NBC Universal to Boost Its Interactive Media Presence Through Acquisition of The Weather Channel
General Electric’s NBC Universal unit should be congratulated for leading a group to bid $3.5 Billion for The Weather Channel. By recognizing the strategic value of adding The Weather Channel to its arsenal of media properties, NBC Universal should be able to close the gap with competitors who have been stronger in a variety of interactive media channels. The Weather Channel has long been ahead of the curve in recognizing the value of creating an integrated, interactive presence throughout the Internet, desktop, and mobile connected world. For example, The Weather Channel’s desktop application which W3i distributes has been one of the most successful desktop widgets ever created, and drives many users back to Weather.com. Other smart media companies like The Weather Channel understand the value of creating an integrated, interactive media presence. One of my favorite recent quotes is one from Jeff Yapp, a top MTV Networks’ digital executive who said “If you watch our shows, you’ll want to live them.” (in Newsweek’s April 14th 2008 article by Johnnie Roberts titled “I want My (Web) MTV”,). Hopefully NBC Universal will fully take advantage of the knowledge acquired via The Weather Channel acquisition, and put this knowledge to use to grow other NBC Universal interactive media properties. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080706/ap_on_bi_ge/nbc_weather_channel)
Rob Weber, Vice President of Business Development and Co-Founder, W3i Holdings, LLC – Rob is an Internet marketing pioneer with over eight, profitable years evolving W3i (owner of Freeze.com) in the Integrated Interactive Media industry.
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