5:13 pm - April 29, 2025
NBCUniversal reveals plans for a new mobile-first news option featuring both live streams and on-demand content.
NBCUniversal is set to launch a “mobile first” news service, reflecting its strategy to appeal to the evolving preferences of younger viewers. Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal’s news operations, announced the initiative during an event in Washington yesterday organised by Semafor, indicating that the new service would cater to a demographic increasingly reliant on digital platforms for news consumption.
The forthcoming news outlet will feature a combination of short-form and long-form video content, with assets produced by NBC News anchors and correspondents.
This project marks a continuation of Conde’s mission since starting his role in 2020, introducing products that resonate with a new generation of information seekers who prefer video-centric platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
Speaking at the event, Conde emphasised the importance of adapting to changing viewer habits, asserting that the new service would serve as a “premium” offering within the competitive news landscape.
The service is slated to provide nearly two dozen live streams in both English and Spanish. The content spectrum will encompass lifestyle topics, true crime, and international news, alongside original video programming from NBC News journalists stationed globally.
The planned news outlet represents the latest addition to NBCUniversal’s strategy of developing subscription-based products, in a bid to adapt to the shifting landscape of news consumption. Recently, CNBC unveiled a subscription-based streaming service that consolidates its broadcast feeds from around the globe. Additionally, “Today” has launched an app tailored to fitness and nutrition content. Encouraging innovation among employees, Conde has stressed the value of integrating audio, commerce, and broadband discussions within the framework of news delivery.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65153395/ – This article supports the claim that NBCUniversal is preparing to launch a new ‘mobile-first’ news service, although it mentions a launch in Q4 2025 rather than by the end of 2023. It highlights NBCUniversal’s strategy to adapt to evolving viewer preferences.
- https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/08/24/tiktok-users-get-news-from-platform/ – This Pew Research Center study provides insights into how TikTok users consume news, supporting the claim that a significant portion of the U.S. adult population relies on social media platforms like TikTok for news updates.
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/15/cnbc-streaming-service-expansion.html – This article supports the claim that CNBC has launched a subscription-based streaming service, aligning with NBCUniversal’s broader strategy of developing subscription-based products to adapt to changing news consumption habits.
- https://www.today.com/today-app – This link supports the claim that ‘Today’ has launched an app focused on fitness and nutrition content, reflecting NBCUniversal’s efforts to innovate and expand its offerings across different platforms.
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-streaming-service-expansion/ – This article highlights CBS News’ expansion into streaming services, illustrating the competitive landscape in digital news where major players like CBS, ABC, and Fox are also investing in streaming to capture audience attention.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a launch planned for the end of 2023, which suggests it may be slightly outdated since the article is from 2025. However, the information about ongoing trends and strategies remains relevant.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
There are no direct quotes with specific sources or dates mentioned in the narrative. While Cesar Conde is quoted, the original source of these statements is not provided.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Variety, a well-established and reputable publication in the entertainment industry, which generally lends credibility to the information.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about NBCUniversal’s strategy to adapt to digital trends are plausible given the current media landscape. However, specific details about the service’s features and success cannot be verified without further evidence.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is generally plausible and comes from a reliable source. However, its freshness is somewhat compromised due to the timing of the planned launch. The lack of direct quotes with sources slightly reduces confidence in the quotes’ originality.
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