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NBC unveils TV 360 strategy US UPFRONTS: NBC today introduced advertisers and affiliates to its TV 360 strategy, which brings original and exclusive content ranging from interactive television to webisodes, all built around the network's new programming, to broadband channel platforms. As part of the company's Upfront presentation at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal Television Group, said: "We all know the power of television to connect with viewers and have an impact like no other medium. Now we're seeing the power of the web to capture those viewers, extend the television experience and build communities and a level of engagement like nothing else out there."  NBC Universal is launching a new broadband comedy channel, DotComedy.com, anchored by some of NBC's best-known franchises and library programmes. The online channel will feature NBC late-night programming including content from Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the first 10 years of Late Night With David Letterman (now on the CBS network), The Office, Coach, Leave It To Beaver and The Munsters.In addition, DotComedy.com is to feature original content produced exclusively for the site, including blogs, mash-ups and podcasts. NBC will also launch a Firstlook.com franchise for each of its general entertainment channels (NBCFirstlook.com, USAFirstlook.com, SciFiFirstlook.com, BravoFirstlook.com), which will be used to premiere up to four episodes of the respective networks' series, in their entirety, each year before they appear on the linear networks. NBC also announced the completion of its acquisition of iVillage and its plans to debut numerous new initiatives available exclusively on the site. NBC News's Today and iVillage will partner to offer women, and occasionally men, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be made over on Today, the network's morning news magazine show. Once a month, one lucky viewer/visitor will get expert advice on fashion, fitness, make-up and hair to help them achieve their full potential. The promotion ties in to iVillage Makeover Central, an online destination for beauty and fashion makeovers. The new Make Over initiative begins tomorrow (May 16) on Today, when the first makeover contest kicks off, pegged to June's Fathers Day. Another new programme scheduled to launch in December is iVillage Live. Filmed on location at Universal Studios Orlando, the programme will deliver information and advice on everything from parenting and pregnancy to health, beauty and style. The daily one-hour show will air on the NBC Universal-owned and -operated stations and will be streamed live on iVillage.com. NBC's Access Hollywood and iVillage are partnering to bring both viewers and users Access Hollywood Celebrity Horoscopes, revealing what the stars predict for Hollywood's stars. Weekly segments will air on the syndicated Access Hollywood and other segments will be streamed on the newly re-designed AccessHollywood.com, as well as the iVillage-owned Astrology.com. More highlights of TV 360 include:
NBC's late-night programming will also be expanded digitally. Beginning with The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and its redesigned home page, next season viewers will be able to visit the Cutting Room Floor to watch the pre-produced comedy bits that won't be seen on-air. Late Night with Conan O'Brien will also feature a completely redesigned home page on NBC.com, with many new site features and extensive video features, including 200 video clips from the show as well as an original and exclusive animated series created for NBC.com, called Pale Force. Similarly, there is a redesigned site for Saturday Night Live, which will feature a historical timeline, a searchable SNL database, a community message board, highlights of every Weekend Update in the show's 31-year history, a historical look at key cast members playing US presidents and more. On the heels of the Passions Red webisodes, NBC Daytime has launched original, exclusive online webisodes of the next instalment, Passions Vendetta, this season. Based on the success of the two, next year NBC will introduce an entirely online soap that promises to be even sexier, called The Cove, a Passions-themed series. Kris Sofley 15 May 2006 © C21 Media 2006 
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