REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 11, 2003 — If Web sites were like television schedules, AccessHollywood.com on MSN®
would be described as
“ruling its time slot.”
Audience figures in the June 2003 Nielsen//NetRatings report reveal that the online site for
“Access Hollywood,”
the NBC Enterprises-produced entertainment news program, had more than four times the number of unique users than the online site of its closest on-air rival, http://www.etonline.com/ . The number of visitors to AccessHollywood.com on MSN, h http://accesshollywood.msn.com/ , which is hosted and maintained by MSN Entertainment, has increased by more than 300 percent since June 2002 to more than 2.5 million unique users in June 2003.*
“Access Hollywood”
and MSN are capitalizing on the traffic surge by rolling out a redesigned site with new features and a dazzling new look. The new site, which is live today, incorporates
“Access Hollywood’s”
unique on-air look and branding.
“‘Access Hollywood’ viewers understand that we are the first source for their Hollywood news on the air as well as on the Web, with our relationship with MSN,”
said Rob Silverstein, executive producer of
“Access Hollywood.” “Being a premier content partner on MSN Entertainment, and with our redesigned site, we’re in an even better position to drive awareness — and viewership — for our show.”
Among the new features is a
“Tonight on Access”
section, which previews the top three stories to be shown on that evening’s television broadcast. Another feature of the redesign is the new
“Video Vault”
section, which gives users the ability to watch more video clips from
“Access Hollywood”
broadcasts. This new feature is another example of the MSN commitment to provide in-demand broadband-enhanced content across its network.
The audience growth for AccessHollywood.com on MSN reflects that of MSN Entertainment. In the past year, MSN Entertainment, http://entertainment.msn.com/ , has more than tripled the number of its unique visitors, increasing by over 240 percent to more than 11 million in June 2003. With this dramatic growth, MSN Entertainment is ranked second among multicategory entertainment Web sites, according to June 2003 audience data released by Nielsen//NetRatings.* MSN Entertainment’s relationship with
“Access Hollywood”
underscores its ongoing commitment to provide premier content on movies, music, television, celebrities and other entertainment categories.
“MSN Entertainment strives to bring our audience the most complete and current entertainment news possible,”
said Rich Bray, vice president of MSN North America.
“Partnering with ‘Access Hollywood’ has been a great way to do just that. It gives us access to great exclusives, including interviews with Hollywood’s hottest stars. And because we maintain the ‘Access Hollywood’ branding and look online, it’s a familiar and appealing experience for all visitors.”
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 350 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. MSN 8 is the first Internet software product to have earned the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Based on data from the Nielsen//NetRatings, June 2003 report for the US Home/Work panel
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