Peacock Network Acquires Stringwire

Twitter has Vine, and Facebook is rolling out social video ads. But old-line media companies are getting into the mobile-video act, too. NBC News is acquiring Stringwire, a fledgling company that enables streaming of user-generated content. The acquisition will better enable NBC News to take advantage of photos and videos by people at the scene, or in places where television crews struggle to gain access. The move, made by NBC Chief Digital Officer Vivian Schiller (the former head of NPR) is viewed as an "aqui-hire." NBC isn't just acquiring Stringwire's business; it is, in effect, acquiring its young creator, Phil Groman -- who just graduated from New York University in May.