NBC Universal last week announced that it would provide multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD's) with various interactive TV and VOD offerings, in order to enhance and drive interest in its coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games (February 12th-28th). "As the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games approach, NBC Universal is committed to delivering an effective multiplatform strategy to drive awareness and engage viewers on a local and national level," Brian Hunt, NBCU's SVP of marketing and sales strategy for TV networks distribution, said in a prepared statement. "The Olympics bring the opportunity for viewers to experience all of the adrenaline and excitement of the largest winter sports competition, with access in their homes or on the go."
According to NBCU, which says that it will provide HD coverage of every Winter Olympics venue this year, the interactive TV and VOD enhancements it is offering MVPD's include:
- An interactive TV service that will provide medal counts, athlete bios and reports on the US team.
- Free VOD programming in the run-up to the games: the company says that, starting in December, it will provide over 20 5- to 7-minute on-demand clips, that will be available in HD.
- Free VOD programming during the games themselves: the company says that it will offer over 100 highlight clips on-demand (approximately 10 per day), as well as five full-length on-demand event replays.
In related news: NBC Universal and Microsoft last week announced the various vendors that will be powering NBC's broadband video coverage of the Winter Olympics.
