NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash., March 17, 1997 — The Advertising Council and Microsoft Corp. have agreed to collaborate on a new program for public service announcements which will result in millions of advertising impressions that benefit nonprofit organizations. The Advertising Council and Microsoft today announced they will develop a public service program to provide free advertising banner space on MSN, The Microsoft Network, Microsoft’s online Internet service, and other Microsoft® online media properties.
Under the arrangement, Microsoft will donate 5 million impressions to The Ad Council’s nationally known nonprofit organization partners over a one-year period. In keeping with the theme of The Ad Council’s 10-year initiative, “Commitment 2000: Raising a Better Tomorrow,” priority will be given to organizations that address the needs of America’s children.
“We are excited about working with the leader in online Internet content,” said Donna Feiner, senior vice president at The Ad Council. “The Internet has proven to be an immensely valuable vehicle for public service advertising. Working with Microsoft and MSN is a way to take advantage of the incredible opportunities this communications medium offers to provide Americans with information about problems and solutions. And working with Microsoft will help us develop our own technological skills to take better advantage of the Internet as an advertising medium, as well as to better assess the public’s reaction to our messages.”
Microsoft officials are equally enthusiastic about the collaboration. “Taking a leadership role on behalf of a terrific set of causes like these is in many ways as important as taking a leadership role in technology and innovation,” said Steve Goldberg, group manager, advertising business unit at Microsoft. “The Web advertising market is moving at tremendous speed, but it is vital to step back and consider how we all can return something to the community. Furthermore, the involvement of a respected and experienced partner such as The Ad Council is a tremendous benefit.
“We’re pleased to be putting the resources of MSN at the service of a number of terrific causes,” Goldberg continued. “MSN users will be one click away from information about vital nonprofit organizations. They’ll be able to get the latest information, or get directly involved. We hope a great many users of MSN will take advantage of that opportunity.”
To qualify for this nonprofit public service program, applicants must be nationally recognized nonpolitical, nondenominational, 501(c) tax-exempt organizations. Their advertising messages must address issues of significant public importance that are applicable to users of MSN. To submit a proposal to The Ad Council, interested parties should contact the director of proposals at The Ad Council’s New York office, at (212) 922-1500.
The Advertising Council is a private, nonprofit organization of volunteers who conduct advertising campaigns for the public good. The Council is the largest source of public service advertising in this country and is credited with creating the category of public service advertising.
MSN is the third-largest online service worldwide, offering high-quality information, entertainment and communications on the Internet. With the new Web-based version launched in December 1996, MSN also makes available hundreds of special-interest bulletin boards and such online services, programming and Web shows as the Encarta® multimedia encyclopedia, the Expedia
™travel service, Star Trek: Continuum® , Slate
™
online magazine, the CarPoint
™
online automotive service, and up-to-date news and information from MSNBC News. The MSN home page can be reached at (http://www.MSN.com ) .Customers can call (800) FREE-MSN
(373-3676) for details on how to receive a one-month free trial and an MSN CD.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, MSN, Encarta, Expedia, Slate and CarPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Star Trek: Continuum is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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