awash with toy commercials, breaks during wedding shows are full of ads for honeymoon destinations and so on. But now, NBCUniversal has adopted a new machine learning tool that makes the placement of ads on TV more exact, relevant and timely.
Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO
While it seems like every network is rolling out its own personal second screen app for tablets and / or phones, over in the UK Zeebox has been trying to corner the experience across channels and providers with its app. Available as an app for iOS and Android and also on the web, it brings a customized TV guide, live chat, social network sharing and remote control features to the TV experience, and now it's come to the US. Other than the typical second screen experience, its main hook is an "OpenBox" API and tags that allow content providers to customize the experience for their viewers... and then sell them stuff like video on-demand or related merchandise. On this side of the Atlantic Zeebox has secured backing from Comcast / NBC Universal, giving it financial and promotional support as well as covering more than 30 networks right away. It also means it can eventually act as a remote control for Comcast users, which may be an advantage over competition like Miso, GetGlue and IntoNow, and can flex its muscles paired with hundreds of shows like The Voice, Notre Dame football and HBO content like True Blood. Out of the box, the app's social ties and careful metering may be a programmer's dream as it monitors who is watching what live, but we'll have to see more of the second screen content come to life if it's going to catch on socially. A customizable guide (yes, you can hide or reorder channels at will) is a nice touch and so is being able to see what your friends are viewing with Facebook Open Graph and Twitter hooks -- but only if they're actually using it. If you want to check it out, the free apps are linked below and the full press release follows after the break.
Neal Tiles steps down as president of G4, Adam Stotsky takes over
Neal Tiles, formerly president of the G4 television network, stepped down earlier today, and parent company NBCUniversal has announced that Adam Stotsky will take his place. Stotsky is a former president of marketing at NBC, but now will head up the entire G4 network, overseeing everything from programming to publicity and digital operations. Stotsky is the first big appointment by recently appointed NBCU president Bonnie Hammer, who picked up oversight of G4 and E! last year when Comcast merged with NBC Universal. We don't know exactly what Stotsky plans to put on the schedule at G4 going forward, but if he's taking any cues from his predecessor, it's probably lots more Cheaters and Cops. [Thanks, Ethan!]
New Netflix, NBCUniversal deal announced; extra $6 a month buys some old eps of The Event
In case you were wondering what the updated rates are buying, Netflix's first step in making its case for your $7.99 a month in streaming fees appears to be a renewal of its content deal with NBCUniversal. The new deal secures availability of previous seasons of popular shows including 30 Rock, The Office, Psych and other selections we've gotten used to seeing on the service for the next couple of years. There is one notable loss however, as the LA Times points out an arrangement that brought new episodes of Saturday Night Live to the service the day after they aired has come to an end. Rumors had swirled that Netflix could revive The Event after its cancellation by NBC, but while existing episodes will be available there's nothing mentioned about putting it next to the streamer's own House of Cards. Given Comcast (and now NBCU) leader Brian Robert's reference to Netflix as the rerun TV and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' embracing of the term this deal isn't surprising, but our only question is whether it is enough to keep current subscribers around.
Comcast's NBC Universal takeover becomes official tonight
By the stroke of midnight tonight, it will be officially done, Comcast will have taken control of NBC Universal, paying general electric $6.5 billion and tossing its own cable channels into the new NBCUniversal joint venture. It's been a long ride, from the first rumor, to an agreement, to a review period by the government that stretched over all of last year. Just a few months ago it was tough to imagine Versus and Syfy sharing a home and yet, here we are. Here's a quick recap of some of the milestones along the way, although exactly how this will impact the future of video via broadcast, cable and internet remains to be seen. Update: It's done, the official press release follows after the break. 10/1/09 - Comcast denies possible purchase of NBC, claims it can only offer a window 12/1/09 - Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday 12/3/09 - Comcast takes control of NBC, promises not to crush Hulu 03/12/10 - NBC-Comcast deal comes under Justice Department, FCC scrutiny 12/25/10 - FCC proposes rules for NBC-Comcast deal 01/18/11 - FCC approves Comcast's purchase of NBC (Update: Justice Department too, it's done)
Time Warner, Disney and News Corp. bigwigs speak up against FCC stipulations in Comcast-NBC deal
Hello, inevitable. It simply had to happen, and now, it is. As Comcast, NBC and the FCC attempt to work out stipulations over Comcast's proposed 51 percent buyout of NBC Universal, a smattering of major media companies are paying close attention to the play-by-play. Naturally, the precedents that are set from this deal will affect future agreements of this caliber, and lobbyists for both Disney and News Corp. (as well as Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes) aren't standing over on the sidelines any longer. All three outfits have reportedly been "voicing their concerns this week with the FCC, worried that such conditions could undermine their own efforts to profit from the nascent online video industry." We're told that the media mega-corps are worried that the rules -- if hammered down -- could interfere with ongoing negotiations with online video providers, and in turn, give them less leverage to monetize and control their content on the world wide web. In other words, if NBC Universal is forced to provide content fluidly to all ISPs (and not just Comcast), what's to say other content makers and internet providers wouldn't also be forced into similar deals, regardless of whether or not they're involved in takeover negotiations? Needless to say, we're nowhere near the end of this journey, and while the nuts and bolts are pretty dry to think about, the outcomes could have a serious impact on our future viewing habits.
FCC proposes rules for NBC-Comcast deal
As you can imagine, the thought of a marriage between a broadband / cable TV service provider and a content provider for television and movies has more than a few folks concerned, which is why it's taken a while for the FCC and its erstwhile chairman Julius "Caesar" Genachowski to draft the conditions under which it would let Comcast snatch up 51 percent of NBC Universal. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FCC wants to require that Comcast make any content owned by itself and NBCU available to competitors (including streaming video providers) "at reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms." Additionally, Comcast will be barred from prioritizing its own video streams above others or interfering with rival Internet traffic. Of course, without the actual announcement, it's hard to know what impact this will have on everyone involved (especially Hulu), although with any luck the actual proposal will see the light of day soon enough. Even then, it will need to be approved, which could happen early next year.
Regulators push for tough conditions in Comcast / NBC deal, aim to protect internet video
Is it the deal that'll never go through? Some might hope. For the better part of this year, Comcast has been jonesing to pick up a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal (for a cool $13.75 billion), but as you'd expect regulators have been poking and prodding the arrangement from just about every angle. The potential antitrust issues go on for miles, and now officials are paying particularly close attention to how the deal could shape the future of internet video. As you may or may not know, NBC holds a 32 percent stake in Hulu, and in theory, a Comcast buyout would enable it to limit access to other ISPs or force Comcast internet subscribers to also pay for a programming package in order to have access. A new AP report on the topic mentions that the US government is considering forcing Comcast to sell NBC's Hulu stake as a stipulation for the deal to go through, and moreover, they may insist that Comcast provide online access to NBC Universal's content library without a cable sub. Currently, Time Warner Cable requires users to sign up cable in order to access ESPN3 -- a nasty, strong-arm tactic at its finest -- and if the Fed gets its way, it could also set a new precedent for other operators. Needless to say, there's quite a bit to be sorted before NBC bigwigs take on corner offices at Comcast, and there's an awful lot at stake along the way.
Hulavision sues NBC Universal, Hulu stuck in the middle with gloom
Ask Hulavision founder Errol Hula, and he'll tell you Hulu is a stolen idea, from concept to even the similarities in name. He's so confident, in fact, that he and his company have filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal, claiming a series of meetings (all under the umbrella of a nondisclosure agreement) with the media conglomerate and business development exec Raymond Vergel de Dios laid the foundation for its eventual web portal. The suit runs the gamut of brokenhearted business fellows: misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract (both implied and the NDA), breach of a confidential relationship, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and stolen ice cream on the playground. The suit seeks unspecified damages. Given the nature of these things, we doubt the two will ever get the point of actual courtroom entanglement, but if it does... can we get it streamed?
Cablevision gets official with four NBC Universal HD channels
We absolutely knew they were on the way, but if you needed a little affirmation from the carrier itself, Cablevision has announced today that it's adding four more high-definition channels to its iO TV lineup. Effective immediately, customers can expect to see Bravo HD (745), CNBC HD (771), SciFi HD (748) and USA HD (738) in the EPG, bringing the grand total to a very respectable 68 high-def networks. There's no word on when the next batch will arrive, but why not enjoy these for a minute before hankering for more?
NBC Universal getting in the HD distribution biz
Details on this one are still scarce, but it looks like NBC Universal is jumping head first into the high-definition distribution business. Just months after launching the 24/7 horror channel Chiller, the firm is now releasing its first two HD titles for pay-per-view and video-on-demand. While it wasn't specifically stated which mediums would offer up the HD PPV / HD VOD niceties, folks who are graced with NBC Universal's offerings will initially find Hollywoodland and The Return for their viewing pleasure. Although the spooky The Return won't hit the tube until March 29th, Hollywoodland is reportedly available right now, so for those of you who've plunked down the coinage required to check it out, be sure to let us know how it went over.
