Live in Europe: Press Release

Get Punk’d and Pimp My Ride on MSN Video

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:49:13 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

Favourite MTV show clips now on MSN Video

London 5^th 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.

- Ngaire Moyes (PR Manager)

Pop Divas Meet Rock legends on MSN Video

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:48:44 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT music videos now on MSN Video

London 5th February 2008 – The latest music videos, news and information on some of the world’s most popular artists from one of the world’s biggest music companies, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, will soon be available on Microsoft Europe’s free, video-on-demand internet channel – MSN Video.

As a result of this agreement, music fans will be able to choose from a wide selection of videos and exclusive videos as well as backstage footage, interviews, artist biographies, tour information and photos from some of the biggest superstars, representing virtually every genre of music, all without ever having to go to a specialist music site or leave their PC.

Videos from SONY BMG’s vast rosters of superstar and emerging artists will add to the existing selection of news, music, movie trailers, celebrity gossip and other entertainment videos on MSN Video.

Geoff Sutton, Executive Producer, MSN Europe, said, “Being able to check out new videos from your favourite artists on MSN Video and then share the links with your mates over Windows Live Messenger is a powerful thing.

“We know that music is a big part of the Messenger audiences’ lives and we have a long history of providing premium music content on MSN including exclusive webcasts such as the Live Earth concerts in summer 2007. Adding premium video content from SONY BMG is a great way for us to offer even more music choice to our viewers.”

Ulrich Jäerkel, Senior Vice President, Digital & Business Development at SONY BMG in Europe commented, “With a substantial audience across Europe, MSN is a great way for our artists to connect with music fans throughout the region. We look forward to working with MSN Europe as we give their viewers the chance to experience great music, and share it with their friends.”

The European deal covers Sony BMG video content for the UK, France, and Germany with the Netherlands Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Russia and Poland to follow.

- Ngaire Moyes (PR Manager)

Microsoft proposes acquisition of Yahoo! for $31 per share

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:22:01 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

Transaction valued at approximately $44.6 billion in cash and stock;

Provides 62 percent premium to current trading price for Yahoo! shareholders;

Combined entity to create a more competitive company while providing superior value to shareholders and better choice and innovation for customers and partners

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 1, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced that it has made a proposal to the Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) Board of Directors to acquire all the outstanding shares of Yahoo! common stock for per share consideration of $31 representing a total equity value of approximately $44.6 billion. Microsoft’s proposal would allow the Yahoo! shareholders to elect to receive cash or a fixed number of shares of Microsoft common stock, with the total consideration payable to Yahoo! shareholders consisting of one-half cash and one-half Microsoft common stock. The offer represents a 62 percent premium above the closing price of Yahoo! common stock on Jan. 31, 2008.

“We have great respect for Yahoo!, and together we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online services market,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “We believe our combination will deliver superior value to our respective shareholders and better choice and innovation to our customers and industry partners.”

“Our lives, our businesses, and even our society have been progressively transformed by the Web, and Yahoo! has played a pioneering role by building compelling, high-scale services and infrastructure,” said Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft. “The combination of these two great teams would enable us to jointly deliver a broad range of new experiences to our customers that neither of us would have achieved on our own.”

The online advertising market is growing at a very fast pace, from over $40 billion in 2007 to nearly $80 billion by 2010. The resulting benefits of scale along with the associated capital costs for advertising platform providers make this a time of industry consolidation and convergence. Today this market is increasingly dominated by one player. Together, Microsoft and Yahoo! can offer a competitive choice while better fulfilling the needs of customers and partners.

“The combined assets and strong services focus of these two companies will enable us to achieve scale economics while reaching R&D critical mass to deliver innovation breakthroughs,” said Kevin Johnson, president of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft. “The industry will be well served by having more than one strong player, offering more value and real choice to advertisers, publishers and consumers.”

The combination will create a more efficient company with synergies in four areas: scale economics driven by audience critical mass and increased value for advertisers; combined engineering talent to accelerate innovation; operational efficiencies through elimination of redundant cost; and the ability to innovate in emerging user experiences such as video and mobile. Microsoft believes these four areas will generate at least $1 billion in annual synergy for the combined entity.

Microsoft has developed a plan and process that will include the employees of both companies to focus on the integration of the combined business. Microsoft intends to offer significant retention packages to Yahoo! engineers, key leaders and employees across all disciplines.

Microsoft believes this proposed combination would receive all necessary regulatory approvals and expects that the proposed transaction would be completed in the second half of calendar year 2008.

Microsoft is also committed to working closely with Yahoo! management and its Board of Directors as they, along with Yahoo! shareholders, evaluate this compelling proposal.