Favourite MTV show clips now on MSN Video
London 5th February 2008 – Microsoft's Online Services Group and MTV Networks International (MTVNI), a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced a nine-country, European deal for MSN Video, Microsoft’s free, video-on-demand internet channel, to air clips of MTV Network shows.
MSN Video viewers can check out clips of cars pimped to perfection on 'Pimp My Ride,' watch Ashton Kutcher stitch up stars on 'Punk'd,' see how celebs live in 'Cribs' or take a trip to 'South Park' to see what Stan and Kenny have been up to. Viewers can also choose from other MTV Network hits such as 'The Hills,' 'Barrio 19,' 'My Super Sweet 16' and much more while additional video clips will be added to the MSN Video catalogue in the coming months.
Viewers will have access to even more entertainment choices as the MTV hits add to the existing selection of news, music, movie trailers, celebrity gossip and other entertainment videos available on MSN Video. That's all in addition to User Generated Content created by the public on MSN Video's 'Soapbox'. Other features mean viewers can show off their ‘screen-cred’ by sharing links to their favourite clips via Microsoft's popular instant messaging service, Windows Live Messenger, and social networking and blogging tool, Windows Live Spaces.
Geoff Sutton, Executive Producer, MSN Europe, said: "We want to offer the best selection of compelling programmes that excite and entertain people. Linking up with world famous entertainment providers like MTV Networks is one way for us to broaden our content and make MSN an even more stimulating and informed home on the web for our audience."
For MTV Networks International, the deal is another major step in developing its comprehensive global content strategy. In December Viacom, MTVNI's parent company, and the Microsoft Corporation announced a broad-based, strategic alliance under which major divisions of both companies will collaborate on advertising, content distribution, event promotions and games over the next several years. Two weeks ago, MTV Networks announced partnerships with a range of online sites to deliver its extensive library of short and long-form video content from MTVN’s popular music, kids and family, comedy and pop-culture brands.
Gideon Bierer, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, MTV Networks International, said: "This important deal significantly extends the availability of our video content across Europe. Our aim is to ensure our video content is available wherever and whenever our audience wants to watch it. Partnering with leading online video portals such as MSN Video means that even more people will have access to that content - and our advertisers will have access to a wider online audience."
Bierer said that at first clips would mainly be supplied from MTV’s extensive library of shows, although some clips from other brands such as Comedy Central, Game One, Nickelodeon, Paramount Comedy and TMF would be available in some markets.
The European deal covers MTVN video content for the UK, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden, with Belgium, Denmark and Norway to follow. MTV and Microsoft will also be looking to extend the agreement to other European markets.
MSN Video is currently viewed by more than 6 million European unique users per month. The MSN Video audience grew by 60% in five months from July to November 2007 in established markets (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands) and nearly 70% taking into account the addition of MSN Video in Sweden and Denmark. Partnering with leading content and entertainment providers such as MTV is part of Microsoft’s strategy to build the MSN audience further and deliver increased and better targeted results for its advertisers.
Internationally, Viacom's online sites rank #2 in entertainment. Across all its websites, Viacom regularly receives 90 million unique viewers per month, nearly 60% of which come from outside the United States. For advertisers, MTVNI offers a unique proposition across all platforms – TV, online and mobile, combining global scale with local relevance.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
EMEA PR Team, The Red Consultancy
redOSBEMEA@redconsultancy.com / +44 (0)207 025 6419
Ngaire Moyes, Microsoft Online Services Group EMEA PR
ngairem@microsoft.com/ +44 (0) 7967 235 561
Bob Seely, MTVNI
seely.bob@mtvne.com/ +44 (0)207 478 6507
About MSN Video
MSN Video player provides an extensive array of videos, from breaking news to the latest in entertainment such as movie trailers and celebrity interviews and sports action together with user-generated or created content. The player features a split screen format that allows viewers to search for the next video to watch while concurrently watching a video.
The MSN Video player now offers unique ways for people to share links to their favourite videos – whether this is programmed content such as entertainment, news or sport or user created content, users can provide links to these videos in their Windows Live Hotmail or via their online blog – Windows Live Spaces. For those creating or viewing ‘user generated’ content via Soapbox they can imbed clips in a Windows Live Messenger conversation so they can share a video and chat with their friends about it at the same time.
Microsoft has also introduced a unique time-based advertising approach to MSN Video, designed to serve ads to consumers at regular intervals. This approach is intended to offer a less intrusive overall ad experience, resulting in a more receptive audience and increased ad effectiveness.
About MSN and Windows Live
MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localised versions available globally in 42 markets including 18 in EMEA. MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live™, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. Windows Live services can be found at http://ideas.live.com. Live Search is available at
www.live.com
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One, and digital properties Gametrailers, Shockwave, XFire, Neopets, AtomFilms and AddictingGames. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 519 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via 154 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).