| MUMBAI:
NBC and Microsoft has formed a partnership that will offer MSN Video the exclusive
rights to stream the entire first two episodes of NBC's upcoming drama series
Heist on the Internet.
NBC will also provide MSN Video with a
16-minute special sneak-peek presentation of the debut episode from 14 March until
the 22 March broadcast premiere
The episodes will be available
as encores for one week after each of their airings, at 10 p.m., ET, on 22 and
29 March respectively.
NBC Universal Television Group chief marketing
office John Miller said, "This relationship with Microsoft allows us to further
enhance our marketing opportunities to draw attention to our shows from increasingly
popular sites and formats.It's a perfect marriage of technology and content, and
we believe it is also tailor-made to reach out to the target demographic for this
hot new series."
Heist is directed
by Doug Liman (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity) and written by Mark
and Robb Cullen (FX's Lucky). The series is described as a fast-paced, serialized
drama with an ensemble cast playing burglars who attempt one of the biggest heists
in history - to simultaneously rob the most renowned jewellery stores on Beverly
Hills' Rodeo Drive during Academy Awards week. The series is produced by Hypnotic,
NBC Universal Television Studio and Sony Pictures Television. Reports also
state that MSN.com will offer a Heist photo gallery, top billing on its
TV and entertainment homepages, and promotion on the video homepage, among other
placements. | 
