In honor of Earth Day, NBC Universal has designated the week of April 20th "Earth Week," with more than 100 hours of Green-themed content airing across 42 NBCU brands and 28 websites. In addition, the company announced "Green Weeks" for November 2008 and April 2009. This is all part of NBCU's "Green is Universal" initiative, the company's ongoing commitment to raise "Green" awareness, activate consumers to help save the environment, and substantially green our own operations. "Earth Week" marks NBCU's second "Green Week." The first "Green Week" occurred in November 2007, and attracted nearly 200 million consumers collectively across the platforms of NBCU.
Following are some highlights of the Green-themed programming and events scheduled for the week of April 20th:
"Dateline NBC" kicks off the week on April 20th with a segment on the melting snow in the Bolivia Mountains. In addition the newsmagazine will examine and compare the presence of a variety of chemicals in two families, one, which is completely green, and another that eats and uses more conventional products. "TODAY" will feature daily segments on different sources of renewable energy. The show will also launch a "Green Screen" drive in New York, encouraging consumers to recycle their used electronics. In addition, "TODAY" will broadcast a special live "Earth Week" concert by Alicia Keys on Monday, April 21st. MSNBC will report on the presidential candidates' positions on environmental issues.
CNBC will broadcast a variety of green-themed programming, including an all green episode of "High Net Worth," "Green Stocks to Watch," and a full episode of "The Big Idea," dedicated to green business. In addition, CNBC's "Mad Money" will feature discussions with CEOs of green companies and profiles of green stocks. CNBC will also air "Green Collar Economy," a special report on the green movement, and green opportunities for job seekers and investors.
NBC's top-rated late-night talk shows will incorporate comedic green themes throughout the week. "Green" comedian Ed Begley Jr. will be a guest on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." "Last Call with Carson Daly" will feature guest Darryl Hannah. The segment will focus on organic skateboards and surf companies, midnight gardeners and other ways young people are getting involved in green.
USA Network will change its popular "Characters Welcome" tag to "Environmentalists Welcome" for the week, and will broadcast a variety of green-themed character-driven and eco-friendly programming vignettes, including "Character To Watch: The Color Green," and "Character With a Cause." Bravo will re-broadcast an episode of "Real Housewives of Orange County," which features "Green" pop-up tips, as well as Tim Gunn's "Green" PSA's. In addition, "Top Chef" will also have "Green" tips throughout the week. Bravo will also air the Sundance Channel's "Ecoists" vignettes and an episode of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet." Oxygen will feature "Green" tips from some of the network's talent and will extend its "Go Green" message to the Oxygen website. SCI FI will broadcast cautionary natural disaster-themed movies throughout the week, with a block to run throughout Earth Day.
Telemundo will extend the "Green is Universal" effort through its own green campaign, "Alerta Verde," in "Al Rojo Vivo." The theme will also run throughout network programming during the week in "Cada Dia," "Al Rojo Vivo Weekend," "Nitido," "12 Corazones," "Caso Cerrado" and "Titulares y Mas." In addition, Telemundo will air a green-themed "The More You Know" PSA featuring Maria Celeste, which will also be available on Yahoo!Telemundo.com. Also, mun2, Telemundo's youth-cable channel, will air a news special titled "Toxic City: This is Where I Live".
The Sundance Channel will broadcast episodes of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet," the 13-part series that features the innovators and innovations on the cutting edge of the environmental revolution, and will have "Green Documentary Day" on April 21st. The channel will also air "Mayoral Moments," profiling ten mayors who are at the forefront of innovative thinking and action on climate change, hosted by Robert Redford. Additionally, Sundance will broadcast "Green" interstitials throughout the week.
Universal Studios Hollywood will celebrate the week with incentives for park guests and employees, including free parking for hybrid vehicles and the launch of a new employee carpool program. The week will culminate with a free eco-fair on Saturday, April 26, featuring celebrities, interactive exhibits and more than 30 participating organizations. The park will also host a collection of hazardous waste materials with the city and county of Los Angeles.
Universal Orlando Resort will celebrate Earth Week with a concert by Earth Wind & Fire, in which all participants will receive a complimentary bag of seeds. The park will also hold several eco-friendly volunteer efforts, including a recycling project at the Ronald McDonald House and Keep Orlando Beautiful. In addition, the park will incorporate daily "Earth Week" activities for both visitors and employees, including Green Transportation Day, where all hybrid vehicles will get free valet parking.
