In a first for a network upfront presentation, NBC Universal is expected to unveil digital and broadband strategies for the upcoming season during its big reveal for advertisers Monday afternoon. The company unveiled expanded partnerships between NBC Universal’s various TV properties and new media applications in a press release issued Monday morning.

As part of the new TV 360 digital platform outlined recently by Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal Television Group, NBC plans to launch a broadband comedy channel this summer. The outlet is one of several Internet-based channels the network’s parent company, NBC Universal, plans to debut in conjunction with NBC and NBC Universal’s cable networks. The sites are expected to offer viewers sneak peeks of new episodes of selected shows.

NBC’s DotComedy.com will feature classic comedies, viral videos and clips from NBC’s prime-time and late-night programming-including items from the first 10 years of “Late Show With David Letterman.” DotComedy.com will also feature original content produced exclusively for the site, including blogs, mashups-a Web application that combines content from a variety of sources to create something new-and podcasts.

NBC Universal will also launch its FirstLook.com franchise for NBC, USA, Sci Fi and Bravo. Each site will premiere up to four episodes of its respective networks’ series in their entirety each year.

In addition, the company’s owned-and-operated stations plan to launch the new daytime talk show “iVillage Live” in December as expected (TelevisionWeek, May 15). The move is designed to capitalize on NBC Universal’s recent purchase of the Web site iVillage.com. The show, which will air on NBC Universal-owned stations and be streamed on iVillage, will be shot at the NBC-owned theme park Universal Studios Orlando in Florida.

NBC News’ morning show “Today” will also partner with iVillage to offer women, and occasionally men, on-air makeovers through iVillage’s “Makeover Central,” an online destination for beauty and fashion makeovers. The first iVillage makeover on “Today” is scheduled to coincide with Father’s Day in June.

NBC Universal’s syndicated newsmagazine strip “Access Hollywood” is also partnering with iVillage to bring viewers and users “Access Hollywood Celebrity Horoscopes.” Weekly segments will air on “Access Hollywood” and other segments will be streamed on AccessHollywood.com as well as on the iVillage-owned Astrology.com.