Yahoo! Adds Maven Networks to Portfolio

SUNNYVALE/CAMBRIDGE,
February 13: Yahoo! has paid $160 million for the acquisition of Maven
Networks, an online video platform provider that the Internet giant hopes to
exploit for the expansion of its consumer video and advertising services.

Together, Yahoo! and Maven
will offer publishers a full portfolio of technology and media solutions across
Yahoo.com and Yahoo!’s network of premium video publishers across the web.
According to Yahoo!, the company already boasts a library of professionally
produced and licensed video content and video advertising relationships with
more than 75 percent of the top TV advertisers. Among the companies Yahoo! has
additional advertising relationships with are eBay, Comcast, Newspaper
Consortium and Forbes.com.

Currently, Maven’s
platform is being used to manage, distribute and monetize premium online video
content for major media companies including Fox News, Sony BMG, CBS Sports,
Hearst, Gannett, Scripps Networks and the Financial Times, all of which are
expected to be brought into the fold at Yahoo!

Following the finalization
of the agreement, Yahoo! will invest in the growth of Maven’s overall video
business, and offer new services including video monetization tools, which will
combine Yahoo!’s display sales force and contextual advertising technology to
maximize publishers’ revenue potential. The acquisition will also be used to
complement the company’s full search and display offering, with more inventory
and increased diversity of choices available across the Yahoo! network.
Following the deal, the audience reach of Yahoo! content is expected to grow
and be more appealing to advertisers.

“Video is projected to be
the fastest-growing segment of the online ad market, and Maven will
significantly help advance Yahoo!’s strategy, expanding the video opportunity
for publishers and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness for
advertisers,” said Hilary Schneider, the
executive VP of global partner solutions at Yahoo! “This is a big win
for publishers, advertisers, consumers and for Yahoo!”

Hilmi Ozguc, the CEO of
Maven Networks, commented: “Over the past year, Maven has emerged as the
market-leading video and advertising technology platform, serving some of the
largest global media companies. By combining our capabilities with Yahoo!’s own
technology resources, publisher and advertiser relationships, and vast audience
reach, we will deliver an unmatched video content syndication and advertising
solution to the market.”

—By Ned Berke