11/09/05

AP, MSN Align For New Internet Video Network Represents first relationship to syndicate MSN Video player

NEW YORK — Nov. 9, 2005 — The Associated Press (AP) and MSN today announced that they are teaming to develop the AP Online Video Network to provide AP members with news video for their Web sites. AP member Web sites participating in the AP Online Video Network receive a custom-branded MSN ® Video player, daily news video from AP, prestream advertising to run adjacent to the video in the player, and a share of the advertising revenue.
 
With the new service, AP will make AP news video available to a network of more than 3,500 AP newspaper and broadcast members in the United States . MSN will provide the video player and technology and will sell the advertising for the fully ad-supported service. AP will retain full control over editorial content in the AP Online Video Network. The service, which will be available at no charge to members, will launch in first quarter 2006.
 
“This partnership will empower AP members to compete in an emerging segment of Web content,” said Tom Curley, president and CEO of The Associated Press. “The expertise MSN brings in online video technology will be a key factor in the success of the network.”
 
“We are thrilled to help The Associated Press bring online video to thousands of AP member Web sites,” said Todd Herman, director of advertising and business strategy for MSN Entertainment at Microsoft Corp. “The combination of AP news excellence and Microsoft scalable technology will enable our advertisers to better reach the huge audience of people who now turn primarily to the Internet for their information.”
 
Initially, AP will provide approximately 50 video clips per day covering national, international, entertainment, technology and business news. The AP Online Video Network will grow over time as network members and other content partners contribute their own video.

In addition to providing AP members with a customizable Windows Media®-based video player, MSN will work to develop other network products, including a local advertising and content syndication system for AP affiliates within the network. AP members that use the new service will have the opportunity to share revenue generated by ads on their Web sites. To date, MSN Video has provided video technology exclusively to sites within the MSN network. This relationship represents the first time MSN Video player technology will be syndicated to sites outside its network. MSNBC.com will continue to be the exclusive video news content partner for MSN 's network of sites.

About The Associated Press
The Associated Press is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, providing content to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of 1 billion people. AP's multimedia services are distributed by satellite and internet to more than 120 countries. http://www.ap.org.
 
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 440 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 41 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.
 
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “ MSFT ”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
 
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Microsoft, MSN and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
 
For more information, press only:
Jack Stokes, The Associated Press, (212) 621-1730, jstokes@ap.org
Erika Bitzer, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, (503) 443-7000, erikab@WaggenerEdstrom.com
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, (503) 443-7070, rrt@WaggenerEdstrom.com
 
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.