New York, NY, May 12, 2008 - NBC Universal Digital Media today announced the formation of the Digital Health Network, a new business focused on the distribution of premium health video. The announcement was made by George Kliavkoff, Chief Digital Officer, NBC Universal.
Utilizing the close to a hundred original, condition specific and healthy living videos created weekly across the business, the NBC Digital Health Network will enable increased patient education by providing its distribution partners with the robust content they need to create an informative viewing experience for the millions of users looking for health information online.
Healthline Networks, a leading provider of intelligent health information services for more than 18 million consumers a month; RightHealth, a comprehensive one-stop resource for high quality content with 6 million users; and YourTotalHealth.com, a top online health site with 3 million monthly unique visitors, are the inaugural distribution partners for the Network. Upon launch in the coming month, their respective users can now access the Network's credible and comprehensive health care video which is produced by NBC News, NBC Local Media, and Healthology.com.
"Premium online video represents an important opportunity for publishers to attract a large and engaged segment of online health users," said Kliavkoff. "According to a recent Jupiter survey, as many as 46 percent of overall online users said they were interested in viewing online health video. This sophisticated audience has been completely underserved and we believe that the NBC Digital Health Network will enable publishers to provide the information and integrated experience that users have long been looking for."
Mitzi Reaugh has been promoted to General Manager of the NBC Digital Health Network. In this capacity, she will be responsible for setting the strategy of the Network, managing the day-to-day operations and adding new distribution partners. Reaugh, who joined NBC Universal Digital Media in 2006, was part of the original deal team that created and developed Hulu, the premium online video destination which is a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corporation. In addition, she also took lead on securing both distribution and content partnerships for the Company. Before coming to NBC Universal Digital Media, Reaugh worked at McKinsey & Company where she was focused on media, online and wireless growth strategies.
Added Kliavkoff, "Today's announcement is another example of how we are focused on building rich, niche digital networks. We will continue to look at niche categories that have a passionate user base and also happen to fit the criteria of a top advertising category that we think is underserved by professional quality video on digital platforms."
The nation's first broadcast network, NBC has evolved into a diverse, international media company. In addition to the NBC Television Network and 14 NBC television stations, the company owns CNBC, operates MSNBC in partnership with Microsoft, and maintains interests in a number of programming services, including the A&E Network, the History Channel, ValueVision, Inc. (ShopNBC), Paxson Communications, and Rainbow Media Holdings. In addition, NBC owns Telemundo, the nation's second-largest Spanish-language media company. NBC also has equity stakes in several new media companies. International holdings include CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia Pacific, which are services of NBC and Dow Jones, and an equity position in National Geographic Channels International.
Members of the media can get more information about NBC and its programming on the NBC Media Village Web site at www.nbcmv.com.
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