NBC Universal’s Digital2Go initiative includes the launch of two dedicated, linear video channels on the MediaFLO mobile service — NBC2Go and NBC News2Go. Over on MobiTV, NBCU is now offering full-length primetime and cable shows on demand, as well as a variety of short-form video channels. And on the mobile web front, NBCU is debuting four new WAP sites for NBC, USA, Bravo and NBC Sports. Programming and technology details follow in the press release below…
PRESS RELEASE — New York — March 27, 2007 — NBC Universal today announced the launch of its NBCU Digital2Go initiative, with a robust suite of mobile offerings that allow users access to NBCU content 24/7. The new offerings include:
Linear video channels, NBC News2Go and NBC2Go, available through the MediaFLO service
Full-length NBC Primetime and Cable entertainment shows on demand, available through MobiTV
7 short form video channels, available through MobiTV
4 new mobile web (WAP) sites for NBC, USA, Bravo and NBC Sports
“With the launch of our suite of NBCU Digital2Go offerings, NBC Universal continues to be a premier content provider to mobile platforms, with a broad selection of rich, interactive mobile offerings,” said Salil Dalvi, General Manager, Wireless Platforms, NBC Universal. “With the launch of our mobile web sites, NBC Universal will have a new platform to develop its direct relationship with mobile consumers.”
NBC Universal and MediaFLO USA bring top NBC Universal content to subscribers of its TV-quality, mobile entertainment service on two dedicated channels, NBC2Go and NBC News2Go. NBC News2Go features live, full-length programs, including Today, Nightly News with Brian Williams and Meet the Press, as well as select programming from both MSNBC and CNBC, including Power Lunch and Hardball with Chris Matthews. Entertainment channel NBC2Go offers a select number of acclaimed NBC Universal Primetime, Daytime and Cable shows, such as Heroes, The Black Donnellys, Friday Night Lights and Bravo’s Real Housewives of Orange County as well as access to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Earlier this month, NBC Universal and MobiTV announced a breakthrough deal to make full-length Primetime on demand programming available over US wireless networks for the first time. In addition to a robust Primetime and Cable video-on-demand line-up, including Heroes, Friday Night Lights, The Office, Monk (USA), Battlestar Galactica (SCI FI) and Work Out (Bravo), the two companies now offer select short form programming from Bravo, SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Telemundo and mun2 on five new ad-supported channels to subscribers.
Crisp Wireless, a mobile technology solutions and services company, currently powers 23 mobile websites for NBC Universal, including dedicated sites for many Primetime and Cable programs, such as Heroes, The Office, and Bravo’s Project Runway, Top Chef and Work Out. The mobile websites include exclusive mobile offerings, such as ringtones, user generated content, polls, character or contestant blogs and storyline integrations.
Starcut USA Inc, a mobile software company, is working with NBC Universal to design, develop and launch powerful WAP services for USA Network, with show specific sites for Monk, Psych, Nashville Star and The Starter Wife. Starcut is also working with NBC Universal to release high-end WAP services for SCI FI (starting with PainKiller Jane), as well as iVillage and Access Hollywood. The services include schedules, episode guides, polls, trivia, community blogs, alerts and much more.
NBC Universal and phone-based participation media solutions provider CommerceTel have teamed up to use the phone as a real world touch point to the storyline of Heroes. Through a toll free number for Primatech Paper, as revealed on air during the January 22 episode, fans are able to interact with characters and key plot elements in new and exciting ways. Several innovations have been employed since the inception of the campaign that have ranged from user generated content, where fans can leave characters a voicemail, to opting in for frequent plot reveals via text messaging.