NBC Universal has its modern roots in a series of expansions undertaken by NBC. In the late 1980s, NBC began pursuing a strategy of diversification, including the formation of two NBC-owned cable-television networks, CNBC and America's Talking. NBC also has partial ownership of several regional sports channels and other cable channels, such as Court TV and American Movie Classics. NBC Super Channel reaches more than 65 million households in Europe.
In 1994, NBC began operating NBC Desktop Video, a financial news service that delivers live video to personal computers. In 1996 the company announced an agreement with the Microsoft Corporation to create MSNBC, an all-news cable television channel, using its subscriber base from its America's Talking network. The joint venture also included establishing a companion news service, MSNBC Online, on the World Wide Web. NBC Desktop Video and America's Talking were phased out. Also in 1996, NBC began broadcasting CNBC Europe, NBC Asia and CNBC Asia and in 1998 in partnership with Dow Jones & Co. they combined their financial news channels outside the US.
In 1999, NBC took a 32% stake in the Paxson group, operator of PAX TV. In 2004 NBC announced it was looking to sell its interest in PAX and end its 5 year relationship with Pax owner Paxson Communications.
In 2002, NBC acquired the US Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo, which included the bilingual Mun2 Television (pronounced "moon dose").
Also in 2002, NBC acquired the cable channel Bravo.
In 2003, as part of the dismantling of the Vivendi Universal conglomerate, GE formed NBC Universal: 80% owned by GE, 20% by Vivendi. In 2006, Vivendi will have the right to monetize the remaining 20% at fair market value, which would result in a forced purchase by GE. The joint venture encompasses Vivendi's US film interests, such as Universal Studios production and distribution units, five theme parks, and cable television channels such as the USA Network, Sci Fi Channel, and Trio, a cable channel devoted to pop culture.
In 2004, the television production divisions of NBC Studios and Universal Network Television were combined to form NBC Universal Television Studio. NBC Studio series brought into the company include the NBC dramas Las Vegas (with DreamWorks SKG), Crossing Jordan, and American Dreams. Universal Network Television brought the Law & Order franchise and The District. Late night shows produced by the new group include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, and Last Call with Carson Daly.
The formation of NBC Universal saw the establishment of NBC Universal Cable, which oversees the distribution, marketing, and advertisement sales for twelve channels (Bravo, Bravo HD+, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, Sci Fi Channel, ShopNBC, Telemundo, TRIO, USA Network, and the Olympics on cable). NBC Universal Cable also manages the company's investments in A&E, the History Channel, History Channel International, the Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel, and TiVo.
In the early 1990s, NBC began its expansion throughout Europe by creating CNBC Europe and its long-time successful NBC Europe Superstation by broadcasting NBC Giga throughout Germany and the rest of the European Union. NBC Europe helped to develop the largest European computer and video games expo "Games Convention" in Leipzig with more than 100,000 visitors each year.
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