NBC to offer mobile phone newscasts

NBC is planning to launch newscasts to be distributed over video-capable mobile phones. The news comes on the same day that rival network ABC premiered ABC News Now, a rolling news service that can be accessed via mobile phones and digital television.

Brian Stelter at MediaBistro's TVNewser, previously known as CableNewser, posted a copy of an internal memo sent by William Wheatley to NBC News and MSNBC staff. Wheatley explained:

"Several times each day, we are creating brief newscasts which are accessible through specially-equipped cell phones. The first distributor for this service is Sprint and we expect additional cellphone carriers to license the service in the months ahead. The newscasts, anchored by NBC News and MSNBC talent, are a couple of minutes in length; they are produced for the cellphone screen and contain the latest video and graphics. In addition, we are offering Sprint customers a mixture of correspondent reports, interviews and archival material. The overall service is called NBC Mobile and will eventually include material from other NBC entities."