NBC Launches Free Broadband Site for Ad-Supported TV Streaming

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 13, 2006 - 1:49pm.

New York - NBC Universal has launched a new company that will distribute and syndicate free, ad-supported video programming on the Internet. NBBC -- the National Broadband Company -- will feature both NBC network and local programming, in addition to content from third parties, who will share ad revenue with NBBC. The New York Times cited an executive familiar with the deals, who said NBBC will give content producers about 30% of revenue from ads it sells, 20% to the site hosting the content, and keep 50% for itself. Content producers who have signed on to test the system include CNET, Forbes, About.com, CSTV, IGN and Discovery. Initially, programming offered on NBBC will be seven minutes or shorter in length. "When 'Saturday Night Live' had a great clip of Lazy Sunday, YouTube made a lot of money off it," NBC Universal television group president Randy Falco said at a news conference yesterday, The Times reported. "In the future, when we have a Lazy Sunday clip, NBBC will make a lot of money on it." Separately, NBC on Wednesday announced plans to stream full episodes of its new fall primetime shows, supported by ads, on NBC.com. The site will also feature live premiere blogs from the creators of all of NBC's new, returning, scripted and reality shows.
http://www.nbbc.com/generalfaqs.html#
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/technology/13nbc.html