Microsoft to Provide Technology and Advertising Support for News Network
According to Jim Kathman, the strategic director of the AP Television Department, this news network will be offered completely free of charge to 3,500 member newspapers and television stations. In return, each member will share revenue based on the traffic generated through the network.
AP members are encouraged to produce and contribute news clips starting late next year. In addition to selling advertisements, they will also receive commissions if their video clips are reused on the network. Each clip will last approximately one minute, followed by an advertisement lasting 15 to 30 seconds.
Currently, AP is still selling news video clips to non-member organizations like Yahoo, and this policy will remain unchanged after the new project. The content of the clips for both parties will be identical, except that for paying customers, advertisements will not appear.
Initially, this online news television network will primarily target AP-affiliated newspapers, but Kathman has left the door open for other newspapers and broadcasters to join.
To view the clips, users must utilize Microsoft’s Windows Media Player, while advertisements will be sold through MSN Business.
For Microsoft, this is not the most significant benefit. Through this agreement, Microsoft aims to achieve a deeper goal: expanding the development of free online services supported by advertising. Recently, the company announced new Web services and software to compete with rivals Google and Yahoo.
Written by Thiên Ý
