NBC News Creates e-Publishing Business

NBC News announced today the formation of NBC Publishing, based at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. The company said “this new business unit will extend the NBC News brand into the evolving world of digital publishing by leveraging the resources of NBC News including, Today, NBC Nightly News, Dateline, Peacock Productions and NBC’s vast archives.”

In addition, NBC Publishing will have the ability to create works derived from other divisions of NBCUniversal, such as NBC Sports, Universal Pictures, and Telemundo.

NBC Publishing will create original eBooks and e-single formats based on current events, documentaries, trends, biographies and profiles. Building on NBC News’ previous collaborations, the NBC Publishing group will continue to work in partnership with traditional trade publishers. The business will also publish independent authors looking, it said, “to create content that taps into NBC’s resources, to enhance their work and broaden their reach.”

“As the tablet and e-reader markets continue to expand exponentially, and as the definition of ‘what is a ‘book?’ evolves, we see opportunities to bring readers a unique and immersive content experience,” said Cheryl Gould, senior vice president of NBC News who will be the executive in charge of NBC Publishing. “This business enables NBC to use video, audio, and current programming in creative new ways.”

NBC Publishing builds on a number of previously released NBC News enhanced eBooks including JFK: 50 Days and the American classic Roots, both joint projects with The Perseus Books Group; and D-Day: The Battle for Normandy and Berlin 1961, both in partnership with Penguin.

Most recently, NBC News worked with Running Press to publish the hardcover book From Yesterday to Today, a celebration of the Today Show’s 60th anniversary, just released as an enhanced eBook.

NBC Publishing also announced today the hiring of two veterans from the publishing world: Peter Costanzo, previously with F+W Media and Perseus, as creative director; and Brian Perrin, from Rodale, as director of digital development. They will report to Michael Fabiano, general manager of NBC Publishing.