NBC, Olympics HD and Bravo HD+ coming to DirecTv

[kjnorman]

I am not 100% sure that this means the E/W feeds of NBC (of which Milwaukee is not an O&O market anyway - though Chicago is for S.Wis viewers?) but from what I understand is that there will be a 24hr Olympic HD feed channel as well as the inclusion of Branvo HD+.

From biz.yahoo.com

NBC Universal Cable and DIRECTV Reach Long-Term Multi-Platform Agreement
Wednesday July 28, 12:35 pm ET  
Agreement Includes Rights to Distribute 2004 NBC HD Olympic Coverage and Bravo HD+


ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. & EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2004--NBC Universal Cable (NBCU) and DIRECTV, Inc., today announced a long-term multi-platform carriage agreement for the NBC Universal Cable properties, including USA and SCI FI, digital retransmission consent for the NBC O&O stations, rights to distribute NBC's HD Olympic programming for the upcoming Athens games, Bravo HD+, as well as rights to carry first-run Universal movie titles and NBC Universal specials and events on a pay-per-view basis. In addition, contracts for Bravo, Telemundo and mun2 were renewed and extended. DIRECTV and NBCU already have long-term deals in place for carriage of CNBC, MSNBC, CNBC World and the Olympics. This marks the first all encompassing affiliate agreement for NBC Universal Cable with one of the top distributors since the closure of the Vivendi merger.
"DIRECTV has always been a valued partner," said David Zaslav, president, NBC Universal Cable. "Through this agreement we were able to secure distribution for our two newest networks, USA and SCI FI, digital retransmission for the NBC O&O stations, deliver on DIRECTV's request for more high-quality HD programming by providing them with NBC's special 2004 HD Olympic coverage and Bravo HD+ and provide them with Universal's first-run movies and specials to run on pay-per-view. We are committed to providing our distribution partners with the programming that they need to drive their businesses."

"Our agreement with NBC Universal Cable is a gold medal win for our customers who have been asking for more HD content, as well as those who will continue to enjoy the breadth of quality programming NBCU offers," said Stephanie Campbell, executive vice president, Programming, DIRECTV, Inc. "This comprehensive agreement is a measure of the strength of our relationship with NBCU and will have long-term value for DIRECTV and our customers. Coupled with our recent announcement that we will air up to 100 HD broadcasts of 2004 NFL SUNDAY TICKET regular season games, DIRECTV will be the premier HD destination for sports fans this summer and fall."

About NBC Universal Cable

NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's preeminent media companies, drives the company's cable strategic development and growth including video-on-demand, pay-per-view, HDTV and retransmission consent, and oversees the cable distribution, marketing and local ad sales of twelve properties (Bravo, Bravo HD+, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Trio, USA and the Olympics on cable). NBC Universal Cable also directs and manages the company's cable and new media investments including A&E, The History Channel, History Channel International, The Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel and Tivo.

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 12.6 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (NYSE:DTV - News). The DIRECTV Group is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. The DIRECTV Group is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd.



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Contact:
     DIRECTV, Inc.
     Bob Marsocci, 310-726-4656
     or
     NBC Universal Cable
     Alyssa Donelan, 201-735-3568



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Source: DIRECTV, Inc.