Alltel Wireless to Offer NBC Universal Mobile Content

Alltel Wireless announced a deal with NBC Universal that will bring NBC content to Alltel's customers. The content will be made available via Alltel's Access data services and will include eleven video on-demand channels, mobile websites, ringtones, ringback tones and wallpapers.

"The relationship with NBC Universal provides an amazing array of entertainment and information, right to our customers' phones," said Wade McGill, senior vice president of wireless product management for Alltel Wireless. "We look forward to expanding our relationship with NBCU over the coming months and to offering customers even more content and choice in their wireless experience."

The video channels available to Alltel Wireless' customers will include NBC Universal's NBC News, Access Hollywood, Telemundo, mun2, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Bravo, SCI FI Channel, USA Network and digital originals from dotcomedy.com. Full episodes of NBC's critically acclaimed "Friday Night Lights" will also be available on demand.

The deal will also give Alltel Wireless customers access to a suite of NBC Universal mobile websites, such as NBC Network, NBC Sports, "Heroes," "The Office," Bravo, MSNBC, The SCI-FI Channel and USA Network. Additional NBC Universal sites and content will be made available on Alltel's network in the future.

"NBC Universal is committed to offering its programming on a variety of platforms. This agreement with Alltel provides their customers with a robust line-up of NBC Universal content, easily available to watch and view in a way that's convenient to them," said Jean-Briac Perrette, president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution, a division of NBC Universal that manages product strategy and development for NBC Universal's content by deploying it across multiple digital platforms including mobile, Internet portals, wireless carriers, emerging digital companies and nontraditional customers.

The agreement with Alltel Wireless follows similar deals between NBC and other mobile media companies such as MobiTV, as NBC is trying to expand its reach into the mobile space.