Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Network News Transfer Protocol
     
        (NNTP) A {protocol} defined in {RFC} 977 for the distribution,
        inquiry, retrieval and posting of {Usenet} {news} articles
        over the {Internet}.  It is designed to be used between a
        {news reader} {client} such as {nn} or {GNUS} and a news
        {server}.  It is normally used on a connection to {TCP} {port}
        119 on the news {server}.  NNTP is a simple {ASCII} text
        protocol so even if you don't have a news reader program, you
        can just connect to the server using {telnet}:
     
        	telnet news 119
     
        where news is the name of your server
        (e.g. news.doc.ic.ac.uk).  Typing HELP will give a list of
        other commands.