Singapore, 23 February 2010 – Microsoft and MediaCorp today announced a strategic partnership to launch an online portal that will combine the best from the worldwide leader in global software, services and solutions and Singapore’s leading media company.
To be launched in the second quarter of 2010, xinmsn (www.xinmsn.com) will feature entertainment and lifestyle offerings currently on the websites of Microsoft’s MSN Singapore and MediaCorp. It will be bilingual in English and Mandarin, housing both global and Singapore-centric content. Among its highlights:
- MSN’s entertainment and sports news, currently Number 1 in their category in Singapore
- Free video-on-demand from MediaCorp’s extensive library
- “Catch-up” TV from the previous night’s telecasts, including Amazing Race, Cougar Town and Channel 8 dramas
- Live streaming of MediaCorp’s popular radio stations
- Lifestyle features and fashion tips from MediaCorp’s 8Days, i-Weekly, Style: and Style: Men magazines
- Celebrity gossip, forum and blogs of MediaCorp artistes
- Integration and convenient access to Microsoft’s Windows Live services such as Messenger and Hotmail.
The partnership was sealed today at a signing ceremony witnessed by Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp and Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft, Singapore. Both expressed confidence in what they described as a partnership that will benefit online users in Singapore and beyond, as well as the advertisers seeking to promote their brands to them. With its comprehensive and multi-layered offering, xinmsn is expected to be an instant hit, providing advertisers with potentially the largest online user base in Singapore.
MediaCorp’s current suite of TV, radio and entertainment websites, and MSN Singapore together attract close to 3 million visitors monthly. In addition, MSN Singapore also boasts Singapore’s most popular online communications network, which includes 1.4 million Messenger users in Singapore. Both parties expect traffic to xinmsn to grow many times over current levels.
Mr. Shaun Seow, MediaCorp Deputy CEO (News, Radio, Print, Interactive), said, “We’re confident the xinmsn portal will raise the bar in user experience in Singapore. There will be a potent mix of hyper-local and international content, appealing to Internet users of all ages. While MediaCorp’s ongoing TV, radio and print offerings will provide the substrate for this website, we will also be generating exclusive Web-only content. We invite visitors to interact with us, through postings, and even ideas on how to improve our site. We promise to continually improve the user experience, so stay tuned. In this regard, MediaCorp couldn’t have chosen a better partner than Microsoft, whose MSN network and publishing / advertising platforms are really at the top of their game.”
Mr. Mark Inkster, Managing Director of Microsoft’s Online Services Group, Southeast Asia said, “xinmsn will truly be a world-class portal, with Singapore’s best lifestyle, entertainment, news and sports information online. It will bring together the best of MSN content and Microsoft technology with MediaCorp’s rich content and programming to offer engaging new experiences like free catch-up TV, featuring local and global shows and streaming radio of MediaCorp’s popular English and Chinese radio stations. Microsoft is excited to be collaborating with MediaCorp, with its extensive content and cross-media reach, to build xinmsn into Singapore’s number one online destination.”
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About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About MediaCorp
MediaCorp is Singapore’s leading media company with the most complete range of platforms, spanning television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies and digital and out-of-home media.
It pioneered the development of Singapore’s broadcasting industry, with the broadcast of Radio in 1936 and Television in 1963. Today, MediaCorp has over 50 products and brands in four languages (English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil), reaching out to all adults in Singapore every week.
Our industry firsts include the Digital Video Broadcast technology for outdoor digital television, and Asia’s first Digital Audio Broadcast radio service. Initiatives in the digital space include online classifieds, Internet TV-on-demand and High Definition TV broadcast.
MediaCorp is an active regional player through co-productions in TV dramas and movies, magazines publishing, as well as Channel NewsAsia International, the only Asian-owned English news channel.
Our financial and strategic relationships in the region since 2007 include a venture with Indonesia’s most integrated media company PT Media Nusantara Citra and its parent, Global Mediacom, and International Media Corporation in Vietnam, set up to develop and produce television entertainment and economic news content.
Winner of numerous international awards and accolades including Asia Television’s Broadcaster of the Year, MediaCorp’s vision is to become Asia’s top media company, delivering valued content to the world.
