NBC Universal
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NBC Universal is a media and entertainment company formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electric's NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, part of the French Media Group, Vivendi SA. GE owns 80% of NBC Universal with the remaining 20% owned by Vivendi SA and Barry Diller. The company develops, produces, and markets entertainment, news, and information to a global customer base.
NBC Universal owns and operates a United States television network and group of stations, a Spanish-language network, a portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a motion picture company, a number of television production companies, and several theme parks.
Jeff Zucker was named president and CEO of NBC Universal on February 6, 2007, replacing Bob Wright, who remains chairman of NBC Universal and vice chairman of General Electric. Zucker previously served as chief executive of the company's television operations. [1]
The logo of NBC Universal combines the NBC peacock logo and the Universal Studios globe and text together.
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[edit] Television
NBC Universal has its modern roots in a series of expansions undertaken by NBC. In the late 1980s, NBC began pursuing a strategy of diversification, including the formation of two NBC-owned cable-television networks, CNBC and America's Talking. NBC also has partial ownership of several regional sports channels and other cable channels, such as Court TV and American Movie Classics.
In 1994, NBC began operating NBC Desktop Video, a financial news service that delivers live video to personal computers. In 1996 the company announced an agreement with the Microsoft Corporation to create MSNBC, an all-news cable television channel, using its subscriber base from its America's Talking network. The joint venture also included establishing a companion news service, MSNBC Online, on the World Wide Web. Also in 1996, NBC began broadcasting NBC Europe, CNBC Europe, NBC Asia, CNBC Asia, NBC Africa and CNBC Africa in 1998 in partnership with Dow Jones & Co. they combined their financial news channels outside the US.
In 1999, NBC took a 32% stake in the Paxson group, operator of PAX TV. In 2004 NBC announced it was looking to sell its interest in PAX and end its 5 year relationship with Pax owner Paxson Communications.
In 2002, NBC acquired the US Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo, which included the bilingual Mun2 Television (pronounced "moon dose").
Also in 2002, NBC acquired the cable channel Bravo.
In 2003, as part of the dismantling of the Vivendi Universal conglomerate, GE formed NBC Universal: 80% owned by GE, 20% by Vivendi Universal. In 2006, Vivendi Universal will have the right to monetize the remaining 20% at fair market value, which would result in a forced purchase by GE. The joint venture encompasses Vivendi's US film interests, such as Universal Studios production and distribution units, five theme parks, and cable television channels such as the USA Network, SCI FI, the defunct Trio, a cable channel devoted to pop culture, and its replacement, the mystery/crime channel Sleuth.
In 2004, the television production divisions of NBC Studios and Universal Network Television were combined to form NBC Universal Television Studio. NBC Studio series brought into the company include the NBC dramas Las Vegas (with DreamWorks SKG), Crossing Jordan, and American Dreams. Universal Network Television brought the Law & Order franchise and The District -- in fact, Universal Network Television had co-produced American Dreams with NBC before the merger. Late night shows produced by the new group include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, and Last Call with Carson Daly.
The formation of NBC Universal saw the establishment of NBC Universal Cable, which oversees the distribution, marketing, and advertisement sales for thirteen channels [Bravo, Bravo HD+ (eventually renamed Universal HD), Chiller, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Sleuth, USA Network, Weather Plus, and the Olympic Games on cable]. NBC Universal Cable also manages the company's investments in A&E, the History Channel, History Channel International, the Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel, and TiVo.
In the early 1990s, NBC began its expansion throughout Europe by creating CNBC Europe and its long-time successful NBC Europe Superstation by broadcasting NBC Giga throughout Germany and the rest of the European Union. NBC Europe helped to develop the largest European computer and video games expo "Games Convention" in Leipzig with more than 100,000 visitors each year.
In 2005, NBC Universal joined HANA, the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance to help establish standards in consumer electronics interoperability.
On December 6th they announced a partnership with Apple Computer to offer shows from all the NBC Universal channels on the iTunes music store.
In January 2006, NBC Universal launched a new cable channel, Sleuth. Sleuth airs programming in the mystery/crime genre. The channel's slogan is "Mystery. Crime. All The Time."
On January 12th, 2007, NBC Universal revealed that on March 1st, 2007, the company will launch a horror-themed cable channel, Chiller. At launch Chiller will be available exclusively on DIRECTV. Chiller's tagline is "Dare To Watch". The network will feature films like Psycho and The Shining and TV series that include Twin Peaks, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Freddy's Nightmares, Friday The 13th: The Series, Tales From The Crypt, and others to be announced. NBC Universal also stated that, aside from content in their own vaults, Chiller will feature content from other studios as well (Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Brothers, Viacom, and 20th Century Fox, to name a few). [2]
On February 14th, 2007, the initial Chiller launch schedule was released. Other than the aforementioned series, other series set to air on the cable channel include American Gothic, G_vs_E, Night Gallery, Monsters and New Alfred Hitchcock Presents. To get an idea of what else one can expect to see on Chiller, click the link at the end of this sentence to view a promo reel of Chiller. [3] The schedule for the first month of Chiller, March 2007, can be accessed by clicking the link at the end of this sentence. [4]
chillertv.com is the official website of Chiller. Also, interestingly, chillernetwork.com currently redirects to nbc.com.
On March 1st, 2007, Chiller went live at 6AM EST on DIRECTV channel 257. A brief introduction video to the channel, with creepy CGI horror imagery, aired first. To see Chiller's on-air look and feel (teasers, bumpers, promos), click the link at the end of this sentence. [5] New Alfred Hitchcock Presents was the first show on Chiller.
Chiller is currently broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV in standard definition. A high definition feed is expected later in 2007.
Also of note, NBC and Universal had a long standing partnership, dating back to 1950, when NBC Universal Television Studio's earliest ancestor, Revue Studios, produced a number of shows for NBC, although they would have some hits on the other networks as well. This partnership continued even after Revue became Universal Television, then Studios USA (after it was split off from Universal again), then back to Universal Television.
[edit] Film
Universal Studios became a part of NBC Universal as a result of the 2004 merger.
In July 2005, rumors began to emerge that NBC Universal might buy DreamWorks SKG for as much as $2.5 billion. Eventually, however, the studio (excluding DreamWorks Animation) was sold to Viacom, the parent company of Paramount Pictures, for just $1.6 billion.
In April 2006, Universal Pictures UK decided to advance the download-to-own sales channel so they set up an agreement with LOVEFILM, Europe’s largest company in the online DVD rental and Video On Demand (VOD) business, to launch the UK’s first feature-film (DTO - Download To Own) internet sales channel this week. Starting with King Kong and other recent movies to follow.
[edit] Parks and Resorts
NBC Universal owns Universal Studios in Hollywood and has a major stake in
- Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, which features Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure
- Universal Studios Japan in Osaka
- Port Aventura (formally Universal Mediterranea) near Barcelona, Spain *Sold in 2004/2005
[edit] External links
- NBC Universal's website
- NBC Universal's theme park in Hollywood
- NBC Universal's online store
- iVillage.com
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Founders: Thomas Edison • Edwin J. Houston • Elihu Thomson |
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Corporate directors: James Cash, Jr. • William Castell • Ann Fudge • Claudio Gonzalez • Susan Hockfield • Jeffrey Immelt • Andrea Jung |
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Primary business units: GE Commercial Finance • GE Consumer Finance • GE Healthcare • GE Industrial • GE Infrastructure • NBC Universal |
