Environment

NBCUniversal Networks Go Green for Earth Week

New York, NY

NBCUniversal continues its commitment to the environment with weeklong delivery of green-themed news and entertainment.

Continuing to build on its commitment to the environment, NBCUniversal’s Green is Universal will kick-off its sixth Earth Week with a full slate of green-themed programming, consumer promotions and events from April 21-28. From policy and politics, to the personal and practical, the networks of NBCUniversal will shine a spotlight on issues related to the environment and educate consumers on how their own behaviors impact the state of the planet and our natural resources. 

"The issue of the environment continues to be one that our consumers show strong interest in, from the national debate on energy to things they can do in their own homes to lessen their footprint," said Beth Colleton, NBCUniversal Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. "Our vast portfolio of brands allows us to approach the environmental discussion from a range of perspectives that fit authentically with each audience and their interests."

Green is Universal also will launch "Share and Tell," a campaign encouraging consumers to share and trade unwanted personal goods online. In partnership with yerdle, a new digital platform which facilitates peer-to-peer sharing of goods using social media, "Share and Tell" will help people give away things they no longer use to friends that might need them, and keep waste out of landfills. NBCUniversal properties, including USA Network, MSNBC, Bravo Media, and E! Entertainment will be sharing unique items from their shows and talent, which fans can win via an accompanying sweepstakes on the networks’ respective Facebook pages. The campaign begins April 18 and runs throughout Earth Week. 

To kick-off NBCUniversal’s Green Week, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will host a "Power the Earth Week Party" at their CityWalk locations. The interactive and educational program will encourage guests to generate pedal power from stationary bicycles. That energy will power video screens showing clips from Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s upcoming movie "Planet Ocean." Narrated by Josh Duhamel and directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, the film takes an unprecedented journey into the heart of the least-known regions of our planet. Throughout the event, guests will be challenged to pedal faster to increase their energy output – with the results being displayed on a meter. CityWalk guests also will be encouraged to dance the night away on a special energy floor powered by the dancer’s movements. Universal Orlando Resort’s event will take place on Saturday, April 20 and Universal Studios Hollywood’s event will take place on Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Additionally, 14 new The More You Know environmentally-themed public service announcements including NBCUniversal talent will run during Earth Week and across the networks throughout the year. The spots focus on reducing and recycling, conserving energy and water, paying bills online, carrying reusable shopping bags and carpooling. Participating NBCUniversal talent includes: Brian Williams, Ken Jeong, Alison Sweeney, Brad Goreski and Grant Bowler, among others.

Employees in the U.S. and in five countries where NBCUniversal operates (United Kingdom, France, Germany, New Zealand and India) also will do their part for the planet that week by participating in environmentally-related community volunteer programs. 

More than 50 networks across NBCUniversal’s on-air and online portfolio will offer content tied to the environment this week. Highlights include:

 "TODAY" will kick-off Earth Week with green segments broadcast throughout the week including an eco-chic fashion show, sustainable beauty products, green entertaining, eco gear & gadgets and a look at the garbage and recycling process in major cities. On Earth Day itself, "TODAY" will feature several green "living walls" in Rockefeller Plaza, which help the environment and can serve as important teaching tools for school children. One "living wall" will be edible... made entirely of herbs.

During NBC Sports’ NHL coverage, they will broadcast a profile of Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference’s green lifestyle, the NHL Ticker will feature green initiatives from different teams across the league; Regional Sports Networks will broadcast content from their local teams’ green efforts.

Sprout will promote Earth Week through kid-friendly green information on its daily live "The Sunny Side Up Show" and with the premiere of "Tree Fu Tom," a new animated series about the amazing adventures of a young boy and an enchanted kingdom called Treetoplis.

CNBCs "Squawk on the Street" will broadcast a report on the state of green transportation. CNBC also will feature Business Day reports with environmental themes and guests in addition to "Mad Money," "Fast Money" and "Street Signs" segments on green-related investment insights.

NBC Late Night will include Jaywalk and Audience Interruption segments about the Earth on "The Tonight Show;" "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" will feature Earth Week Pros & Cons and "Last Call with Carson Daly" will highlight a profile with Ron Finley about his green lifestyle.

"Rock Center with Brian Williams" will feature Ann Curry’s special report "Over a Barrel" investigating oil exploration’s threat to Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest (Fridays 10p/9c).

Advertisers also continue to participate, including Subaru which will sponsor green themed vignettes on NBC and our cable properties and Clorox which will launch their Glad brand "One Bag" initiative featuring USA’s Tiffani Thiessen.

For a complete list of NBCUniversal programming visit, http://www.greenisuniversal.com/watch/programming-guide/.

About Green is Universal:
Launched in May 2007, "Green is Universal" is NBCUniversal's ongoing green initiative dedicated to raising Green awareness, effecting positive change to the environment, and making its own operations more sustainable. Throughout the year, NBCUniversal uses it numerous media and entertainment platforms to educate the public on the environment, with green-themed content airing across over 50 NBCUniversal brands.