NBC Universal and Microsoft Team Up On Unprecedented Web Offering for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

NBC's Olympic on-line coverage will be delivered by the MSN Network- "NBCOlympics.com on MSN"-- and use Microsoft's Silverlight Technology to Stream Thousands of Hours of Exclusive Interactive Video from Beijing Games

NBC Universal, owner of the exclusive U.S. media rights to this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China (August 8-24, 2008), announced today that it was teaming up with MSN
and Microsoft in an unprecedented strategic alliance to create "NBCOlympics.com on MSN", a next-generation online experience for Olympic fans across the United States. With thousands of hours of competition video in both live and on- demand formats, deep analysis and results delivered from NBC's award-winning broadcast and digital media teams, and Microsoft's Silverlight technology to deliver deeply immersive user experiences, NBCOlympics.com's coverage will be powered by MSN and Microsoft technology
to complement NBC's broadcast programming and put millions of fans in control of the Olympic sports, athletes and countries they want to watch.

Online copyright regulations announced

Several of the world's foremost media companies have collaborated to develop a set of regulations for the use of copyrighted material online.

Wide-ranging filtering technology will be in use across the board by the end of the year, the alliance concluded. Among the companies making up the alliance are NBC, Viacom, Disney, Microsoft, Fox and MySpace. However, the internet search giant Google declined to participate.

Jeff Zucker, president and chief executive of NBC Universal, commented: "[This] announcement marks a significant step in transforming the internet from a Wild West to a popular medium that respects the rule of law. "By recognizingthe mutual benefits of a technology-based framework to control piracy, technology and content companies have laid the foundation for the lawful growth of video on the internet." The guidelines are an attempt by the media sector to stop copyrighted content being shown on video clip sites like the popular YouTube site.

NBC To Show Olympics On Internet

The media giant NBC has announced that it is intending on streaming live coverage of the 2008 Olympics on its website nbcolympics.com.

This will mark the first time in history that the Olympic Games have been shown on the Internet. Since 1992, NBC has shown six out of the past nine Olympics. Mike McCarley, a spokesman for NBC Sports, said: "It's the evolution of the technology and consumer behavior. "There are people with the appetite to consume this."

Overall, the amount of coverage that NBC intends on showing in 2008 will be more than has ever been shown before. More than 3,600 hours of coverage will be shown, in contrast to the 1,210 hours that NBC provided for the Olympics in 2004. The 2008 Olympics will run from August 8th to the 24th. Beijing beat out the cities of Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka to win the right to hold the Olympics.

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NBC And MobiTV Ally To Provide Wireless Primetime

For the first time viewers will be able to watch primetime shows over a wireless network, thanks to a recently announced deal between NBC Universal and MobiTV. In addition the two companies will also choose short form programming from Bravo, SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Telemundo and mun2. The programs will be available over five new channels, all of which are to be available to subscribers. Jean-Briac Perrette, president, NBC Universal Digital Distribution, said: "This is an extraordinary partnership with MobiTV and we're excited to be the first major network to offer our viewers wireless access to their favorite primetime shows on demand. "In addition, this groundbreaking deal with MobiTV will create another platform for NBC's partner advertisers to reach their audience." And Jeff Bartee, vice president content and programming for MobiTV, called the deal a "significant milestone in the history of television". The current seasons of popular shows like The Office, Heroes, Monk and Battlestar Galactica will be available on the new service. "The expansion of broadband networks makes these types of partnership possible," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National. "We have millions of people coming to our website and comparative shopping the more than 50 providers we represent." For more information on broadband and other related products and services, or to comparative shop for the best possible broadband deal visit www.broadbandnational.com