Viacom and Yahoo! have announced a multi-year partnership whereas Yahoo! Search Marketing will serve as the “exclusive provider” of all sponsored search and contextual advertising on all of Viacom’s 33 broadband web sites–which includes MTV.com, VH1.com, Nickelodean.com, ComedyCentral.com, and BET.com. There is an additional potential for an expansion–to more than 140 more Viacom-owned web sites worldwide. The entire project will be powered by “Panama”.
In a press release today, Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, said:
“This far reaching partnership brings together world-class content and technology for the benefit of users and advertisers alike. Yahoo! has made impressive strides with its new search marketing system. As a global leader in content for every screen and platform, we couldn’t be more pleased to have them as a partner and we look forward to growing our relationship even more over time.”
Yahoo! currently provides search marketing products and services to hundreds of thousands of advertisers in 22 countries worldwide. Currently available in the U.S., Yahoo!’s new search marketing system is designed to deliver even more relevant sponsored search and contextual ad results to users. By encouraging advertisers to focus on the quality of their sponsored search and contextual advertisements, Yahoo!’s new system creates a more valuable marketplace for users, advertisers and publishers.
Viacom is the number-one online entertainment destination and the 11th most-popular overall destination on the Web. In February 2007, more than 90 million unique viewers flocked to Viacom’s online properties, which include an array of MTVN and BETN Web sites, as well as its other online properties (according to Internal Web Analytics Tracking and duplication from comScore Media Metrix February 2007).
Viacom’s web sites continue to hit new highs in traffic and streaming video. MTV.com delivered a record 84 million streams in January, exceeded that mark in February with 85.1 million streams and again in March set a new record with 93.1 million. MTV.com also delivered a record 25.6 million unique visitors in March. Also in March, Nickelodeon’s online properties had their strongest monthly performance, with Nick.com pulling in almost 19 million unique users and TurboNick posted more than 80 million streams. comedycentral.com had its best month ever for total traffic in March, with 10.7 million unique visitors.
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo!’s mission is to connect people to their passions, their communities, and the world’s knowledge. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom seeks to reach its audiences however they consume content.
Viacom’s leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV: Music Television, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, Logo, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, and more than 130 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as MTV.com, comedycentral.com, VSPOT, TurboNick, Neopets, Xfire and iFilm; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com/.