In the latest in a series of moves to tap into the convergence of
television and the Internet, NBC Friday took a
minority stake in Hollywood Stock Exchange.
Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The HSX site represents the collective voice of hundreds of thousands of
movie enthusiasts who buy and sell virtual “stock” in
celebrities, movies and other entertainment properties using “Hollywood
dollars.”
In addition, HSX will contribute content to NBC’s (NBC)
syndicated “Access Hollywood” entertainment news magazine show and receive
on-air promotion on the NBC Television Network as well as online promotion
on Snap.com, NBC.com and AccessHollywood.com.
Coupled with e-mail marketing and a co-branded HSX trading area, this
alliance will drive traffic to HSX and help increase the stickiness of
these Web sites.
“Hollywood Stock Exchange is an innovative online entertainment experience
that provides real value to both ‘Access Hollywood’ and Snap.com,” said
Marty Yudkovitz, president, NBC Interactive.
“We couldn’t be more pleased about this transaction, which continues to
demonstrate just how NBC broadcast television and the
Internet can work together in complementary ways.”
NBC also has an equity stake in Snap.com, the Internet portal service
operated in partnership with CNET (CNET)
and
iVillage.com (IVIL).
The Hollywood Stock Exchange is a digital media company that provides over
800,000 consumers per month with an online entertainment experience, driven
by its patented entertainment stock market.
NBC has been busy over the past year building its portfolio of Internet holdings. In May, the company formed NBC Interactive
in partnership with Snap and Xoom.com Inc. (XMCM).