Author Archives: Samantha Kay

NBC Universal (Broadcast Division)

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NBC Universal Logo

Click above image for link to NBC Universal Broadcast homepage. [1

About

NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment company specializing in the production of cable and broadcast television, film, as well as  amusement parks around the country. [2]

Quick Facts

Broadcast Divisions [4]:

Key Executives [5]:

History

The company began back in 1926, when the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) established the Unites States’ first radio station. In 1921, NBC expanded to television, with experimental broadcasts. In the mid 1940s, the company expanded its network to four major cities on the Atlantic coast. Finally, in the 1950s the station moved into color broadcasts, and the Today Show broadcast as the first early-morning television show. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the company started making radical changes by pursuing a larger and more diverse range of channels. First, was the formation of two cable TV networks: CNBC and America’s Talking. Then, in 1996 NBC joined with Microsoft to create MSNBC to create an all-news cable television channel. Finally in 1998, NBC went worldwide after partnering with Dow Jones & Co. In 2002, NBC acquired the Spanish-language broadcast channel, Telemundo. Finally, in 2003, due to a financial crisis, Universal Studios’ parent company, Vivendi, sold 80% of its stake to GE (NBC’s parent company). GE merged the two companies, to make the current company we know today: NBC Universal. [3]

January 2012

To kick off the year, NBC Sports Group announced their partnership with Panasonic to broadcast the London 2012 Olympic games in 3D. This year’s Olympic Games will be the first ever broadcast in high definition 3D technology. [6]

Click image to Official site London 2012 Olympics [7

“NBC has a history of utilizing technological innovations to distribute the Olympics in new ways for viewers,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “We are proud to continue that tradition by partnering with Panasonic and Olympic Broadcasting Services to distribute the first 3D broadcast of the Games in the U.S. in partnership with our multichannel video programming distributors.” [6]

On January 23, NBC Sports Network announced a deal with the Breeders’ Cup for a multi-year broadcast agreement. The agreement includes the first ever primetime broadcast coverage of the Breeders’ Cup. NBC will present 9.5 hours of live coverage of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup happening in this upcoming November. The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most popular and prestigious horse racing events. 2011 was the first year that all three Triple Crown races appeared on the NBC network since 2005. [9]

In addition, NBC Universal announced the company’s involvement in Super Bowl XLVI. While multiple NBC channels featured segments about the Superbowl, the NBC Sports Network was the primary broadcaster, airing over eighteen hours of live coverage. [10]

On January 26, NBC News and NBC 5 Chicago announced a multi-million dollar commitment alongside Comcast to fund the new Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, Illinois. The museum is expected to open later in 2012, and will serve as a tool to educate the visitors about the history of the TV and radio industries. Because of NBC’s strong financial commitment to the museum, the principle presentation area will be named the “Comcast NBCUniversal Center.”[11]

February 2012

On February 6, Superbowl XLVI was reported to be the most-watched show in U.S. television history with over one hundred ten million viewers. This game topped the last NBC broadcast Superbowl (2008) by 12%. Because of these high numbers, NBC Universal’s NBC Entertainment program “The Voice” delivered the highest ratings for an entertainment program in six years at 37.6 million viewers overall. [12] Watch Full Episode (2/5/2012) of “The Voice”. [12]

Manuel Martínez [21

On February 14, NBC announced that Manuel Martínez has been named the President and General Manager of NBC 6 Miami, after working at Telemundo 51 Miami, where he’s been a part of the NBC Universal family since 2007. [13]

March 2012

In similar news to Manuel Martínez’s promotion, Eric Lerner was named President and General Manager of NBC 10 Philadelphia / WCAU on March 8. Previously, Lerner served as Vice President and General Manager of KIRO-TV, the CBS affiliate in Seattle, for the past six years.

“I am thrilled to be joining the NBC 10 team in Philadelphia.  It is an exciting opportunity,” said Lerner.  “The commitment from the NBC Owned Station Group is extremely impressive, and I can’t wait to build on the success at WCAU.” [14]

Click to watch CNY Central’s report on “NBC News: Hiring Our Heros” [23

In an another collaborative project with Comcast, NBC Universal pledged to participate in the “Hiring Our Heros” initiative. Together, the two companies will hire 1,000 over the course of the next three years. NBC News began the project about a year ago in an effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in the private sector. [15]

April 2012

In more NBC Sports Network News, the broadcast division announced its involvement in the broadcasting of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, when every playoff game will be televised nationally. The games will be presented on the following NBC Universal channels: NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime. In addition, NBCSports.com will also provide online-exclusive coverage of the playoffs, with contributions from Comcast SportsNet insiders. [16]

“One Small Act” iPhone App [26

During the week of April 15-22, NBC Universal showed its support for a healthy planet with their eco-themed content for all shows in the mass media company. NBC News joined the effort for a cleaner environment by doing constant reports on pressing environmental issues facing our world today. Through both on-air and online media outlets, NBC Universal streamed over one hundred hours of environment-friendly content. The company encouraged viewers to track their environment contributions through their new app, “One Small Act.” [17] [25]

On April 18, NBC Universal began promotions for the London 2012 Olympics, marking 100 days from the July 27 Opening Ceremony. On that Wednesday, all NBC Universal stations participated in a 30-second “roadblock.” During the 30 seconds, the company aired two different spots. One spot played the “30 Greatest Moments” of the Olympics over the years. The second spot was meant to generate the excitement of the games, as viewers watched citizens from nations all over come together to London to compete. [18]

Most recently, NBC made more changes back on the business side of the company. On April 25, veteran television business executive George Cheeks was named as Executive Vice President and Business Operations of NBC Entertainment and Universal Television. Cheeks will be responsible for overseeing Business Affairs, Music Services and Production Operations for Universal Television. [19]

Sources

  1. NBC Universal Logo <http://ajbeal.iweb.bsu.edu/080418_ap_nbc_universal.jpg>
  2. NBC Universal: About Us <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/about-us/>
  3. NBC Universal: History <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/about-us/history/>
  4. NBC Universal: Broadcast <http://www.nbcuni.com/broadcast>
  5. NBC Universal: Senior Corporate Executives 
  6. PANASONIC & NBC SPORTS GROUP PARTNER TO DISTRIBUTE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES IN 3D IN THE U.S. <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/panasonic-nbc-sports-group-partner-to-distribute-london-2012-olympic-games-in-3d-in-the-u-s>
  7. Official Logo for London 2012 Olympics <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/London_Olympics_2012_logo.svg/200px-London_Olympics_2012_logo.svg.png>
  8. Official Site London 2012: http://www.london2012.com/
  9. BREEDERS’ CUP AND NBC SPORTS GROUP SECURE MULTI-YEAR MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/breeders’-cup-and-nbc-sports-group-secure-multi-year-media-rights-agreement>
  10. NBCUNIVERSAL SURROUNDS SUPER BOWL XLVI <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbcuniversal-surrounds-super-bowl-xlvi>
  11. COMCAST, NBC NEWS AND NBC 5 CHICAGO ANNOUNCE $2.7 MILLION COMMITMENT TO MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/comcast-nbc-news-and-nbc-5-chicago-announce-2-7-million-commitment-to-museum-of-broadcast-communications>
  12. SUPER BOWL XLVI IS MOST-WATCHED SHOW IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/super-bowl-xlvi-is-most-watched-show-in-u-s-television-history>
  13. NBC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS NAMES MANUEL MARTÍNEZ PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF NBC 6 MIAMI / WTVJ <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbc-owned-television-stations-names-manuel-martinez-president-and-general-manager-of-nbc-6-miami-wtvj>
  14. NBC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS NAMES ERIC LERNER PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF NBC 10 PHILADELPHIA / WCAU <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbc-owned-television-stations-names-eric-lerner-president-and-general-manager-of-nbc-10-philadelphia-wcau>
  15. COMCAST AND NBCUNIVERSAL TOGETHER PLEDGE TO HIRE 1,000 VETERANS AS PART OF “NBC NEWS: HIRING OUR HEROES” <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/comcast-and-nbcuniversal-together-pledge-to-hire-1000-veterans-as-part-of-“nbc-news-hiring-our-heroes”>
  16. EVERY GAME. EVERY NIGHT. BECAUSE IT’S THE CUP. <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/every-game-every-night-because-its-the-cup>
  17. GREEN IS ACROSS THE NETWORKS, AS ECO-THEMED CONTENT SPROUTS UP ACROSS NBCUNIVERSAL FOR “EARTH WEEK,” APRIL 15-22 <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/green-is-across-the-networks-as-eco-themed-content-sprouts-up-across-nbcuniversal-for-earth-week-april-15-22>
  18. NBCUNIVERSAL CELEBRATES 100-DAY COUNTDOWN TO LONDON GAMES WITH 20-CHANNEL PROMOTIONAL ‘ROADBLOCK’ <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbcuniversal-celebrates-100-day-countdown-to-london-games-with-20-channel-promotional-roadblock>
  19. NBC NAMES GEORGE CHEEKS AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, NBC ENTERTAINMENT AND UNIVERSAL TELEVISION <http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbc-names-george-cheeks-as-executive-vice-president-business-operations-nbc-entertainment-and-universal-television>
  20. “The Voice”: Full Episode 2/5/2012 <http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/blind-auditions-part-1/1383198>
  21. Manuel Martínez image <http://dm2hispanics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Manuel-Mart%C3%ADnez.gif>
  22. “Hiring Our Heros” YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1KvJMKOQRY>
  23. “Hiring Our Heros” Image <http://sdsawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/hiring-heroes.jpg>
  24. NBCSports.com link <http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/>
  25. “One Small Act” web app link <http://www.greenisuniversal.com/play/one-small-act/>
  26. “One Small Act” iPhone Image <http://greenisuniversal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/one-small-act-iphone-158×300.png>