Comcast's (NASDAQ: CMCSA) NBCUniversal is doing more than dipping its toes into the digital TV space; it's taking a headlong plunge with more than a dozen new video series slated to appear first via digital venues.
While the shows won't necessarily have linear companions, they will be connected to advertisers across both platforms, according to Variety.
"The combination of digital video alongside television content is extremely powerful and becoming an increasingly important part of the connection advertisers make with consumers," said Linda Yaccarino, president of NBCUniversal's ad sales. "We want to offer our partners the unique ability to harness the power of our creative assets along with our distribution capabilities including the video-on-demand platform like no other company can."
The digital space is becoming increasingly crowded with original content thanks, in no small part, to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) but also with contributions from Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Prime. Most recently AOL and YouTube have announced plans to launch new content via streaming video and online video.
"Much of the uncaptured value in the online world can be unlocked with smart collaborations between creators and clients," said NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment President and Chief Content Officer Jeff Wachtel in an article in The Hollywood Reporter. "This year, we're making a big push to building that bridge."
An example of the upcoming digital fare includes "Saturday Night Line," a series following fans who wait in the "Saturday Night Live" standby line outside NBC's 30 Rock headquarters. It will "air" on NBC.com where it will be joined by "Heroes Reborn: Digital Series," a prequel to the upcoming "Heroes" miniseries.
For more:
- see this Variety story
- see this Hollywood Reporter story
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