GE’s division that manufactures security products will directly benefit from GE’s NBC television division taking the primetime network rights to broadcast National Football League games. NBC announced April 18 that it has bypassed ABC and won the broadcast rights for “Monday Night Football” beginning with the 2006 season and will move it a night earlier to become “Sunday Night Football.” It also announced that as part of the deal, parent company GE’s products – including those of GE Infrastructure, Security – will have a “unique association” with the NFL.

According to a press release by GE division NBC Universal, the NFL will give GE the opportunity to associate with pro football its security equipment, as well as its health-care, electrical/lighting and financial service products. That association will also include a link with Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 and XLVI in 2012, which were also part of the broadcast rights won by NBC.

“Our NFL agreement carries with it not only the total commitment of NBC Universal, but also of GE,” said GE Vice Chairman Bob Wright in a statement.

In more GE news, the conglomerate announced record first-quarter earnings on April 15, saying the company as a whole grew its net earnings 25 percent to $4 billion on revenue of $24.4 billion.

GE Infrastructure, the parent company of GE’s security and fire products, had first-quarter earnings of $147 million, up 30 percent from $113 million in last year’s first quarter. Infrastructure had revenue of $965 million in the first three months of the year.
“Our portfolio changes have created a faster-growth company, and the moves we made in the last two years are paying off in excellent performance, particularly at Healthcare, NBC Universal and Infrastructure,” said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt in a statement.

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