AP, MSN Align for New Internet Video Network

The Associated Press (www.ap.org) 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, pre-stream 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.

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.