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February 11, 2012
 
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NBC has big plans for online video

by Brad Linder, posted Feb 3rd 2007 3:08PM


My Name is Earl
NBC is reporting that 6.9 million viewers have streamed 42 million full-length television episodes from NBC.com since the network began streaming episodes in October.

Other interesting statistics:
  • 81 percent of viewers say they can remember the pre-roll ads after seeing them two or more times
  • 72 percent say the ads are less disruptive than traditional television ads
  • 78 percent say they watched an episode because they missed it on television
  • 34 percent watched a show they'd never seen before, while 26 percent rewatched a program they'd already seen.
In other words, viewers are using NBC.com as a sort of NBC-specific PVR. Can't catch a television episode live? Just visit the web site within a week of the original air date. You don't even have to program your VCR/PVR. Even more interesting, viewers are more willing to put up with ads. I'd guess this is because there are fewer ads in the video you watch online. And you're not as likely to step out of the room during a pre-roll 30 second ad as you would be if you're watching a television show with a three minute break.

Anyway, an NBC exec commented that today's online video offerings are just "the tip of the iceberg on this new platform." Networks are just beginning to understand how to use the internet to build audiences for their shows and generate revenue from advertising.

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Matthew R

The only thing i hate about this feature, is that its only available to American viewers! That's pretty crappy... We watch the Same episodes at the Same time on the Same days... so why wouldn't we be able to view these episodes? i know in other territories its because of the scheduling of the episodes... but Canada has the same scheduling (atleast for NBC) so... what the hell...

February 04 2007 at 6:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anonymous

NBC needs to have a better video player if they want more "business". When I try to watch 30 Rock, the audio is fine, but the picture jumps around so sometimes the visual jokes are lost. ABC.com's is much smoother.

February 04 2007 at 10:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Charles

The only thing I don't like about NBC's video player is that the sizes they offer are "Freaking Large" and "Ginormous". When my connection is spotty, it'd be nice to have a smaller size, like ABC offers, for better framerate.

February 03 2007 at 5:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
erroneous_nick

Any step in the right direction is a good step. I wonder if we'll ever see the day when we can watch any episode of any series at any time on demand, or dare I say it, downloadable.

I know it's a dream, but if I'm going to dream I like to dream big, even if it'll never happen.

February 03 2007 at 4:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben

Big Whoop...CBS, FOX, and ABC have done this just as long (with Fox being the clear winner for streaming stability). This isn't new.

However, I do concur that this really cuts down the need for a DVR.

February 03 2007 at 4:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Borat

NBC's online offerings are truly excellent. I can catch up on The Office without worrying about DVR-ing it or downloading it.

February 03 2007 at 3:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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