Editing NBCUniversal (section)

====Global expansion====
[[File:NBC Tower 070723.jpg|thumb|NBC Universal Chicago headquarters ([[NBC Tower]])]]

In the early 1990s, NBC began its expansion throughout Europe by creating [[CNBC Europe]] and its long-time successful NBC Europe [[Superstation]] by broadcasting [[NBC Giga]] throughout Germany and the rest of the European Union. NBC Europe helped to develop the [[Leipzig]]-based [[Games Convention]], the largest European video game exposition with more than 100,000 visitors each year.

In 2005, NBC Universal joined HANA, the [[High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance]] to help establish standards in consumer electronics interoperability. Later that year, NBC Universal announced a partnership with [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] to offer shows from all the NBC Universal TV networks on Apple's [[iTunes Store]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601627.html|title=NBC Universal, iTunes Team On Downloads of TV Shows|last=Noguchi|first=Yuki|date=December 7, 2005|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 24, 2013|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107135050/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601627.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2006, NBC Universal launched a new cable channel, [[Cloo|Sleuth]], later rebranded as [[Cloo]].<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/News/Sleuth-Name-Cloo-1031554.aspx Exclusive: Sleuth Gets A New Name: Meet Cloo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021175259/http://www.tvguide.com/news/sleuth-name-cloo-1031554.aspx |date=October 21, 2014 }}, ''TV Guide'', April 7, 2011</ref><ref name=original>[https://www.tvguide.com/News/Exclusive-Newly-Rebranded-1035347.aspx Exclusive: Newly Rebranded Cloo TV Picks Up First Original Series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021180408/http://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-newly-rebranded-1035347.aspx |date=October 21, 2014 }} ''TV Guide'' July 15, 2011</ref> One year later after Sleuth's debut, NBC Universal announced that the company would launch a horror-themed cable channel, [[Chiller (TV channel)|Chiller]], on March 1, 2007. 

On June 14, 2007, NBC Universal Television Studio was renamed [[Universal Television|Universal Media Studios]]. The company explained that the reason for the name change was because "the new name fully describes the company's mission to be the premier content provider for television and digital platforms, spanning all television dayparts and creative genres."<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070614nuts01 |title=NBC Universal Re-Names NBC Universal Television Studio as Universal Media Studios |publisher=NBC Universal |date=June 14, 2007 |access-date=December 2, 2009}}</ref>

In August 2007, NBC Universal purchased [[Sparrowhawk Media Group]] and renamed it NBC Universal Global Networks.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/NBC-Universal|title=NBCUniversal {{!}} History, Acquisitions, & Facts|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=August 11, 2017|language=en}}</ref> This acquisition gave NBC Universal all Hallmark channels outside the United States, plus the English channels [[Diva TV]], [[Movies 24]], [[Hallmark Channel (UK)|Hallmark Channel]] and [[KidsCo]].<ref>{{cite news | title = NBC Universal buys 19 Hallmark channels outside the U.S. | newspaper = [[International Herald Tribune]] | date = August 28, 2007 | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/28/business/nbc.php | author = Eric Pfanner | access-date = December 2, 2009 | archive-date = August 31, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070831044727/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/28/business/nbc.php | url-status = live }}</ref> Later that fall, the company also acquired the [[Oxygen (TV network)|Oxygen network]] in a separate $925 million deal.<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael Learmonth |title=NBC U Sucks in Oxygen|publisher=[[Daily Variety]] |page=1|date=October 10, 2007}}</ref> The sale was completed one month later.

In the summer of 2008, NBC Universal, [[Blackstone Group]] and [[Bain Capital]] announced their intention to buy [[The Weather Channel]] from [[Landmark Communications]]. The deal closed on September 12, 2008.<ref>{{cite news | title = NBC Universal to buy The Weather Channel for $3.5B | newspaper = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = July 7, 2008 | url = http://news.smh.com.au/technology/nbc-universal-to-buy-the-weather-channel-for-35b-20080707-32qb.html | author = Seth sutel | access-date = December 2, 2009 | archive-date = August 3, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080803021400/http://news.smh.com.au/technology/nbc-universal-to-buy-the-weather-channel-for-35b-20080707-32qb.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Shortly after the acquisition completed, NBC announced that its existing TV weather network, NBC Weather Plus, would be shut down by December 31, 2008.

In July 2008, [[Universal Cable Productions]] split off from [[Universal Television|Universal Media Studios]] and moved into NBCUniversal's [[NBCUniversal Cable|NBCU Cable Entertainment]] division.<ref name=tvw>{{cite news|last=Lafayette |first=Jon |title=NBC Taps Cable-Studio Bosses |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/07/nbc_taps_cablestudio_bosses.php |access-date=August 15, 2012 |newspaper=TV Week.com |date=July 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323170925/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/07/nbc_taps_cablestudio_bosses.php |archive-date=March 23, 2012 }}</ref>

The summer of 2008 marked NBC Universal's first venture into the United Kingdom by acquiring English television production company [[Carnival Films]].<ref>{{cite news|author= Conlan, Tara|title= NBC Universal buy Carnival|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/aug/20/television.usa1|work= [[The Guardian]]|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= August 20, 2008|access-date= August 20, 2008|location= London|archive-date= September 2, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130902154227/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/aug/20/television.usa1|url-status= live}}</ref>

On November 12, 2008, NBC Universal acquired 80.1% of [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan|Geneon Entertainment]] from [[Dentsu]] in Japan, merging it with Universal Pictures International Entertainment to form a new company,<ref name="merge">{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-12/geneon-to-merge-with-universal-pictures-japan |title=Geneon to Merge with Universal Pictures Japan |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=November 12, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2008 |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605033442/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-12/geneon-to-merge-with-universal-pictures-japan |url-status=live }}</ref> Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geneonuniversal.jp/|title=Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan Official Website|language=ja|access-date=February 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521212929/http://www.geneonuniversal.jp/|archive-date=May 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 16, 2009, NBC Universal-owned cable channel Sci Fi announced that it would be changing its name to [[Syfy]], replacing a generic term with a proprietary brand name that was able to be trademarked.<ref name="scifinewname">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/business/media/16adcol.html|title=Sci Fi Channel Has a New Name: Now, It's Syfy|last=Elliott|first=Stuart|date=March 15, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 25, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215044843/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/business/media/16adcol.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The re-branding and name change took place on July 7, 2009.<ref name="scifinewname" /><ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2009/07/07/technology/sci_fi_channel_syfy.fortune Syfy: Not Your Father's Sci-Fi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301050438/http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/07/technology/sci_fi_channel_syfy.fortune/ |date=March 1, 2014 }}, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', July 7, 2009</ref>

On August 27, 2009, [[A+E Networks|A&E Television Networks]] (A&E) merged with [[Lifetime Entertainment Services]] (Lifetime),<ref>[https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/a-e-acquires-lifetime-1118007820/ A&E Acquires Lifetime], ''Variety.com'', August 27, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/329151-A_E_Networks_Lifetime_Merger_Completed.php A&E Networks, Lifetime Merger Completed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729085925/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/329151-A_E_Networks_Lifetime_Merger_Completed.php |date=July 29, 2013 }}, ''Broadcasting & Cable'', August 27, 2009</ref> giving NBC Universal an equal share of both Lifetime and A&E with [[The Walt Disney Company]] and [[Hearst (media)|Hearst]].

On October 20, 2010, NBC Universal-owned horror/suspense-themed cable channel [[Chiller (TV network)|Chiller]] announced a major rebranding campaign incorporating a new logo and on-air look that launched on Wednesday, October 27, 2010.<ref name=chill>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/chiller-takes-a-chill-pill-1118025991/|title=Chiller takes a chill pill|author=Marc Graser|work=Variety|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023064550/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025991.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=redesign>[http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/20/chiller-announces-major-redesign-incorporating-tagline-scary-good/68925 Chiller Announces Major Redesign] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023064549/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/20/chiller-announces-major-redesign-incorporating-tagline-scary-good/68925 |date=October 23, 2010 }}, ''TV By the Numbers'', October 20, 2010</ref> [[Syfy]] and Chiller President Dave Howe said, "We have very ambitious plans to grow this network as a brand."<ref name=chill/><ref name=redesign/>