FIRST OFF . . .

NBC said Thursday it has signed a new five-year agreement with the Australian Television Network that gives NBC the option to buy 15% of the latter’s parent company, Quintex Australia Ltd., and make the network NBC’s “first overseas affiliate.” The agreement gives ATN access to all NBC News programs and NBC-produced TV series, miniseries and TV movies. ATN already airs NBC’s “Today” show live--in the middle of the night because of the time difference--and the “NBC Nightly News.” J.B. Holston III, NBC vice president of business strategy and international development, would not comment further on the association Thursday.