News

(printer friendly version)

SaskTel
August 10, 2006

SaskTel Now Offers CNBC, MSNBC and Films From Universal Pictures

SaskTel today announced that it has entered a multi-year distribution agreement with NBC Universal Cable (NBCUC) to add CNBC, MSNBC to its state of the art digital network lineup and offer Universal Pictures' films a la carte via SaskTel's Max Front Row™ video-on-demand service.

As the leading full service provider in Canada's Saskatchewan province, SaskTel's subscribers can now tune in to get the latest financial news from CNBC, first in business worldwide and breaking news on MSNBC. This agreement also allows SaskTel to offer hit films from NBCU's current on demand titles and existing films via Max Front Row™ service.

"We're excited to partner with SaskTel to offer their viewers access to CNBC, MSNBC and our vast Universal film library," commented Jean-Briac Perrette, Senior Vice President, New Media and Chief Financial Officer, NBCUC. "This deal will help drive business and attract subscribers to SaskTel's many unique services like MaxFront Row."

“This agreement with NBC Universal Cable expands the choices our Max Front Row service has to offer our more than 45,000 Max customers,” said Robert Watson, SaskTel President and CEO. “SaskTel will continue to focus on Max product enhancements and value-added services that will increase overall quality and selection.”

With Max Front Row, viewers do not have to watch movies at pre-designated times, unlike traditional pay-per-view services. Movies are accessed through a set-top box and a customer’s television for 24 hours and can be viewed as often as desired during that period. In addition, customers have DVD-like control over the movies, including the ability to fast forward, rewind, pause or stop.

Universal Pictures will provide current and award-winning movies such as King Kong, Munich, Nanny McPhee and The Producers. In addition, SaskTel will have access to Universal’s vast library of titles including 2 Fast 2 Furious, 8 Mile, American Pie and Jurassic Park.

CNBC is the recognized global leader in business news, providing real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 343 million homes worldwide throughout the business day. MSNBC delivers breaking news and in-depth coverage with a look at the day's top legal stories and issues.

About SaskTel
SaskTel is the leading full service communications provider in the province offering competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment and multimedia services, web hosting, text and messaging services over a state-of-the-art digital network. The Corporation also provides cellular and wireless data services, security monitoring services, directory services, in-room communications services to the healthcare sector through Hospitality Network, telecommunications consulting service through SaskTel International and national communications services through Navigata Communications. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 permanent full-time employees. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

About NBC Universal Cable
NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's preeminent media companies, drives the company’s cable strategic development and growth including video-on-demand, pay-per-view, HDTV, TV EST (electronic sell-through), TV Wireless distribution and retransmission consent, and oversees the cable distribution, marketing and local ad sales of fourteen properties (Bravo, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Weather Plus, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Sleuth, Telemundo, Telemundo Puerto Rico, Universal HD, USA and the Olympics on cable). NBC Universal Cable also directs and manages the company’s cable and new media investments including A&E, The History Channel, History Channel International, The Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel and Tivo.




Back To News

Back To Top