A top NBC cable executive said Friday the network is hammering out plans to launch up to five new digital broadcast channels, just weeks after General Electric-owned NBC agreed to purchase Vivendi Universal's portfolio of motion pictures studios, cable channels and theme parks.
"We're considering a number of digital nets," said David Zazlav, president of NBC Cable, in an interview with Reuters.
Zazlav, speaking at a television conference hosted by Digital Media Wire and New York University, said as many as five new digital channels were being considered.
In October, NBC executives said the company hoped to boost revenue by as much as 10 percent driven by the launch of new channels and emerging technologies such as the ability to order up shows and movies by clicking a remote control.
The owners of the Peacock network sold investors on the idea that Vivendi's sprawling portfolio of media properties that include Universal movie studio, cable channels such as Sci-Fi and USA Network, and Universal theme parks could help it create new cable channel ideas.
NBC Entertainment president Jeffrey Zucker told Reuters that a crime channel built around NBC's hit "Law & Order" franchise and another that played movies from Universal's film library were two possible ideas. |
