NBC Universal and Google ended a two-year deal under which Google sold and trafficked ads on a number of NBC networks.
For approximately two months the companies have sought to negotiate an outcome where Google would continue to sell ads on NBC channels, but were unable to do so. During that time Google has not served any inventory on TV networks where it previously had distribution, including Syfy, Oxygen, MSNBC, and CNBC.
In a statement, Google emphasized it continues to collaborate with NBC on research initiatives involving television advertising.
“While, we are no longer offering NBC Universal inventory through Google TV Ads, NBC Universal continues to be a great partner to Google. Both NBC and Google are committed to bringing more relevance to TV viewership and advertising,” said the statement, which was attributed to Mark Piesanen, director of strategic partner development for Google TV Ads.
Google’s TV Ads program was launched in beta in 2007 and officially rolled out in May 2008. Since then it claims to have served over 100 billion impressions on behalf of thousands of advertisers large and small. Its deal with NBC in the fall of that year was a key milestone in its development. But Google retains distribution on Dish, DirecTV, Bloomberg, CBS College Sports, Hallmark, and Tennis Channel.
AdWeek first reported the breakup.