NBC Universal Cable and Time Warner Cable

[Gregg Lengling]

NBC Universal Cable (NBCU) and Time Warner Cable, today announced a renewal for USA Network, and a carriage agreement for Universal HD, mun2, Telemundo Puerto Rico and VOD (video on demand). Additionally, the agreement allows Time Warner Cable to include NBC and NBCU programming as part of its Start Over service. When launched later this year, Start Over will provide Time Warner Cable customers the ability to restart enabled television shows that are already in progress. Select programming from NBC's broadcast network, USA, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, SCI FI and others will be Start Over enabled.


The deal also includes the rights to on demand content from NBC News (including Nightly News and Meet the Press) and for the first time, cable (including MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Abrams Report; and CNBC's Mad Money and Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo). As part of the agreement, NBCU will develop interactive opportunities for Time Warner Cable as well as participate in several new technology trials. Time Warner Cable and NBCU already have deals in place for NBCU's other cable properties, including SCI FI, CNBC, MSNBC and Bravo.

"This multi-faceted agreement with Time Warner Cable demonstrates our commitment to providing our affiliates with the services they need to drive their businesses," said David Zaslav, president, NBC Universal Cable. "Customers will continue to have access to one of the top-rated cable networks on television, USA, while also having the opportunity to utilize new technologies like Start Over. Additionally, we expect Start Over will help deliver more engaged viewers to our advertisers. From HD to VOD and interactive TV our customers will get to watch the valuable programming we have to offer from news to entertainment in new and exciting ways."

"Once again NBC and NBCU have proven to be forward-thinking business partners - partners that share our desire to deliver consumers highly rated content using today's advanced services," said Time Warner Cable Executive Vice President Fred Dressler. "This agreement provides us with extremely desirable programming for Start Over, our VOD offerings and interactive television making Time Warner Cable customers and NBCU viewers the big winners."

NBC Universal's cable properties have had an impressive year. The WWE was welcomed home to USA Network in a big way on October 3 when Monday Night Raw delivered a knockout punch, making it the #1 program of the night on basic cable as well as the most-watched RAW program with the largest delivery in key demos for USA in more than three years. Universal HD's line-up this year included the US Open, Notre Dame football, the series Medical Investigation and movies such as Apollo 13 and Mulholland Drive. CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer @ 6PM (3/14/05-10/12/05) has improved the hour by 59% versus the same period last year and 67% versus the 6P hours delivery in 1stQ'05. mun2, the bilingual network that celebrates the lifestyle of Latino young adults, recently re-launched with a 100% new programming grid featuring all-new properties backed by a revamped look and feel.

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 fourteen properties (Bravo, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Weather Plus, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Telemundo Puerto Rico, Trio, Universal HD, 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 Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable owns and manages cable systems serving subscribers in 27 states, which include some of the most technologically advanced, best-clustered cable systems in the country with more than 75% of the Company's customers in systems of 300,000 subscribers or more. Utilizing a fully upgraded advanced cable network and a steadfast commitment to providing consumers with choice, value and quality customer care, Time Warner Cable is an industry leader in delivering advanced products and services such as video on demand, high definition television, digital video recorders, high-speed data, wireless home networking and Digital Phone. Time Warner Cable is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX).

[Mark Strube]

Very nice!! Any word on when TWC might add UniversalHD to the lineup?

[gparris]

Very nice!! Any word on when TWC might add UniversalHD to the lineup?

I guess we will have to watch Tim C.'s column for that answer like last time!