NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash., March 31, 1997 — Disney Online and Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic distribution relationship under which Disney’s upcoming Internet-based subscription service for kids, Disney’s Daily Blast , will also be available free of charge to members of MSN
™
, The Microsoft Network.
Disney’s Daily Blast marks The Walt Disney Co.’s first major offering of kids’ programming on the Internet and brings the magic of Disney to the
“Internet generation.”
Designed for children ages 3 to 12, Disney’s Daily Blast will deliver dozens of fun and original programs every day, including games, stories, activities and kid-centric sports and news. Rounding out the family appeal of Disney’s Daily Blast is Disney’s Family.com , an extensive online resource for parents.
Disney’s Daily Blast is scheduled to be launched on the Internet in late April for $4.95 (U.S.) per month at (http://www.disneyblast.com/) . Disney’s Daily Blast will be featured as a Disney-branded channel on MSN. MSN will be the only Internet online service able to offer Disney’s Daily Blast free to its members, for a period of 10 months (connect-time charges may apply).
“Families have been waiting for the right reason to log on to the Internet,”
said Jake Winebaum, president of Disney Online.
“We feel that the combination of Disney’s Daily Blast and the high-quality network and programming of MSN will be a strong draw for those families. Together, we hope to make the Internet part of their daily ritual.”
The relationship with Disney Online extends Microsoft’s commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment programming and services on MSN, which includes a strong lineup of family-oriented programming. With the addition of Disney’s Daily Blast and Family.com to the MSN lineup, members of MSN will enjoy never-before-seen content, including world-famous Disney characters and original programming designed specifically for the Internet. To access Disney’s Daily Blast and the Internet, families can join MSN by simply calling (800) FREE-MSN and receive a CD-ROM that includes one month of free* time on the Internet.
“Children and families are an extremely important audience for us, representing an entirely new generation that will grow up with this medium,”
said Laura Jennings, vice president of The Microsoft Network.
“The magic of Disney’s Daily Blast fits perfectly with the innovative programming approach of MSN.”
MSN is the second-largest Internet online service in the United States, offering compelling services, entertainment and communications on the Internet. MSN also provides hundreds of special-interest bulletin boards and such high-quality services and Web shows as the Microsoft® Encarta® multimedia encyclopedia, the Expedia travel service, Star Trek: Continuum® , the Slate online magazine, the CarPoint online automotive service, the Microsoft Investor online investing service, and up-to-date news and information from MSNBC News. The MSN home page can be reached at (http://www.MSN.com/) .
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.
Disney Online was founded in 1995. The company’s inaugural Web site, Disney.com, was launched in early 1996 and is consistently ranked by PC-Meter as the Web’s top entertainment site.
*For users of Windows®
95 only. This free trial is available to new MSN members in the United States and Canada only. A credit card is required. MSN premium charges, access charges (if access is purchased from a provider other than MSN), long-distance or toll charges may apply. Offer expires Dec. 31, 1997.
Microsoft, MSN, Encarta, Expedia, Slate, CarPoint and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Daily Blast and Family.com are trademarks of Disney Online.
Star Trek: Continuum is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures.
The Microsoft Network is operated by Microsoft Corp. on behalf of Microsoft Network LLC.
For more information, press only:
Rebecca Buxton, Disney Online, (818) 623-3460, [email protected]
Samantha Lagerloef, Shandwick for MSN, (206) 452-5400, [email protected]
For online information:
Visit the MSN Press Web site at (http://www.press.MSN.com/) .
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages
