It's All About Market Research

NBC is taking the viewer experience to another level by becoming the first broadcast website to integrate social networking tools. The network will allow users to create a profile, post clips from their favorite shows and embed NBC video to other social networking sites. There will also be numerous comment and chat features so users can share their other favorite shows and talk to one another as they watch shows online.

I feel like this is one of the first social networks that will really allow for marketing research within social networks to expand its reach. NBC will be able to track trends among its viewers and compile specific reports about the audience for each show (including other shows that the audience watches). This will provide NBC with great material for selling to advertisers.

In addition, by offerring its shows/videos online (and available for embedding on other social-networking sites), they will likely be able to integrate advertising sponsors into those video clips--generating even more revenue for themselves. Finally, mainstream media is beginning to understand how to use social networking to their advantage. I think what NBC is doing is the solution to the copyright-infringement/YouTube crisis.