NBC U Rejoins NAB Fold

Peacock Network Returns to Broadcaster Trade Group

By Multi Channel News Staff -- Multichannel News, 4/16/2007 7:59:00 AM MT

NBC Universal is back in the National Association of Broadcasters after leaving the trade group seven years ago, according to an announcement at NAB2007 in Las Vegas.

NBC U will also bring 10 NBC owned-and-operated television stations into the NAB, and, Jay Ireland, president of NBC U Television Stations and Network Operations, will be invited to fill a network-television seat on the trade group’s board of directors.

NBC withdrew from the NAB in March 2000 over policy disagreements concerning deregulatory relief for the television industry and the role of the NAB in lobbying with respect to those issues, the company and the trade group said in a release.

National networks left the NAB in a split with independent network-affiliate stations. Disney-owned ABC, though, rejoined the NAB about two years ago. CBS and Fox remain outside of the fold.

"The vast majority of the broadcast issues on the table today are ones where the network, the affiliates and the NAB have the same interests,” Rick Cotton, executive vice president and general counsel for NBC U, said in the release. “After a positive meeting with the new leadership, we believe the issues that led us to withdraw are behind us and unlikely to reassert themselves."

Network membership in the NAB continues to be a top priority of the board of directors, the association said. In addition to NBC U, the NAB's network membership includes Disney/ABC, ION Media Networks and Univision Communications.