MTVNI, Microsoft in Online VOD Deal for Europe

LONDON, February 5: MTV
Networks International (MTVNI) and Microsoft’s Online Services Group have
reached a deal to make clips from selected MTV Networks shows available across
nine countries in Europe via MSN Video, Microsoft’s free, VOD Internet channel.

The European deal covers
MTVN video content for the U.K., 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 viewers in
select European territories will have access to MTV Networks shows like Pimp
My Ride, Punk’d, Cribs
and South Park. Viewers can
also choose from other popular shows such as The Hills, Barrio 19 and My Super Sweet 16,
with additional video clips to be added to the MSN Video catalogue in the
coming months.

These clips from MTV
Networks add to the existing selection of news, music, movie trailers,
celebrity gossip and other entertainment videos available on MSN Video. MSN
also provides access to user-generated-content created by the public on Soapbox. Viewers can also share links to their favorite
clips via Microsoft’s instant messaging service, Windows Live Messenger, and
social-networking and blogging tool, Windows Live Spaces. MSN Video is currently
viewed by more than 6 million European unique users per month.

Geoff Sutton, the
executive producer for MSN Europe, said: “We want to offer the best selection
of compelling programs 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.”

Gideon Bierer, the senior
VP of digital media at MTVNI, added: “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.”

According to Bierer, the
initial 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.

—By Irene Lew