NBCUniversal Launches Integrated Casual & Social Gaming Solution Across All Networks

NEW YORK, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of NBCUniversal's NewFront event (#NBCUNewfront) featuring its arsenal of digital and Social TV opportunities, NBCU is announcing the launch of Universal Games Network (UGN) – a new casual and social gaming platform that will seamlessly integrate its gaming efforts across its multiple brand properties.

UGN will aggregate for the first time all of NBCU's most popular online, mobile and social gaming efforts around a singular platform that is customizable by business unit. The white-labeled solution will allow fans to play games, engage and consume content, amass reward points and redeem them for real and virtual goods across all NBCU gaming properties. Facebook Connect integration will enable fans to challenge friends in tournament style games. It will offer advertisers a one-stop shop to reach the ever-growing and coveted gaming audience across the entire NBCU digital footprint representing 115 million fans.

"Social gaming is a fast growing category that attracts a highly engaged and targeted audience," said Linda Yaccarino, President, Cable Entertainment and Digital Sales, NBCUniversal. "UGN provides NBCUniversal with a unique platform to connect with these consumers and offer our clients a distinct ad solution that taps into the 300 million social gamers active on Facebook and beyond."

Initially designed and built by the USA Network digital team, who won attention and accolades for its proprietary gaming destination Character Arcade, the new solution could eventually be the most robust in the industry spanning more than 20 properties.

For business partners the UGN platform will provide a turnkey way to track fan engagement, target content to specific audiences and create future experiences based on popularity and demand. The networks and partners using the solution will be able to tailor and increase reach by developing specific gaming experiences that can span brands and multiple audiences. Long term, advertisers will be able to take advantage of the integrated big data analytical capabilities of the system to maximize the reach and efficiencies of their buys.  

Universal Games Network is being announced in conjunction with NBCUniversal's digital Upfront (#NBCUNewfront) and is slated to launch in 4Q of this year.

SOURCE USA Network