NBC sells 6m videos through iTunes

NBC today said it has sold over 6 million videos through iTunes since December, generating about $12 million in revenue. Looking for additional opportunities, the company today said it would use the popular YouTube video-sharing site to promote its fall television lineup, underscoring the Internet's growing role in generating buzz around traditional media shows. Unlike the agreement with iTunes, however, the deal is not for full length episodes, but rather for promotional clips. "The distinction between television and video is becoming murkier and murkier," said John Miller, chief marketing officer for the NBC Universal Television Group told the AP. "Rather than putting our heads in the sand and saying this doesn't exist, we're trying to jump in and embrace it." Miller said that the deal helps expose upcoming NBC shows to viewers who may tune out television over the summer but continue to surf the Internet.

Under the deal, YouTube will create a separate channel for NBC video, so that visitors can easily pull up the half-dozen or more items that NBC plans to offer at any given time, according to the AP report.

The co-promotion will also feature a NBC-sponsored contents in which fans of "The Office" can create their own 20-second promotional clip. Fans will be able to use provided music and materials, but cannot use copyright footage from the show. NBC said that will provide music, graphics and a "how-to" video.

Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video