Television network NBC and Intel Corp will collaborate to create enhanced digital television (DTV) programming, scheduled for broadcast later this year. The companies made their announcement at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, but they did not disclose financial terms of the deal. In something of a departure for PC-centric Intel, the content will be aimed at multiple platforms, since NBC wants viewers to be able to watch enhanced DTV regardless of whether they use a PC, digital television set of set-top box.
The network plans to deliver an electronic program guide, chat rooms, quizzes, movie trailers and sneak previews for special event programming during an average of three hours of DTV per week. Intel’s contribution will be to license software, tools and applications to NBC. Actual creation of the enhanced content is the responsibility of NBC’s interactive television production group.
NBC says it also wants to exploit its internet properties, which include equity stakes in Snap.com, CNet, Launch Media, Talk City and iVillage. The content will be designed to comply with the technical specifications now being approved by the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF), of which Intel and NBC are founding members.
