Showing posts with label Yahoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yahoo. Show all posts
Friday, May 17, 2013
Yahoo! Granted Favorable Ruling in Mexico City Superior Court of Justice
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) announced that the Superior Court of Justice for the Federal District in Mexico has granted the company's appeal and reversed the ruling of the 49th Civil Court of Mexico, which had entered a non-final judgment of $2.75 billion against Yahoo! and Yahoo! Mexico on November 28, 2012.
The appellate decision overturned all monetary awards against Yahoo! Inc. and reduced the monetary award against Yahoo! Mexico to $172,500. Yahoo! Mexico was awarded $2.6 million in the original judgment, and this award was confirmed by the appellate decision. The plaintiffs may appeal this decision.
The appellate decision pertains to the lawsuit filed by World Wide Directories, S.A. de C.V. and Ideas Interactivas, S.A. de C.V. against Yahoo! Mexico and Yahoo Inc. in 2011. On December 12, 2012, and December 13, 2012, respectively, Yahoo! Mexico and Yahoo! Inc. appealed the judgment to a three-magistrate panel of the Superior Court of Justice for the Federal District.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is focused on making the world's daily habits inspiring and entertaining. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has offices located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company's blog (yodel.yahoo.com).
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Yahoo! and Media.net Launch Contextual Ads for Web Publishers
New Offering Allows Quality Web Publishers to Generate Incremental Advertising Revenue
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & AUSTIN, Texas -- Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) and Media.net announced a long-term agreement to launch Yahoo! Bing Network Contextual Ads, powered by Media.net. The program aims to provide web publishers with a powerful and effective new solution for earning advertising revenue. Publishers can now use the Media.net platform to create and customize ad units that display relevant text ads from across the Yahoo! Bing Network.
"Since its inception, Media.net has invested tremendous resources — people, capital and time — to build what Yahoo! identifies to be a terrific monetization solution for web publishers," said Al Echamendi, Vice President, Business Development, Yahoo!. "During our evaluation process, we recognized Media.net as a technology and innovation leader, with a strong management team that has a significant business track record and industry experience."
"Yahoo! holds a key leadership position in online advertising," said Divyank Turakhia, Founder & CEO at Media.net. "Teaming up with Yahoo! allows us to offer web publishers with a solution that generates additional revenue for them and provides customization, control and flexibility that they would like."
Media.net will exclusively manage technology, business operations and relationships with respect to publishers worldwide for the program. Yahoo! will manage technology, business operations and relationships with respect to advertisers and drive advertiser sales worldwide for the program. Yahoo! will also manage all aspects of network operations to adhere to existing quality traffic standards.
The program is designed to work for websites that have premium content, where placing contextually relevant ads could result in high user engagement rates. The program is currently limited only to websites that primarily receive the majority of their traffic from the United States, Canada or United Kingdom.
Key Features of the program for publishers include:
Easy-to-use: Ads can be added to a publisher's website in minutes using the Media.net powered self-serve platform. Publishers can select an ad size and copy-paste the HTML provided on their web pages to start displaying targeted sponsored links and ad topics.
Premium advertiser pool: Access to the Yahoo! Bing Network consisting of millions of ads and ad topics.
Robust targeting: Proprietary Media.net technology scans all the content on web pages and delivers highly relevant ads.
Customization: Publishers can use the Media.net platform to pick from multiple ad sizes, skin the ads to match their look-and-feel requirements, and even request highly customized ad units.
Control: Publishers can influence the ad targeting on a web page by providing hints (keywords). Also, unwanted advertisers and ad topics can be easily blocked.
Dynamic optimization: Ad units consist of sponsored links, ad topics or a combination of both, as determined on an impression-by-impression basis to maximize ad yield.
Placement flexibility: Publishers can run ad units in tandem with or in place of their current ads.
Mobile ads: Publishers can choose to display mobile optimized ad units on their web pages to users browsing the site from any iOS (iPhone, iPad and iTouch), Android and Blackberry phone or tablet.
Real support: Full-time ad specialists from Media.net provide support to publishers. Publishers can interact with a real person to help with performance improvements, optimization and customizations.
To learn more about the program, visit http://contextualads.yahoo.com.
Advertisers can access this publisher inventory by signing up with the Yahoo! Bing Network. Existing Yahoo! Bing Network search advertisers that have selected to distribute their ads via syndicated search partners or that have opted-in to advertise on the content network will automatically and instantly access this high-quality publisher inventory.
Implementation of the deal has already begun with Contextual Ads appearing on several Yahoo! properties.
Photos/Images Available:
http://contextualads.yahoo.com/press/logos_and_images.zip
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is focused on creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
About Media.net
Since its founding, Media.net has constantly broken new ground in building innovative contextual advertising solutions that make generating revenue from ads easy and effective for web publishers. Media.net is privately held, backed by certain funds managed by Ashmore Investment Management Limited, a subsidiary of Ashmore Group plc (ASHM:LN) and Directi Group. It has over 400 employees in key operation centers across - Austin, Dubai, Mumbai & Bangalore. In the United States, Media.net operates primarily from Austin, TX. For more information, visit http://www.media.net.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Anthony E. Zuiker’s Digital Blockbuster Cybergeddon Set to Premiere Globally on Tuesday, September 25, Exclusively on Yahoo!
Cybergeddon Stars Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful) and Missy Peregrym (Rookie Blue)
Anthony E. Zuiker, the visionary creator of the CSI franchise, and his production company Dare to Pass in partnership with market leader Dolphin Digital Studios announced today the official worldwide premiere date, September 25, for Cybergeddon, a new digital blockbuster about the growing threat of cybercrime starring Olivier Martinez and Missy Peregrym. Today also marks the release of the official trailer now live at http://cybergeddon.yahoo.com/.
Cybergeddon follows the story of agent Chloe Jocelyn as she investigates a slew of seemingly unrelated cyberattacks with fellow agent Frank Parker and incarcerated master hacker Chase ‘Rabbit’ Rosen. Chloe and her team must crack the worldwide cybercrime ring led by Gustov Dobreff before it is too late. In a world where everyone is connected, everyone is at risk.
Cybergeddon will debut exclusively in over 25 countries and 10 languages on Yahoo! in a series of nine digital chapters – three per day over the course of three consecutive days.
The experience on Yahoo! includes an immersive site featuring additional clips that provide a deeper narrative with the characters, exclusive on-set photos, behind-the-scenes clips and interviews with the cast and crew. It will also host a special section where people can go to learn more about the stark realities of cybercrime.
Zuiker, Bill O’Dowd, CEO of Dolphin Digital Studios, and the film’s creators made a firm commitment to ensuring the storytelling around Cybergeddon was not only highly compelling and suspenseful, but also inspired by real-life cybersecurity concerns. To that end, the Zuiker team partnered with online security expert Norton by Symantec throughout the creative process to lend technical insights.
“Cybergeddon is a cinematic experience that breaks traditional rules. With the global distribution arm of Yahoo!, we will give viewers a way to have more to do after watching the segments to gain more knowledge and further interact with the storyline and cast,” said Zuiker. “The best part is that all of this can be experienced on any device, anytime and anywhere, day and date with the launch of Cybergeddon.”
Cybergeddon is a first-of-its-kind film co-produced, distributed and financed by Dolphin Digital Studios in a deal brokered and packaged by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
CREDITS:
Director: Diego Velasco (The Zero Hour)
Writer: Miles Chapman (The Tomb)
Executive Producers: Anthony E. Zuiker, Bill O’Dowd, (CEO, Dolphin Digital Studios).
Producer: Matthew Weinberg, (President, Dare to Pass)
Starring:
Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful) as Gustov Dobreff
Missy Peregrym (Rookie Blue) as Chloe Jocelyn
Manny Montana (Breakout Kings) as Frank Parker
Kick Gurry (Speed Racer) as Chase ‘Rabbit’ Rosen
For more information please visit “Cybergeddon” on Facebook or follow @cybergeddon on Twitter. Assets and talent interviews are available upon request.
###
About Cybergeddon
Cybergeddon is a digital blockbuster from the visionary storyteller and CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker, set to debut this fall on Yahoo!. In a first-of-its-kind distribution model, Cybergeddon will roll out sequentially and will engage audiences through an immersive storytelling, social media and gaming experience. Norton by Symantec has been tapped to lend credibility and security insights that will help guide the narrative. The project is produced in partnership with Dolphin Digital Studios in a deal brokered and packaged by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
About Anthony E. Zuiker
Anthony E. Zuiker is one of the most creative and multifaceted individuals working in Hollywood today. He is the creator of television’s hugely successful CSI franchise, and in July of 2011, Zuiker, and his production company, Dare to Pass, signed a three-year first-look deal with ABC Studios. In addition to expanding his film and television efforts, Zuiker continues to delve into the worlds of gaming, publishing and cross-platform storytelling. He is a pioneer of the “Digi-novel” genre and author of the Level 26 series published by Dutton/Penguin Group, and the final book in the series, Dark Revelations, was released in December of 2011. Around that same time, Zuiker also released a personal memoir, MR. CSI: How a Vegas Dreamer Made a Killing in Hollywood, One Body at a Time, published by Harper Collins. Zuiker is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and CAA.
About Dolphin Digital Media, Inc.
Dolphin Digital Media, Inc. is dedicated to the production of high-quality digital content. With the launch of Dolphin Digital Studios, the Company is at the forefront of the growing digital entertainment sector. Dolphin Digital Studios is committed to consistently delivering best-in-class entertainment and securing premium distribution partners to maximize audience reach and commercial advertising potential.
Dolphin Digital Studios’ first two web series, co-financed through an agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, are the action-packed high school spy thriller Aim High from multi-talented Executive Producer and Director McG (Director of Charlie’s Angels and Terminator: Salvation and Executive Producer of television series Chuck and Supernatural) and the futuristic survival tale H+: The Digital Series from blockbuster Director / Producer Bryan Singer (Director of X-Men, Superman Returns and The Usual Suspects, and Executive Producer of hit television series House).
Aim High simultaneously premiered on Facebook and Cambio (AOL’s Teen Site) in October, 2011. Aim High won the Writer’s Guild Award for Outstanding Achievement in Writing for Original New Media at the Writer’s Guild Awards ceremony hosted by Joel McHale and Zooey Deschanel on February 19, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. H+: The Digital Series was released on August 8, 2012 and can be viewed on YouTube.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is focused on creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. Yahoo!’s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com). Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc.
About Norton
Norton http://us.norton.com/ from Symantec Corporation protects the Stuff that matters to consumers, across all aspects of their digital lives. Norton provides a range of security solutions including technologies for PCs and mobile devices, live tech support services and online backup. Like Norton on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/norton.
Jacqueline Reses Joins Yahoo! as Executive Vice President, People and Development
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) announced that Jacqueline Reses has been appointed executive vice president of people and development, responsible for leading human resources and talent acquisition as well as corporate and business development globally. Reses will join the company on Sept. 7 and will report directly to Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer.
"We are very excited to have Jackie join the Yahoo! team, leading our efforts around finding and retaining the best talent," said Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!. "Jackie brings two decades of uniquely applicable operational experience around structuring organizations, programs, and strategies to build world-class teams in media and technology. Her tremendous energy will serve our employees well, and we're looking forward to her fresh perspectives."
"I'm thrilled to be joining the Yahoo! family," said Reses. "As Yahoo! looks to develop and define its future, hiring, managing and incentivizing talent will be of key importance. Building on my background, we will also do a rigorous assessment of corporate development and partnership opportunities."
Reses led the U.S. media group at Apax Partners, where she built a team of investment professionals focused on investing and driving value in media and technology businesses. In addition, Reses worked extensively on Apax's talent initiatives, including recruiting and training. While at Apax Partners, Reses served on the board of directors or led the investments in Cengage Learning, Intelsat, Nelson Education, Hit Entertainment, and NEP Broadcasting. Reses also served as CEO of iBuilding Inc., a real estate software business that was launched by Tishman Speyer and Benchmark Capital. Previously, she spent seven years at Goldman Sachs, where in addition to working on several keystone corporate transactions, she also supported the firm's mentoring, training and recruiting efforts. Reses has served on several non-profit boards, was named one of Crain's New York Business' "Most Influential Women," and was one of Dealmaker magazine's "Dealmakers of the Year."
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is focused on creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Monday, May 14, 2012
Yahoo! Names Fred Amoroso Chairman and Appoints Ross Levinsohn Interim CEO
Board Announces Settlement with Third Point LLC
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) announced that the Board of Directors has named Fred Amoroso as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Ross Levinsohn as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Company also announced that its Board has reached an agreement with Third Point LLC ("Third Point") to settle its pending proxy contest related to the Company's 2012 annual meeting of shareholders.
Mr. Amoroso replaces Roy Bostock, who has stepped down from his role as Non-Executive Chairman in order to accelerate the leadership transition for the new Board. Mr. Levinsohn replaces Scott Thompson, former Chief Executive Officer, who has left the Company.
Under the Board's settlement agreement with Third Point, three Third Point nominees — Daniel S. Loeb, Harry J. Wilson, and Michael J. Wolf — will join the Yahoo! Board, effective May 16, 2012. Mr. Bostock, along with Patti Hart, VJ Joshi, Arthur Kern and Gary Wilson, all of whom previously disclosed their intentions not to stand for re-election, as well as Mr. Thompson, have decided to step down from the Board immediately.
As a part of the settlement agreement, Third Point, which owns an aggregate of 70,545,400 shares, or 5.8% of Yahoo! common stock, has agreed to withdraw its previous Board nominations for consideration at the annual meeting and vote its shares in support of Yahoo!'s nominees. Yahoo!'s slate of director nominees for election or re-election at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders will now include Fred Amoroso, John Hayes, Peter Liguori, Thomas McInerney, Maynard Webb, Sue James, David Kenny, Brad Smith, Daniel S. Loeb, Harry J. Wilson and Michael J. Wolf.
As interim CEO, Mr. Levinsohn will manage the Company's day-to-day operations with assistance from Yahoo!'s existing senior leadership team.
"The Board is pleased to announce these changes and the settlement with Third Point, and is confident that they will serve the best interests of our shareholders and further accelerate the substantial advances the Company has made operationally and organizationally since last August. The Board believes in the strength of the Company's business and assets, and in the opportunities before us, and I am honored to work closely with my fellow directors and Ross to continue to drive Yahoo! forward," said Fred Amoroso, Chairman of the Yahoo! Board of Directors.
Mr. Amoroso continued, "On behalf of the entire Board, I would also like to thank Patti, VJ, Arthur, Gary and, in particular, Roy, for their dedicated long-term service and contributions to the Board and Yahoo!."
Third Point Chief Executive Officer Daniel S. Loeb stated: "Harry, Michael and I are delighted to join the Yahoo! Board and work collaboratively with our fellow directors to foster a culture of leadership dedicated to innovation, excellence in corporate governance, and responsiveness to users, advertisers and partners. We are confident this Board will benefit from shareholder representation, and we are committed to working with new leadership to unlock Yahoo!'s significant potential and value."
Third Point Director Nominee Jeff Zucker stated: "I have been supportive of Third Point's efforts since Daniel asked me to join the slate. When I became aware of Yahoo!'s offer of three board seats to Third Point, I approached Daniel and let him know that I would be happy to step aside to quickly facilitate a settlement. I believe that it is in Yahoo!'s best interests to avoid a prolonged proxy fight and have new board members immediately to help move the company forward. While there is clearly much work to be done, this is the right combination of talented executives to do just that."
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. And Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net ) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com ).
About Third Point LLC
About Third Point LLC : Third Point is an investment firm headquartered in New York, managing $9.0 billion in assets, including a London Stock Exchange listed closed-end fund. Founded in 1995, Third Point follows an event-driven approach to investing globally.
Introducing Genome from Yahoo!, a New Solution Capitalizing on Yahoo!'s Vast Data and Designed to Significantly Improve Online Marketing Campaigns
Data Driven Best-in-Class Technology Uncovers Optimal Targeted Audiences at Scale in a Premium Media Ecosystem
NEW YORK -- At Internet Week New York, Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO), the premier digital media company, announces Genome from Yahoo! (www.genomeplatform.com), an online advertising solution that combines Yahoo! data with interclick's third party data and advertisers' first party data along with a premium media footprint to provide marketers with the most complete, custom audience solution in the industry. Anticipated to be available in July 2012, Genome is the culmination of a strategy that was put in place last year with the display ad agreement with Microsoft and AOL as well as the acquisition of interclick, which Yahoo! acquired in December 2011, to create a next generation audience buying solution with greater targeting and personalization capabilities.
Genome, designed to leverage data to improve advertiser ROI, can provide marketers with actionable insights enabling them to conduct campaigns that help meet their objectives, and overcome an ever-evolving set of industry challenges that include the proliferation of data, fragmentation of technology, and outdated planning and buying techniques. Genome can help marketers organize and navigate the chaos of the data ecosystem while delivering results that can build brand value, increase conversion rates, and grow revenue. Genome combines the best of the technology, data, analytics and media from Yahoo! and interclick; from Yahoo! — premium media and unmatched user data with proven targeting capabilities— and interclick — unified technology stack, third-party data partnerships and expertise in analytics and audiences.
"Marketers have asked us for a solution that capitalizes on our vast data and our answer to that is Genome," said Rich Riley, EVP, Americas Region, Yahoo!. "With Genome, we can help marketers transform consumer information and insights into actionable online media executions that enable them to attain the right context and audiences."
"It is great to see Yahoo! continuing to lead in providing unrivaled access to their premium inventory through automated buying systems, as well as making their data and audience technology available to agency customers through our buying platforms." said Josh Jacobs, president of Accuen Media, Omnicom's Trading Desk. "Our customers value the scale and quality of Yahoo!'s audience, and we are excited to take advantage of the increased access Yahoo! is enabling."
Genome is designed to bring to market a comprehensive online advertising solution that can benefit the entire advertising industry. Key features of this next generation audience buying solution include:
Unmatched data set: In order to provide a multi-dimensional view of consumers, Genome provides access to an expansive and diverse data set comprised of Yahoo!'s proprietary data — including registration, search and behavioral data — as well as integrated advertiser information, and data from industry-leading partners.
Premium media footprint: Genome allows marketers to directly access Yahoo!'s guaranteed and non-guaranteed premium inventory, as well as inventory available from the Yahoo!, AOL, and Microsoft partnership announced in November, and comScore Top 1,000 publishers - all in transparent and brand safe environments.
Actionable insights and analytics suite: From predictive modeling techniques to information design, Genome's analytics helps marketers sort the big data landscape. This portable suite leverages leading campaign and user analytics to anticipate, optimize, and measure audience performance, turning insights into actionable media executions; marketers can carry their strategies across media plans with partners.
Best-in-class audience technology: This proprietary data valuation technology is designed to work with massive data volumes, real-time marketplaces, and multi-vendor solutions, with increased efficiency to help meet marketers' marketing goals. Genome's core technology is OSM, an innovative and interconnected technology stack that manages diverse data sources to provide an innovative approach to uncovering optimal audiences at scale, resulting from Yahoo!'s acquisition of interclick.
Privacy: As a recognized leader in developing privacy-enhancing tools for consumers and a member of the NAI and DAA, Yahoo! understands the importance of consumer trust and privacy. Yahoo! provides transparency about our data collection and use practices and extends several tools to empower consumers to manage their experience, such as a global opt-out, Ad Interest Manager for visibility and control over specific interest categories, and we're now among the first in the world to support Do Not Track.
INTERNET WEEK ACTIVITIES
Today, Rich Riley, executive vice president, Yahoo! Americas, joins Billy Beane, the Oakland A's General Manager, whose story was depicted in Moneyball, and industry leaders on Internet Week's main stage to discuss the importance of data in a premium online advertising ecosystem.
Yahoo!'s "Big Data Big Solutions" panel at Internet Week on Monday, May 14, 2012, features the following speakers: Acxiom chief marketing officer Tim Suther ; Citibank senior vice president, head of online display acquisitions Michele Morelli ; Michael Lampert, Vice President, Group Director, Media, Digitas ; Sean Muzzy, Senior Partner, Managing Director, NEO@Ogilvy; Yahoo! general manager, audience and performance advertising Peter Foster ; Forrester senior analyst Joanna O'Connell.
Panelists will address changes in the online advertising ecosystem, including the explosion of data, fragmentation of technology, outdated planning and buying techniques, and the need for truly actionable insights.
About Yahoo!:
Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. And Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.com).
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Yahoo! Completes interclick Tender Offer
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), announced it completed its tender offer for the outstanding shares of interclick, inc. (NASDAQ: ICLK) at a price of $9.00 per share, net to the holder in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. Yahoo! commenced the tender offer on November 15, 2011 and it expired at the end of the day on December 13, 2011.
Computershare, the depositary for the tender offer, advised that 20,911,954 shares of interclick common stock were validly tendered representing approximately 81% of interclick's outstanding common stock and approximately 66% of interclick's outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis. It also received commitments to tender 1,259,742 shares of interclick common stock in accordance with guaranteed delivery procedures. Yahoo! has accepted for payment all shares validly tendered (excluding any guaranteed deliveries).
interclick has built an industry leading data valuation platform optimized to work with large data volumes across multiple providers and marketplaces. It dramatically improves data targeted solutions and optimizes returns for advertisers across a variety of pooled premium supply. interclick brings new premium supply and a rich set of campaign reporting tools that will allow Yahoo! to provide improved insights on performance.
"With interclick, Yahoo! has acquired technology and talent that will enable us to offer better and more efficient campaigns to marketers," said Wayne Powers, SVP of North American Advertising Sales at Yahoo!. "We are pleased to welcome the interclick team to Yahoo! and look forward to the innovative new solutions we will be able to offer."
Yahoo! expects to complete the acquisition of interclick today through a "short-form" merger. In the merger, all remaining shares of interclick common stock (other than shares held by interclick, Yahoo! or their subsidiaries, and shares held by stockholders, if any, who properly exercise their appraisal rights under applicable Delaware law) will be acquired for $9.00 per share. After the merger, interclick will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Yahoo!.
In order to complete the "short form" merger, Yahoo! will exercise its "top-up" option pursuant to the merger agreement to purchase directly from interclick an additional number of shares, for $9.00 per share (the same price paid in the tender offer). Together with the shares purchased in the tender offer, Yahoo! will own at least 90% of the outstanding shares of interclick common stock.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. And Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.com) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc.
All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Computershare, the depositary for the tender offer, advised that 20,911,954 shares of interclick common stock were validly tendered representing approximately 81% of interclick's outstanding common stock and approximately 66% of interclick's outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis. It also received commitments to tender 1,259,742 shares of interclick common stock in accordance with guaranteed delivery procedures. Yahoo! has accepted for payment all shares validly tendered (excluding any guaranteed deliveries).
interclick has built an industry leading data valuation platform optimized to work with large data volumes across multiple providers and marketplaces. It dramatically improves data targeted solutions and optimizes returns for advertisers across a variety of pooled premium supply. interclick brings new premium supply and a rich set of campaign reporting tools that will allow Yahoo! to provide improved insights on performance.
"With interclick, Yahoo! has acquired technology and talent that will enable us to offer better and more efficient campaigns to marketers," said Wayne Powers, SVP of North American Advertising Sales at Yahoo!. "We are pleased to welcome the interclick team to Yahoo! and look forward to the innovative new solutions we will be able to offer."
Yahoo! expects to complete the acquisition of interclick today through a "short-form" merger. In the merger, all remaining shares of interclick common stock (other than shares held by interclick, Yahoo! or their subsidiaries, and shares held by stockholders, if any, who properly exercise their appraisal rights under applicable Delaware law) will be acquired for $9.00 per share. After the merger, interclick will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Yahoo!.
In order to complete the "short form" merger, Yahoo! will exercise its "top-up" option pursuant to the merger agreement to purchase directly from interclick an additional number of shares, for $9.00 per share (the same price paid in the tender offer). Together with the shares purchased in the tender offer, Yahoo! will own at least 90% of the outstanding shares of interclick common stock.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. And Yahoo!'s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.com) or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc.
All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Samsung and Yahoo! Form Strategic Partnership for Mobile Phones
Companies Partner to Distribute Yahoo! Services Including Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 and Yahoo! oneSearch(TM) on New Samsung Mobile Phones Worldwide.
SEOUL, South Korea & LAS VEGAS — Samsung, a leading provider and innovator of mobile phones, and Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, announced a strategic global partnership to distribute Yahoo!’s popular services on millions of new Samsung mobile phones in more than 60 countries. Samsung will pre-load Yahoo! services, including Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0, Yahoo! oneSearch, Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger, on its mobile phones beginning in the first half of 2007. This new relationship is the latest demonstration of the companies’ clear focus on extending their leadership in the mobile Internet.
Samsung has already launched its first mobile handset, the SGH-E570, pre-loaded with Yahoo! Search. Samsung plans to greatly expand the number of its mobile handsets with pre-loaded Yahoo! services in 2007 and will roll out Yahoo! oneSearch after it goes live globally in the coming months.
“Samsung recognizes consumers’ need for Internet access through their mobiles anytime, anywhere,” said Kitae Lee, president of Samsung’s telecommunications network business. “Samsung mobile phones with Yahoo! services will provide consumers with fast and convenient access to the Internet, even on the move. Our successful partnership with Yahoo! builds on Samsung’s continuing efforts to enhance consumers’ mobile experience.”
Through the relationship the companies will also help drive consumer adoption of mobile Internet services by making it easy for consumers to get more done while on the go, such as using the new Yahoo! oneSearch to quickly find the answers they need. Yahoo! oneSearch will also include high-quality sponsored search results, enabling Yahoo! advertisers to reach consumers on their mobile devices.
“Yahoo! has always focused on partnering with leading companies to bring our mobile services to consumers’ fingertips and this new strategic partnership with Samsung is a vital component of that strategy,” said Marco Boerries, senior vice president of connected life, Yahoo!.
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Samsung mobile phones with Yahoo! services will be available to consumers through both mobile operators and direct distribution channels. Consumers around the world can download and use the beta version of Yahoo! Go 2.0 on select Samsung mobile phones beginning today by visiting http://go.yahoo.com.
SEOUL, South Korea & LAS VEGAS — Samsung, a leading provider and innovator of mobile phones, and Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, announced a strategic global partnership to distribute Yahoo!’s popular services on millions of new Samsung mobile phones in more than 60 countries. Samsung will pre-load Yahoo! services, including Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0, Yahoo! oneSearch, Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger, on its mobile phones beginning in the first half of 2007. This new relationship is the latest demonstration of the companies’ clear focus on extending their leadership in the mobile Internet.
Samsung has already launched its first mobile handset, the SGH-E570, pre-loaded with Yahoo! Search. Samsung plans to greatly expand the number of its mobile handsets with pre-loaded Yahoo! services in 2007 and will roll out Yahoo! oneSearch after it goes live globally in the coming months.
“Samsung recognizes consumers’ need for Internet access through their mobiles anytime, anywhere,” said Kitae Lee, president of Samsung’s telecommunications network business. “Samsung mobile phones with Yahoo! services will provide consumers with fast and convenient access to the Internet, even on the move. Our successful partnership with Yahoo! builds on Samsung’s continuing efforts to enhance consumers’ mobile experience.”
Through the relationship the companies will also help drive consumer adoption of mobile Internet services by making it easy for consumers to get more done while on the go, such as using the new Yahoo! oneSearch to quickly find the answers they need. Yahoo! oneSearch will also include high-quality sponsored search results, enabling Yahoo! advertisers to reach consumers on their mobile devices.
“Yahoo! has always focused on partnering with leading companies to bring our mobile services to consumers’ fingertips and this new strategic partnership with Samsung is a vital component of that strategy,” said Marco Boerries, senior vice president of connected life, Yahoo!.
[content omitted, included above]
Samsung mobile phones with Yahoo! services will be available to consumers through both mobile operators and direct distribution channels. Consumers around the world can download and use the beta version of Yahoo! Go 2.0 on select Samsung mobile phones beginning today by visiting http://go.yahoo.com.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Yahoo!, Toyota and Reveille Launch "Who Knew?," an Original Daily News Web Series
Yahoo! and Reveille Announce Content Development and Distribution Partnership.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & LOS ANGELES -- Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO), Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (TMS) and Reveille announced the launch of WHO KNEW?, Yahoo! News' first daily original Web series (whoknew.news.yahoo.com). Composed of easy-to-digest commentaries on current events, the series provides news consumers with unknown and out-of-the-ordinary facts and information behind the most talked-about current events of the day. The program -- part of a broader content production and distribution agreement between Yahoo! and Reveille, also announced today -- is designed to give the audience the upper hand in daily water-cooler conversations.
Hosted on Yahoo! News, WHO KNEW? will feature a new, 90-second episode each weekday, based on the most-clicked news story of the day. The series was developed collaboratively by Yahoo!, Toyota and Reveille for the launch of the redesigned Toyota Avalon. It brings together Yahoo!'s scale and understanding of its audience, Toyota's understanding of its Avalon customer, and Reveille's creative insights and proven production expertise. Yahoo! and Reveille also recently produced "Real Life Makeover" for Walmart on Yahoo! Shine (shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/), Yahoo!'s site for women. Through this relationship, Yahoo! and Reveille plan to work closely with additional advertisers to produce more online series for Yahoo!, based on audience insights and marketer objectives.
"Creative, original programming such as WHO KNEW? is an essential part of Yahoo!'s mission to be the center of people's online lives," said Mark Walker, vice president of Yahoo! News. "WHO KNEW? will inform and entertain the Internet's largest news audience with equal parts need-to-know and did-you-know information about the topics they care about most. Yahoo!'s deep understanding of how our audience consumes news, combined with Reveille's history of producing popular original programming, has helped us build a series that we believe will be a hit with Yahoo! News viewers."
"Working with Yahoo!, we've created a web series that provides consumers with short nuggets of infotainment behind the day's most popular news content, while giving Toyota an ideal platform to better connect with an audience that's highly engaged," said Howard T. Owens, Managing Director at Reveille.
Sponsored by Toyota on behalf of the redesigned Avalon, WHO KNEW? will include several branding elements on the page and within the program. Most notably, one "comforting fact" will appear on the program each week. It aligns with the Avalon campaign theme: "Comfort Is Back. Travel Avalon Class." Toyota will support its campaign with a customized Yahoo! homepage ad execution on April 14, as well as a first-of-its-kind Yahoo! News homepage ad execution in May.
"Yahoo! and Reveille have been excellent creative partners in developing breezy yet informational content that appeals to our Avalon customer," said Dionne Colvin, national marketing media manager for TMS. "We have every confidence in the series. Yahoo! News is a trusted source for our Avalon customer, and we've worked successfully with Reveille in the past to develop original content."
The daily-news original Web series will give Toyota access to Yahoo! News' vast audience, reaching 21% of online adults -- more than any other online news site. The Yahoo! News audience, made up of more than 43 million monthly unique visitors, is an opportunity for Toyota to reach its target audience for Avalon: young baby boomers who are highly engaged with current events and interested in understanding the news beyond the headlines.
Yahoo!'s relationship with Reveille continues the Yahoo!'s long history of developing and distributing original premium programming that seamlessly incorporates advertiser messages into creative content, engaging consumers and meeting marketer objectives. Yahoo!'s original programming hits also include: PRIME TIME IN NO TIME, the most watched original online program, and TECH TICKER, the most watched finance show online.
About Reveille
Reveille is a leading independent studio focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights in scripted and unscripted television and digital entertainment, and a world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Reveille is known for popular and award-winning hit series including THE BIGGEST LOSER, THE OFFICE, THE BURIED LIFE, UGLY BETTY, THE TUDORS, TABATHA'S SALON TAKEOVER, SHEAR GENIUS and PARENTAL CONTROL. Reveille has developed many original online series for brands including the series FIT TO BOOM for Subway and IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS WITH JACK AND SUZY WELCH for Microsoft. Upcoming television series include MASTERCHEF, GIGANTIC, LOSING IT WITH JILLIAN and BREAKTHROUGH WITH TONY ROBBINS. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Reveille distributes its extensive library of programming to more than 150 countries. Reveille is part of the Shine Group, one of the world's foremost multinational entertainment and drama companies.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & LOS ANGELES -- Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO), Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (TMS) and Reveille announced the launch of WHO KNEW?, Yahoo! News' first daily original Web series (whoknew.news.yahoo.com). Composed of easy-to-digest commentaries on current events, the series provides news consumers with unknown and out-of-the-ordinary facts and information behind the most talked-about current events of the day. The program -- part of a broader content production and distribution agreement between Yahoo! and Reveille, also announced today -- is designed to give the audience the upper hand in daily water-cooler conversations.
Hosted on Yahoo! News, WHO KNEW? will feature a new, 90-second episode each weekday, based on the most-clicked news story of the day. The series was developed collaboratively by Yahoo!, Toyota and Reveille for the launch of the redesigned Toyota Avalon. It brings together Yahoo!'s scale and understanding of its audience, Toyota's understanding of its Avalon customer, and Reveille's creative insights and proven production expertise. Yahoo! and Reveille also recently produced "Real Life Makeover" for Walmart on Yahoo! Shine (shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/), Yahoo!'s site for women. Through this relationship, Yahoo! and Reveille plan to work closely with additional advertisers to produce more online series for Yahoo!, based on audience insights and marketer objectives.
"Creative, original programming such as WHO KNEW? is an essential part of Yahoo!'s mission to be the center of people's online lives," said Mark Walker, vice president of Yahoo! News. "WHO KNEW? will inform and entertain the Internet's largest news audience with equal parts need-to-know and did-you-know information about the topics they care about most. Yahoo!'s deep understanding of how our audience consumes news, combined with Reveille's history of producing popular original programming, has helped us build a series that we believe will be a hit with Yahoo! News viewers."
"Working with Yahoo!, we've created a web series that provides consumers with short nuggets of infotainment behind the day's most popular news content, while giving Toyota an ideal platform to better connect with an audience that's highly engaged," said Howard T. Owens, Managing Director at Reveille.
Sponsored by Toyota on behalf of the redesigned Avalon, WHO KNEW? will include several branding elements on the page and within the program. Most notably, one "comforting fact" will appear on the program each week. It aligns with the Avalon campaign theme: "Comfort Is Back. Travel Avalon Class." Toyota will support its campaign with a customized Yahoo! homepage ad execution on April 14, as well as a first-of-its-kind Yahoo! News homepage ad execution in May.
"Yahoo! and Reveille have been excellent creative partners in developing breezy yet informational content that appeals to our Avalon customer," said Dionne Colvin, national marketing media manager for TMS. "We have every confidence in the series. Yahoo! News is a trusted source for our Avalon customer, and we've worked successfully with Reveille in the past to develop original content."
The daily-news original Web series will give Toyota access to Yahoo! News' vast audience, reaching 21% of online adults -- more than any other online news site. The Yahoo! News audience, made up of more than 43 million monthly unique visitors, is an opportunity for Toyota to reach its target audience for Avalon: young baby boomers who are highly engaged with current events and interested in understanding the news beyond the headlines.
Yahoo!'s relationship with Reveille continues the Yahoo!'s long history of developing and distributing original premium programming that seamlessly incorporates advertiser messages into creative content, engaging consumers and meeting marketer objectives. Yahoo!'s original programming hits also include: PRIME TIME IN NO TIME, the most watched original online program, and TECH TICKER, the most watched finance show online.
About Reveille
Reveille is a leading independent studio focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights in scripted and unscripted television and digital entertainment, and a world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Reveille is known for popular and award-winning hit series including THE BIGGEST LOSER, THE OFFICE, THE BURIED LIFE, UGLY BETTY, THE TUDORS, TABATHA'S SALON TAKEOVER, SHEAR GENIUS and PARENTAL CONTROL. Reveille has developed many original online series for brands including the series FIT TO BOOM for Subway and IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS WITH JACK AND SUZY WELCH for Microsoft. Upcoming television series include MASTERCHEF, GIGANTIC, LOSING IT WITH JILLIAN and BREAKTHROUGH WITH TONY ROBBINS. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Reveille distributes its extensive library of programming to more than 150 countries. Reveille is part of the Shine Group, one of the world's foremost multinational entertainment and drama companies.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Yahoo! Announces John Chapple Will Not Stand for Re-Election to Board
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) announced that John Chapple has decided not to stand for re-election to the company's Board of Directors at its 2010 annual stockholders' meeting in order to devote more time to his other business interests. Mr. Chapple has served on the company's board since August 2008.
"John has played an important role providing valuable business expertise," said Roy Bostock, chairman of Yahoo!'s Board of Directors. "On behalf of our entire board, I would like to thank John for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors."
"It has been a great privilege to serve on Yahoo!'s board," said John Chapple, president of Hawkeye Investments. "The Yahoo! team is incredibly talented and I know the company is well positioned for continued success."
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
"John has played an important role providing valuable business expertise," said Roy Bostock, chairman of Yahoo!'s Board of Directors. "On behalf of our entire board, I would like to thank John for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors."
"It has been a great privilege to serve on Yahoo!'s board," said John Chapple, president of Hawkeye Investments. "The Yahoo! team is incredibly talented and I know the company is well positioned for continued success."
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo! Pioneers New Era in Mobile Search; Launches Yahoo!(R) Sketch-a-Search and Yahoo!(R) Search iPhone Apps
Yahoo!'s Innovative Mobile Search Experiences Ignite Imaginations and Provide Information at Consumers' Fingertips.
LAS VEGAS, Mar 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At CTIA Wireless 2010, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) launched two new innovative applications for Apple iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R) -- Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search and Yahoo! Search -- providing consumers with fun, entertaining, and engaging search experiences that deliver powerful information in a fast, locally aware, and elegant manner. Both apps are available beginning today from the iTunes(R) Store at http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosearch and http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosketchasearch.
Yahoo! revolutionized mobile search in 2007 with the launch of Yahoo! oneSearch, which delivered answers, not just Web links. This consumer experience signified a tipping point in the industry as Yahoo! fundamentally changed the way consumers used search on their mobile phones. The industry took note -- Yahoo! has partnered with more than 80 leading carriers and original equipment manufacturers around the world to deliver an industry-leading mobile search experience to millions of users, and competitors subsequently modified their products to remain competitive. Yahoo! continues to innovate and invest in mobile and search by redefining how consumers access the information that's important to them.
"Yahoo! is defining the next era of the Internet, search, and mobile, by demonstrating what's possible when you leverage innovative design and technical prowess to engage people with personally relevant experiences," said David Ko, senior vice president of Yahoo!'s Audience, Mobile, and Local businesses. "We're growing our mobile audience globally by providing people with search experiences that have simple input and discovery methods, and advertisers with a highly engaged mobile audience."
Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search iPhone App
Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search makes search even easier, without typing keywords or thinking about search terms. You simply draw a boundary on your phone's map to discover local businesses within that location. Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search delivers robust local content without people needing to know the neighborhood. Initially available for restaurant searches in the U.S., Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search will launch additional local categories on an ongoing basis and extend to international markets in the near future.
Key features include:
* Sketch and Discover: Use a finger to draw a circle, line, or any shape to get a bird's eye view of what's nearby in a specific area or on a specific street.
* Location Awareness: Defaults to a person's current location, remembers previous locations, and allows people to search for a specific city or an area of interest.
* Robust Local Content: Filter restaurant results by cuisine, ambiance, and star rating. Click on restaurants to read reviews, browse photos, get directions, or make a phone call -- all directly within the app.
* Shake to Clear: Shake the device or click on the Sketch icon to start a new Sketch-a-Search.
Yahoo! Search iPhone App
Maximized for speed, the Yahoo! Search iPhone app revolves around an innovative interface that delivers contextually relevant results quickly and efficiently. A bevy of features -- tightly embedded maps, localized query suggestions that display as you type, intelligent search history, voice search, and rich content and information from Yahoo! and other sources that appear directly in the results -- creates an optimal experience for finding exactly what you need. The Yahoo! Search iPhone app is available in 22 markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and will continue to roll out to additional locations.
Key features include:
* Fast Results: Get results, detailed summaries at a glance, and instant, local suggestions that display as you type with Yahoo! Search Assist.
* Local Shortcuts: Refine results based on your location with embedded maps and location-aware technology. Then call a business or get directions with a single click, all without leaving the results. (Currently available only in the U.S.)
* Rich Local Content: View photos, ratings, phone numbers, and more from Yahoo! Local, Yelp, and Citysearch.
* Rich Results: Get the answers you're looking for -- not a list of meaningless links -- with search results that are infused with specific, helpful information from Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Movies, and other providers.
* Integrated Voice Search: Don't type -- just speak your query, making input easy and fast.
* Intelligent Search History: Get quick access to recent searches and local businesses.
* Shake to Clear: Shake the device to start a new query.
LAS VEGAS, Mar 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At CTIA Wireless 2010, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) launched two new innovative applications for Apple iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R) -- Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search and Yahoo! Search -- providing consumers with fun, entertaining, and engaging search experiences that deliver powerful information in a fast, locally aware, and elegant manner. Both apps are available beginning today from the iTunes(R) Store at http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosearch and http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosketchasearch.
Yahoo! revolutionized mobile search in 2007 with the launch of Yahoo! oneSearch, which delivered answers, not just Web links. This consumer experience signified a tipping point in the industry as Yahoo! fundamentally changed the way consumers used search on their mobile phones. The industry took note -- Yahoo! has partnered with more than 80 leading carriers and original equipment manufacturers around the world to deliver an industry-leading mobile search experience to millions of users, and competitors subsequently modified their products to remain competitive. Yahoo! continues to innovate and invest in mobile and search by redefining how consumers access the information that's important to them.
"Yahoo! is defining the next era of the Internet, search, and mobile, by demonstrating what's possible when you leverage innovative design and technical prowess to engage people with personally relevant experiences," said David Ko, senior vice president of Yahoo!'s Audience, Mobile, and Local businesses. "We're growing our mobile audience globally by providing people with search experiences that have simple input and discovery methods, and advertisers with a highly engaged mobile audience."
Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search iPhone App
Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search makes search even easier, without typing keywords or thinking about search terms. You simply draw a boundary on your phone's map to discover local businesses within that location. Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search delivers robust local content without people needing to know the neighborhood. Initially available for restaurant searches in the U.S., Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search will launch additional local categories on an ongoing basis and extend to international markets in the near future.
Key features include:
* Sketch and Discover: Use a finger to draw a circle, line, or any shape to get a bird's eye view of what's nearby in a specific area or on a specific street.
* Location Awareness: Defaults to a person's current location, remembers previous locations, and allows people to search for a specific city or an area of interest.
* Robust Local Content: Filter restaurant results by cuisine, ambiance, and star rating. Click on restaurants to read reviews, browse photos, get directions, or make a phone call -- all directly within the app.
* Shake to Clear: Shake the device or click on the Sketch icon to start a new Sketch-a-Search.
Yahoo! Search iPhone App
Maximized for speed, the Yahoo! Search iPhone app revolves around an innovative interface that delivers contextually relevant results quickly and efficiently. A bevy of features -- tightly embedded maps, localized query suggestions that display as you type, intelligent search history, voice search, and rich content and information from Yahoo! and other sources that appear directly in the results -- creates an optimal experience for finding exactly what you need. The Yahoo! Search iPhone app is available in 22 markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and will continue to roll out to additional locations.
Key features include:
* Fast Results: Get results, detailed summaries at a glance, and instant, local suggestions that display as you type with Yahoo! Search Assist.
* Local Shortcuts: Refine results based on your location with embedded maps and location-aware technology. Then call a business or get directions with a single click, all without leaving the results. (Currently available only in the U.S.)
* Rich Local Content: View photos, ratings, phone numbers, and more from Yahoo! Local, Yelp, and Citysearch.
* Rich Results: Get the answers you're looking for -- not a list of meaningless links -- with search results that are infused with specific, helpful information from Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Movies, and other providers.
* Integrated Voice Search: Don't type -- just speak your query, making input easy and fast.
* Intelligent Search History: Get quick access to recent searches and local businesses.
* Shake to Clear: Shake the device to start a new query.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 Named Official Online Fantasy Game for MLB.com
Co-Branded Fantasy Baseball Game Offers Fans In-Game Video Highlights, Live Stats, News, Analysis, Tools, and Live Online Auction Draft.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- As Spring Training heats up, Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), the online partner of choice for major media companies, and MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, announced an exclusive deal that makes Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 the official fantasy baseball game of MLB.com.
The co-branded Yahoo! Sports fantasy baseball game, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 (http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/), which will be promoted on MLB.com and across its online properties, will deliver fantasy players the most compelling experience of its kind ever offered, including integrated in-game and post-game video highlights of Major League Baseball action.
By signing up on Yahoo! Sports, the number-one online destination for sports enthusiasts, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 players can purchase MLB.com's new Fantasy Highlights package, giving them the opportunity to watch customized, in-game and post-game video highlights of their fantasy players directly from their homepage. MLB.com's Fantasy Highlights package will be available to all Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 users as a free-trial for the first two weeks of the MLB regular season and the full season will be available for a one-time fee of $9.95.
The unique feature, combined with Yahoo! Sports' leading online news and insights, will provide players with the most comprehensive and interactive fantasy baseball experience anywhere. Additionally, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 will offer a new live online auction draft application and free live scoring, which gives fans the ability to view live stats and instant scoring for teams or matchups and get real-time league standings straight to their homepage.
"This partnership with MLB.com will provide fans with the most relevant and engaging fantasy baseball experience on the Web," said Kyle Laughlin, head of Yahoo! Sports. "The combination of Yahoo!'s unmatched sports news and MLB.com's in-game and post-game video highlights makes Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 the biggest and best fantasy game for passionate fantasy baseball fans."
"Integrating this new highlights package with Yahoo!'s industry-leading fantasy baseball game will take fans beyond the box score to watch the performance of their fantasy roster as it unfolds on the field," said Kenny Gersh, senior vice president, business development, MLB.com. "We believe this product will exceed fantasy baseball players' growing appetites for deeper engagement by delivering an immediate, high quality experience."
Yahoo! works closely with major sports, entertainment, and media companies to deliver the world's most relevant and engaging content to its consumers. This is the third official league relationship Yahoo! has entered into, with the NHL and PGA Tour fantasy games already leading in their respective online categories. Yahoo! also has partnerships with content creators and publishers such as AP, Reuters, NFL, NCAA, Meredith Publications, Condé Nast, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more than 800 newspapers through the Newspaper Consortium.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most visited Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
About Major League Baseball Advanced Media
Established in June 2000 following a unanimous vote by the 30 Major League Baseball club owners to centralize all of baseball's Internet operations, MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM) is the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball. MLBAM manages the official league site, www.MLB.com, and each of the 30 club sites to create the most comprehensive Major League Baseball resource on the Internet. MLB.com offers fans the most complete baseball information and interactivity on the Web, including up-to-date statistics, game previews and summaries, extensive historical information, online ticket sales, baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles, fantasy games, live full-game video webcasts and on-demand highlights, live and archived audio broadcasts of every game, Gameday pitch-by-pitch application, around-the-clock hosted and specialty video programming, and complete blogging capabilities. MLB.com offers more live events on the Internet than any other website in the world.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- As Spring Training heats up, Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), the online partner of choice for major media companies, and MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, announced an exclusive deal that makes Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 the official fantasy baseball game of MLB.com.
The co-branded Yahoo! Sports fantasy baseball game, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 (http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/), which will be promoted on MLB.com and across its online properties, will deliver fantasy players the most compelling experience of its kind ever offered, including integrated in-game and post-game video highlights of Major League Baseball action.
By signing up on Yahoo! Sports, the number-one online destination for sports enthusiasts, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 players can purchase MLB.com's new Fantasy Highlights package, giving them the opportunity to watch customized, in-game and post-game video highlights of their fantasy players directly from their homepage. MLB.com's Fantasy Highlights package will be available to all Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 users as a free-trial for the first two weeks of the MLB regular season and the full season will be available for a one-time fee of $9.95.
The unique feature, combined with Yahoo! Sports' leading online news and insights, will provide players with the most comprehensive and interactive fantasy baseball experience anywhere. Additionally, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 will offer a new live online auction draft application and free live scoring, which gives fans the ability to view live stats and instant scoring for teams or matchups and get real-time league standings straight to their homepage.
"This partnership with MLB.com will provide fans with the most relevant and engaging fantasy baseball experience on the Web," said Kyle Laughlin, head of Yahoo! Sports. "The combination of Yahoo!'s unmatched sports news and MLB.com's in-game and post-game video highlights makes Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball '10 the biggest and best fantasy game for passionate fantasy baseball fans."
"Integrating this new highlights package with Yahoo!'s industry-leading fantasy baseball game will take fans beyond the box score to watch the performance of their fantasy roster as it unfolds on the field," said Kenny Gersh, senior vice president, business development, MLB.com. "We believe this product will exceed fantasy baseball players' growing appetites for deeper engagement by delivering an immediate, high quality experience."
Yahoo! works closely with major sports, entertainment, and media companies to deliver the world's most relevant and engaging content to its consumers. This is the third official league relationship Yahoo! has entered into, with the NHL and PGA Tour fantasy games already leading in their respective online categories. Yahoo! also has partnerships with content creators and publishers such as AP, Reuters, NFL, NCAA, Meredith Publications, Condé Nast, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more than 800 newspapers through the Newspaper Consortium.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most visited Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
About Major League Baseball Advanced Media
Established in June 2000 following a unanimous vote by the 30 Major League Baseball club owners to centralize all of baseball's Internet operations, MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM) is the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball. MLBAM manages the official league site, www.MLB.com, and each of the 30 club sites to create the most comprehensive Major League Baseball resource on the Internet. MLB.com offers fans the most complete baseball information and interactivity on the Web, including up-to-date statistics, game previews and summaries, extensive historical information, online ticket sales, baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles, fantasy games, live full-game video webcasts and on-demand highlights, live and archived audio broadcasts of every game, Gameday pitch-by-pitch application, around-the-clock hosted and specialty video programming, and complete blogging capabilities. MLB.com offers more live events on the Internet than any other website in the world.
Yahoo! to Acquire Citizen Sports
Strengthens Social Strategy by Combining the Power of the No. 1 Online Sports Destination with the Web's Most Popular Social Sports Company.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- As part of its ongoing commitment to be the center of people's online lives, Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Citizen Sports (www.citizensports.com), a company that brings the world of sports to fans' favorite social networking sites and mobile devices through innovative applications. This acquisition will strengthen Yahoo!'s social strategy of enriching, aggregating and distributing social content from across the entire Web, and offering a highly customizable social experience.
"Yahoo! is in a unique position to combine our deep expertise in content and aggregation technology to offer a highly personalized social experience," said Bryan Lamkin, senior vice president, Consumer Products Group, Yahoo!. "Sports has been among the earliest online categories to experience rapid social proliferation, and the combination of Citizen Sports leading products with our world-class sports experience on Yahoo! Sports is a win-win for sports fans globally."
Millions of people across the globe use Citizen Sports' array of social and mobile products to play fantasy sports, fill out brackets, check live scores and read up-to-the minute news on sports including football, hockey, soccer, baseball, racing, rugby, hockey and cricket. Yahoo! Sports' content will be integrated into these products, creating a seamless experience for sports fans wherever they are. On Yahoo! Sports, users will be able to broadcast their allegiances, create or join a conversation with friends and fans and cheer for their teams through Citizen Sports' applications. This integration will further transform Yahoo! into a more personally relevant experience, drive deeper user engagement and create opportunities for advertisers to interact with audiences in new environments.
As the #1 destination for online Sports with more than 39 million monthly unique users in the U.S.*, Yahoo! Sports provides people with the most timely, relevant and comprehensive sports news, information and programming. Citizen Sports' network of popular applications for Facebook, MySpace, hi5, iPhone and Android span professional, college and high school sports.
"Citizen Sports was founded with the intent to enable fans to access news, scores and fantasy games on the platform of their choice," said Mike Kerns, founder and CEO of Citizen Sports. "We look forward to becoming a part of Yahoo! and bringing our social experiences to their 600 million users around the globe."
Citizen Sports was founded by Mike Kerns and Jeff Ma in 2004. Since then the company has brought together millions of sports fans from around the world to enjoy sports and connect with their friends. Citizen Sports is based in San Francisco.
Yahoo! expects to complete this acquisition in the second quarter of 2010. Financial terms were not disclosed.
* February 2010, comScore, U.S.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- As part of its ongoing commitment to be the center of people's online lives, Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Citizen Sports (www.citizensports.com), a company that brings the world of sports to fans' favorite social networking sites and mobile devices through innovative applications. This acquisition will strengthen Yahoo!'s social strategy of enriching, aggregating and distributing social content from across the entire Web, and offering a highly customizable social experience.
"Yahoo! is in a unique position to combine our deep expertise in content and aggregation technology to offer a highly personalized social experience," said Bryan Lamkin, senior vice president, Consumer Products Group, Yahoo!. "Sports has been among the earliest online categories to experience rapid social proliferation, and the combination of Citizen Sports leading products with our world-class sports experience on Yahoo! Sports is a win-win for sports fans globally."
Millions of people across the globe use Citizen Sports' array of social and mobile products to play fantasy sports, fill out brackets, check live scores and read up-to-the minute news on sports including football, hockey, soccer, baseball, racing, rugby, hockey and cricket. Yahoo! Sports' content will be integrated into these products, creating a seamless experience for sports fans wherever they are. On Yahoo! Sports, users will be able to broadcast their allegiances, create or join a conversation with friends and fans and cheer for their teams through Citizen Sports' applications. This integration will further transform Yahoo! into a more personally relevant experience, drive deeper user engagement and create opportunities for advertisers to interact with audiences in new environments.
As the #1 destination for online Sports with more than 39 million monthly unique users in the U.S.*, Yahoo! Sports provides people with the most timely, relevant and comprehensive sports news, information and programming. Citizen Sports' network of popular applications for Facebook, MySpace, hi5, iPhone and Android span professional, college and high school sports.
"Citizen Sports was founded with the intent to enable fans to access news, scores and fantasy games on the platform of their choice," said Mike Kerns, founder and CEO of Citizen Sports. "We look forward to becoming a part of Yahoo! and bringing our social experiences to their 600 million users around the globe."
Citizen Sports was founded by Mike Kerns and Jeff Ma in 2004. Since then the company has brought together millions of sports fans from around the world to enjoy sports and connect with their friends. Citizen Sports is based in San Francisco.
Yahoo! expects to complete this acquisition in the second quarter of 2010. Financial terms were not disclosed.
* February 2010, comScore, U.S.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
When the Olympics Happened, the World Turned to Yahoo!, the No. 1 Online Destination for Winter Olympics Coverage
Yahoo! Sports Takes Gold, Beating NBCOlympics.com, ESPN and All Other Sites in Number of Unique Visitors and Time Spent.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) released comScore audience figures showing that Yahoo! Sports was the No. 1 online destination in the US for Olympics coverage, beating out NBC and ESPN as the destination people turn to for the most relevant, timely, and comprehensive information about major sporting events.
According to comScore, Yahoo!'s site dedicated to Olympics coverage (sports.yahoo.com/olympics/) attracted 32 million unique visitors from February 12 to 28, signifying the largest online audience for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yahoo!'s site for Olympics coverage surpassed NBCOlympics.com and ESPN which both counted 19 million unique visitors each, during the same period. Yahoo! Sports received more than 40 million total unique visitors during the Winter Olympics, breaking the monthly record in the online sports category and exceeding its closest competitor by more than 19 million unique visitors. Additionally, visitors to Yahoo!'s site covering the Olympics spent 314 million total minutes on the site, compared to the 218 million total minutes spent by visitors to NBC's Olympics site.
"The 2010 Winter Olympics featured exciting competition, brilliant performances, spectacular blunders, compelling human interest stories and once again the world turned to Yahoo! for the most comprehensive and engaging coverage of the games," said Jimmy Pitaro, vice president, Yahoo! Media. "We know what users want when they come to Yahoo!, and we delivered a cross-platform Winter Games experience that helped us turn in our own gold medal performance: record traffic, engagement and click-through rates."
Yahoo!'s Searches During the Games
Audiences consistently looked to Yahoo! for up-to-the competition results, the most interesting stories and for answers to a wide range of questions about all aspects of the games. Below is a sampling of search highlights:
* Most searched athlete: Lindsey Vonn was the top searched athlete of the 2010 Winter Games.
* Most searched Olympic sport: Curling climbed the ranks to become the top searched sport/event by a wide margin.
* Most random searches: Searches for esoteric trivia such as "how heavy is a curling stone" and "why does Apolo Ohno yawn" were extremely popular.
* Top mobile searches: Julia Mancuso and her reported "feud" with fellow USA skier Lindsey Vonn caught people's attention: Searches soared 97% during the first week of competition, ultimately landing the silver medalist among the most searched Olympic athletes on mobile. The dating habits of athletes were also a hot topic, with many searchers looking for information on the personal lives of Evan Lysacek, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, and Bode Miller.
Most Clicked Stories
Once again, Yahoo!'s editors featured fascinating stories on the Yahoo! homepage from its industry-leading team of writers that really clicked with Olympic fans, including:
* A story about a private pre-race conversation between Shaun White and his coach that was accidentally broadcast became the most popular story on the Yahoo! homepage during the Winter Games.
* The second most popular story focused on the controversy over the Canadian women's hockey team's gold medal victory celebration.
* A popular figure from the Summer Olympics rounded out our top three. Michael Phelps' announcement that he would retire following the London Olympic Games was the third most popular feature.
Yahoo! Olympic Offerings During the Games
Yahoo! Sports' coverage of the 2010 Winter Games had one of the largest editorial teams in Vancouver, led by Yahoo!'s award-winning writers Dan Wetzel, Charles Robinson, Martin Rogers, Jeff Passan and Greg Wyshynski. To give fans a multifaceted view and analysis of the competitions, Yahoo! Sports also lined up Olympians and champion athletes, including Sasha Cohen, Dominique Dawes, Tiki Barber, Elvis Stojko, Donna Weinbrecht, Ken Daneyko, Jessica Mendoza, Bryon Friedman, and Jennifer Jones, plus video hosts Charissa Thompson and Angela Sun.
Yahoo! Sports featured additional daily Olympics coverage with:
* "Fourth-Place Medal," a leading blog about the Olympics with keen insights from editor Chris Chase and Puck Daddy blog editor Greg Wyshynski. "Medal" vaulted into the top 20 of sports blog rankings after two weeks of activity.
* Yahoo!'s mobile site covering the Olympics which let on-the-go fans keep up with the latest, including medal counts, news and expert coverage, live results, and athlete profiles.
* Winter Games Roundup, a daily video news show hosted by Dawes that provided recaps of top stories along with information on upcoming events.
Yahoo! also built a custom-designed broadcast studio in Vancouver, and an entertainment center, FanCouver, where more than 100,000 fans attending the games visited to participate in Yahoo! events and promotions.
Yahoo! Sports is no stranger to domination when covering the Olympics. During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the site attracted the largest online audience for a sports destination, reaching more than 38.5 million people during the month of August 2008 and setting a then all-time audience high. Yahoo! Sports beat the closest competitor (NBC Sports) by a decisive 15 million unique visitors. During August 2008, one in five U.S. Internet users visited Yahoo! Sports, and Yahoo! News also set an all-time site record, reaching 44.3 million unique users. Combined, Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! News reached 57.3 million users, nearly one-third of the entire Internet audience.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) released comScore audience figures showing that Yahoo! Sports was the No. 1 online destination in the US for Olympics coverage, beating out NBC and ESPN as the destination people turn to for the most relevant, timely, and comprehensive information about major sporting events.
According to comScore, Yahoo!'s site dedicated to Olympics coverage (sports.yahoo.com/olympics/) attracted 32 million unique visitors from February 12 to 28, signifying the largest online audience for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yahoo!'s site for Olympics coverage surpassed NBCOlympics.com and ESPN which both counted 19 million unique visitors each, during the same period. Yahoo! Sports received more than 40 million total unique visitors during the Winter Olympics, breaking the monthly record in the online sports category and exceeding its closest competitor by more than 19 million unique visitors. Additionally, visitors to Yahoo!'s site covering the Olympics spent 314 million total minutes on the site, compared to the 218 million total minutes spent by visitors to NBC's Olympics site.
"The 2010 Winter Olympics featured exciting competition, brilliant performances, spectacular blunders, compelling human interest stories and once again the world turned to Yahoo! for the most comprehensive and engaging coverage of the games," said Jimmy Pitaro, vice president, Yahoo! Media. "We know what users want when they come to Yahoo!, and we delivered a cross-platform Winter Games experience that helped us turn in our own gold medal performance: record traffic, engagement and click-through rates."
Yahoo!'s Searches During the Games
Audiences consistently looked to Yahoo! for up-to-the competition results, the most interesting stories and for answers to a wide range of questions about all aspects of the games. Below is a sampling of search highlights:
* Most searched athlete: Lindsey Vonn was the top searched athlete of the 2010 Winter Games.
* Most searched Olympic sport: Curling climbed the ranks to become the top searched sport/event by a wide margin.
* Most random searches: Searches for esoteric trivia such as "how heavy is a curling stone" and "why does Apolo Ohno yawn" were extremely popular.
* Top mobile searches: Julia Mancuso and her reported "feud" with fellow USA skier Lindsey Vonn caught people's attention: Searches soared 97% during the first week of competition, ultimately landing the silver medalist among the most searched Olympic athletes on mobile. The dating habits of athletes were also a hot topic, with many searchers looking for information on the personal lives of Evan Lysacek, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, and Bode Miller.
Most Clicked Stories
Once again, Yahoo!'s editors featured fascinating stories on the Yahoo! homepage from its industry-leading team of writers that really clicked with Olympic fans, including:
* A story about a private pre-race conversation between Shaun White and his coach that was accidentally broadcast became the most popular story on the Yahoo! homepage during the Winter Games.
* The second most popular story focused on the controversy over the Canadian women's hockey team's gold medal victory celebration.
* A popular figure from the Summer Olympics rounded out our top three. Michael Phelps' announcement that he would retire following the London Olympic Games was the third most popular feature.
Yahoo! Olympic Offerings During the Games
Yahoo! Sports' coverage of the 2010 Winter Games had one of the largest editorial teams in Vancouver, led by Yahoo!'s award-winning writers Dan Wetzel, Charles Robinson, Martin Rogers, Jeff Passan and Greg Wyshynski. To give fans a multifaceted view and analysis of the competitions, Yahoo! Sports also lined up Olympians and champion athletes, including Sasha Cohen, Dominique Dawes, Tiki Barber, Elvis Stojko, Donna Weinbrecht, Ken Daneyko, Jessica Mendoza, Bryon Friedman, and Jennifer Jones, plus video hosts Charissa Thompson and Angela Sun.
Yahoo! Sports featured additional daily Olympics coverage with:
* "Fourth-Place Medal," a leading blog about the Olympics with keen insights from editor Chris Chase and Puck Daddy blog editor Greg Wyshynski. "Medal" vaulted into the top 20 of sports blog rankings after two weeks of activity.
* Yahoo!'s mobile site covering the Olympics which let on-the-go fans keep up with the latest, including medal counts, news and expert coverage, live results, and athlete profiles.
* Winter Games Roundup, a daily video news show hosted by Dawes that provided recaps of top stories along with information on upcoming events.
Yahoo! also built a custom-designed broadcast studio in Vancouver, and an entertainment center, FanCouver, where more than 100,000 fans attending the games visited to participate in Yahoo! events and promotions.
Yahoo! Sports is no stranger to domination when covering the Olympics. During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the site attracted the largest online audience for a sports destination, reaching more than 38.5 million people during the month of August 2008 and setting a then all-time audience high. Yahoo! Sports beat the closest competitor (NBC Sports) by a decisive 15 million unique visitors. During August 2008, one in five U.S. Internet users visited Yahoo! Sports, and Yahoo! News also set an all-time site record, reaching 44.3 million unique users. Combined, Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! News reached 57.3 million users, nearly one-third of the entire Internet audience.
Yahoo!(R) Named as the Exclusive Search Service on Telefonica's Mobile Portal in Spain
Yahoo! Continues to Extend Mobile Presence by Providing Millions of Telefónica Customers Across Spain With an Industry-Leading Mobile Search Experience.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & MADRID -- Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) and Telefónica España, Spain's largest operator network, announced that Yahoo! is powering the mobile Internet search experience and sponsored search advertising on Telefónica's emocion portal. This announcement builds on the mobile search partnership with O2 Germany launched in November 2009, as well as the larger agreement announced in October 2007 to provide consumers with Yahoo! as the primary search service on Telefonica's mobile portals in 15 European and Latin American countries.
Yahoo!'s mobile search service provides Telefónica's consumers in Spain with relevant information on virtually any topic from news, financial information, weather conditions, Flickr(TM) photos, and travel information, to websites, integrated information from Wikipedia and Yahoo! Answers, and much more. Yahoo! will also display relevant ringtones, wallpapers, games, and other content from the emocion portal within the search results.
Consumers can get straight to the information they want because Yahoo!'s mobile search service intuitively returns results grouped around the user's intent. For example:
* When you search for a sports team, Yahoo! shows the latest scores, team profiles, news, images, and a link to the team's website.
* If you search for a film, Yahoo! returns show times at local cinemas, critic reviews, news articles, and other relevant information on the cast.
Commenting on the partnership, Elisa Caballero, developments of value for residential customers general manager of Telefónica España, said, "Our emocion portal brings the Web to consumers' pockets. A great mobile search service is a crucial part of that experience; by integrating Yahoo!'s mobile search experience, we are ensuring our customers have all the information they need at their fingertips."
"This is an important milestone as we extend our relationship with Telefónica and offer consumers across Spain with an engaging mobile search experience that enables them to discover their world and the world around them," said Rich Riley, senior vice president, Yahoo! Europe. "Together, Telefónica and Yahoo! are enhancing the mobile Internet experience for consumers, while creating scale for advertisers, enabling them to reach the rapidly growing audience of mobile consumers."
"The expansion of Yahoo!'s mobile search partnership with Telefónica into Spain continues to demonstrate Yahoo!'s ability to provide highly personalized and localized mobile search experiences and further establishes its position as a leading mobile customer experience provider," said Scott Ellison, IDC's Vice President of Mobile and Wireless. "Building a significant European market presence is essential toward executing a successful mobile strategy."
Telefónica España and Yahoo! will include sponsored search listings within the emocion portal. With a focus on creating the monetization engine for the Internet on mobile devices, Yahoo! helps advertisers reach their target audiences at a large scale and with greater impact.
About Telefonica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.
The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 268 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.
Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
For more information on Yahoo! Mobile please visit http://mobile.yahoo.com
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & MADRID -- Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) and Telefónica España, Spain's largest operator network, announced that Yahoo! is powering the mobile Internet search experience and sponsored search advertising on Telefónica's emocion portal. This announcement builds on the mobile search partnership with O2 Germany launched in November 2009, as well as the larger agreement announced in October 2007 to provide consumers with Yahoo! as the primary search service on Telefonica's mobile portals in 15 European and Latin American countries.
Yahoo!'s mobile search service provides Telefónica's consumers in Spain with relevant information on virtually any topic from news, financial information, weather conditions, Flickr(TM) photos, and travel information, to websites, integrated information from Wikipedia and Yahoo! Answers, and much more. Yahoo! will also display relevant ringtones, wallpapers, games, and other content from the emocion portal within the search results.
Consumers can get straight to the information they want because Yahoo!'s mobile search service intuitively returns results grouped around the user's intent. For example:
* When you search for a sports team, Yahoo! shows the latest scores, team profiles, news, images, and a link to the team's website.
* If you search for a film, Yahoo! returns show times at local cinemas, critic reviews, news articles, and other relevant information on the cast.
Commenting on the partnership, Elisa Caballero, developments of value for residential customers general manager of Telefónica España, said, "Our emocion portal brings the Web to consumers' pockets. A great mobile search service is a crucial part of that experience; by integrating Yahoo!'s mobile search experience, we are ensuring our customers have all the information they need at their fingertips."
"This is an important milestone as we extend our relationship with Telefónica and offer consumers across Spain with an engaging mobile search experience that enables them to discover their world and the world around them," said Rich Riley, senior vice president, Yahoo! Europe. "Together, Telefónica and Yahoo! are enhancing the mobile Internet experience for consumers, while creating scale for advertisers, enabling them to reach the rapidly growing audience of mobile consumers."
"The expansion of Yahoo!'s mobile search partnership with Telefónica into Spain continues to demonstrate Yahoo!'s ability to provide highly personalized and localized mobile search experiences and further establishes its position as a leading mobile customer experience provider," said Scott Ellison, IDC's Vice President of Mobile and Wireless. "Building a significant European market presence is essential toward executing a successful mobile strategy."
Telefónica España and Yahoo! will include sponsored search listings within the emocion portal. With a focus on creating the monetization engine for the Internet on mobile devices, Yahoo! helps advertisers reach their target audiences at a large scale and with greater impact.
About Telefonica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.
The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 268 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.
Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
For more information on Yahoo! Mobile please visit http://mobile.yahoo.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Yahoo! and Microsoft to Implement Search Alliance
Completion of U.S., European Review Clears Way for Agreement to Move Forward.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) and Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) announced that they have received clearance for their search agreement, without restrictions, from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, and will now turn their attention to beginning the process of implementing the deal.
Implementation of the deal is expected to begin in the coming days and will involve transitioning Yahoo!'s algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft, with Yahoo! becoming the exclusive relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers globally. Once the transition is completed, the companies' unified search marketplace will deliver improved innovation for consumers, better volume and efficiency for advertisers and better monetization opportunities for web publishers through a platform that contains a larger pool of search queries.
"This breakthrough search alliance means Yahoo! can focus even more on our own innovative search experience," said Yahoo! Chief Executive Officer Carol Bartz. "Yahoo! gets to do what we do best: combine our science and technology with compelling content to build personally relevant online experiences for our users and customers."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer concurred with Bartz's assessment. "Although we are just at the beginning of this process, we have reached an exciting milestone," Ballmer said. "I believe that together, Microsoft and Yahoo! will promote more choice, better value and greater innovation to our customers as well as to advertisers and publishers."
Consumer Search Experience
Under terms of the agreement, which was announced in late July 2009, Microsoft will provide Yahoo! with the same search result listings available through Bing, and Yahoo! will innovate around those listings by integrating rich Yahoo! content, enhanced listings with conveniently organized information about key topics, and tools to tailor the experience for Yahoo! users.
Yahoo! will focus on providing a compelling and innovative search experience that allows people to find and explore the things, people and sites that matter most to them. While Microsoft will provide the underlying platform, both companies will continue to create different, compelling and evolving experiences, competing for audience, engagement and clicks.
Transition Timeline
Yahoo! and Microsoft will work with advertisers, publishers and developers on a customized plan designed to make the transition as efficient and seamless as possible. Both companies will begin working closely with most partners well in advance of their planned transition to the Microsoft platform and will communicate important information to partners about the transition periodically via phone, email, webinars and a newly created website at www.searchalliance.com.
The companies will begin the transition of algorithmic search and have set a goal of completing that effort in at least the United States by the end of 2010. The companies also hope to make significant progress transitioning U.S. advertisers and publishers prior to the 2010 holiday season, but may wait until 2011 if they determine that the transition will be more effective after the holiday season. All global customers and partners are expected to be transitioned by early 2012.
Customer Relationships
Once the transition is in place, Yahoo! and Microsoft will each represent and provide customer support to different advertiser segments. Yahoo!'s sales team will exclusively represent and support high volume advertisers, SEO and SEM agencies, and resellers and their clients. Microsoft will represent and support self-service advertisers.
Regulatory Summary
Although the transaction previously was cleared by regulators in Australia, Brazil and Canada, the terms of the agreement required clearance by U.S. and European regulators before it could commence. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Yahoo! continue to work with regulators in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan to ensure that they have all relevant information necessary to evaluate the transaction before the deal commences in those specific jurisdictions.
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.
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. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) and Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) announced that they have received clearance for their search agreement, without restrictions, from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, and will now turn their attention to beginning the process of implementing the deal.
Implementation of the deal is expected to begin in the coming days and will involve transitioning Yahoo!'s algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft, with Yahoo! becoming the exclusive relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers globally. Once the transition is completed, the companies' unified search marketplace will deliver improved innovation for consumers, better volume and efficiency for advertisers and better monetization opportunities for web publishers through a platform that contains a larger pool of search queries.
"This breakthrough search alliance means Yahoo! can focus even more on our own innovative search experience," said Yahoo! Chief Executive Officer Carol Bartz. "Yahoo! gets to do what we do best: combine our science and technology with compelling content to build personally relevant online experiences for our users and customers."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer concurred with Bartz's assessment. "Although we are just at the beginning of this process, we have reached an exciting milestone," Ballmer said. "I believe that together, Microsoft and Yahoo! will promote more choice, better value and greater innovation to our customers as well as to advertisers and publishers."
Consumer Search Experience
Under terms of the agreement, which was announced in late July 2009, Microsoft will provide Yahoo! with the same search result listings available through Bing, and Yahoo! will innovate around those listings by integrating rich Yahoo! content, enhanced listings with conveniently organized information about key topics, and tools to tailor the experience for Yahoo! users.
Yahoo! will focus on providing a compelling and innovative search experience that allows people to find and explore the things, people and sites that matter most to them. While Microsoft will provide the underlying platform, both companies will continue to create different, compelling and evolving experiences, competing for audience, engagement and clicks.
Transition Timeline
Yahoo! and Microsoft will work with advertisers, publishers and developers on a customized plan designed to make the transition as efficient and seamless as possible. Both companies will begin working closely with most partners well in advance of their planned transition to the Microsoft platform and will communicate important information to partners about the transition periodically via phone, email, webinars and a newly created website at www.searchalliance.com.
The companies will begin the transition of algorithmic search and have set a goal of completing that effort in at least the United States by the end of 2010. The companies also hope to make significant progress transitioning U.S. advertisers and publishers prior to the 2010 holiday season, but may wait until 2011 if they determine that the transition will be more effective after the holiday season. All global customers and partners are expected to be transitioned by early 2012.
Customer Relationships
Once the transition is in place, Yahoo! and Microsoft will each represent and provide customer support to different advertiser segments. Yahoo!'s sales team will exclusively represent and support high volume advertisers, SEO and SEM agencies, and resellers and their clients. Microsoft will represent and support self-service advertisers.
Regulatory Summary
Although the transaction previously was cleared by regulators in Australia, Brazil and Canada, the terms of the agreement required clearance by U.S. and European regulators before it could commence. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Yahoo! continue to work with regulators in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan to ensure that they have all relevant information necessary to evaluate the transaction before the deal commences in those specific jurisdictions.
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.
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. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
Yahoo! Announces Ron Burkle Will Not Stand for Re-Election to Board
SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) announced today that Ron Burkle has decided not to stand for re-election to the company's Board of Directors at its 2010 annual stockholders' meeting in order to devote more time to his other business interests. Mr. Burkle has served on the company's board since November 2001.
"On behalf of our entire board, I would like to thank Ron for his distinguished service and invaluable contributions to our company and board," said Roy Bostock, chairman of Yahoo!'s Board of Directors. "Yahoo! and its stockholders have benefited greatly from the counsel, insights and objectivity Ron has brought to the company during his nine years on the board. We wish him well in his future endeavors."
"It has been a great privilege to serve on Yahoo!'s board and to work with such an outstanding group of people," said Ron Burkle, managing partner of The Yucaipa Companies.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its engaging content and services and innovative technology, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
"On behalf of our entire board, I would like to thank Ron for his distinguished service and invaluable contributions to our company and board," said Roy Bostock, chairman of Yahoo!'s Board of Directors. "Yahoo! and its stockholders have benefited greatly from the counsel, insights and objectivity Ron has brought to the company during his nine years on the board. We wish him well in his future endeavors."
"It has been a great privilege to serve on Yahoo!'s board and to work with such an outstanding group of people," said Ron Burkle, managing partner of The Yucaipa Companies.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its engaging content and services and innovative technology, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Brightcove Expands Online Video Distribution to Millions of Internet-Connected Televisions with Yahoo!(R) TV Widgets
Integrated workflow makes it easy to publish and maintain branded online video experiences for the living room television.
LAS VEGAS -- Brightcove Inc., the leading online video platform, announced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that it is enabling customers to create immersive, branded video experiences for Internet-connected television sets and other Internet-connected consumer electronics powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine. Brightcove's global customer base of more than 900 professional media publishers can now use their existing Brightcove accounts and workflow to easily design and operate video widgets distributed to millions of Internet-connected televisions. Brightcove customers already taking advantage of the new distribution opportunity include Time Inc., Cars.com, TheStreet.com, Wine Spectator, Slate, and The Hollywood Reporter.
"We are constantly striving to extend the Brightcove platform to enable new three-screen distribution strategies for our customers, and our integration with the Yahoo! Widget Engine significantly advances these opportunities," said Chris Johnston, director of technology partnerships at Brightcove. "The broad adoption of the Yahoo! Widget Engine among leading television manufacturers has introduced a host of exciting new possibilities for Brightcove publishers to expand audience reach and grow their online communities."
The new distribution opportunity with Yahoo! is made possible through Brightcove's Universal Delivery Service (UDS), which was introduced as part of the new Brightcove 4 platform. With UDS, Brightcove customers can upload a single master video file, which is then transcoded into multiple formats for delivery on PCs, mobile devices, connected televisions or set-top boxes.
"Yahoo! is the trusted partner for publishers who want to take advantage of global distribution channels and advancements in building a worldwide developer ecosystem for publishing and distributing new and innovative TV Widgets," said Arlo Rose, senior director of product management and design, Yahoo! Connected TV. "Brightcove's partnerships with many of the world's leading news and entertainment programmers makes it easy for media publishers to take advantage of the Yahoo! TV Widget platform and provide consumers with an immersive online video experience."
Yahoo! TV Widgets enhance the traditional TV viewing experience by enabling popular Internet services and online media to reach viewers with personally relevant applications and content through Internet-connected televisions from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio. Yahoo! TV Widgets enable consumers to experience some of the most popular Brightcove-powered online video experiences full screen on HDTVs. For more information on the latest on TV Widgets, visit http://connectedtv.yahoo.com.
"We are excited to expand our use of the Brightcove platform to extend our high quality video programming to the television using Yahoo! TV Widgets," said Rich Tomko, general manager, MyRecipes Network and vice president, business development for Time Inc. Lifestyle Digital. "The new distribution capability will give consumers additional ways to access our popular video content from such established brands as MyRecipes, Cooking Light, Real Simple, Southern Living, Sunset, AllYou and ThisOldHouse."
"Car buyers look to Cars.com for the information and confidence they need to make a smart purchase decision," said Bill Swislow, Cars.com chief information officer. "Our objective new-car reviews and coverage of major auto shows and new-model introductions engage consumers and enable them to take the next step toward a purchase. Video plays a growing role in the research process, so we're excited about the additional exposure the Brightcove and Yahoo! TV Widget integration creates."
"TheStreet.com is home to some of the Web's most sought-after business and financial-related online video content," said Bill McCandless, general manager of multimedia and mobile at TheStreet.com. "The Brightcove platform has enabled us to amass a highly engaged and substantial online audience for our growing library of premium video content, and the new distribution capability with Yahoo! is a great opportunity to extend the reach of our content to the living room television."
"Video is a great way to connect to Wine Spectator's audience, and Brightcove's robust and easy-to-use platform provides our viewers with a gold-standard video experience," said Gloria Maroti Frazee, director of video and education at Wine Spectator. "We're excited to continue to grow with Brightcove and to take advantage of its integration with Yahoo!, which makes it easier to reach our audience wherever they are."
"As a Brightcove customer, we look forward to making use of the new Yahoo! TV Widget," said Bill Smee, executive producer of Slate V. "We hope this new offering will allow us to distribute Slate V's content to an even wider audience, as well as give viewers the opportunity to watch our videos on larger screens."
"Online video continues to be a strategic tool for driving traffic and increasing audience engagement on The Hollywood Reporter's website, THR.com," said Nikki Hamedani, senior digital marketing manager with The Hollywood Reporter Online. "Brightcove has enabled us to extend the reach of our exclusive entertainment video content to other devices and audiences, and we look forward to leveraging the capabilities of Yahoo! TV Widgets to reach an even wider network of online THR fans."
About Brightcove
Brightcove is a cloud-based online video platform. Media companies, businesses and organizations worldwide use Brightcove to publish and distribute video on the Web. Founded in 2004, Brightcove has offices across North America, Europe and Asia and customers in 28 countries. For more information, visit http://www.brightcove.com.
LAS VEGAS -- Brightcove Inc., the leading online video platform, announced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that it is enabling customers to create immersive, branded video experiences for Internet-connected television sets and other Internet-connected consumer electronics powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine. Brightcove's global customer base of more than 900 professional media publishers can now use their existing Brightcove accounts and workflow to easily design and operate video widgets distributed to millions of Internet-connected televisions. Brightcove customers already taking advantage of the new distribution opportunity include Time Inc., Cars.com, TheStreet.com, Wine Spectator, Slate, and The Hollywood Reporter.
"We are constantly striving to extend the Brightcove platform to enable new three-screen distribution strategies for our customers, and our integration with the Yahoo! Widget Engine significantly advances these opportunities," said Chris Johnston, director of technology partnerships at Brightcove. "The broad adoption of the Yahoo! Widget Engine among leading television manufacturers has introduced a host of exciting new possibilities for Brightcove publishers to expand audience reach and grow their online communities."
The new distribution opportunity with Yahoo! is made possible through Brightcove's Universal Delivery Service (UDS), which was introduced as part of the new Brightcove 4 platform. With UDS, Brightcove customers can upload a single master video file, which is then transcoded into multiple formats for delivery on PCs, mobile devices, connected televisions or set-top boxes.
"Yahoo! is the trusted partner for publishers who want to take advantage of global distribution channels and advancements in building a worldwide developer ecosystem for publishing and distributing new and innovative TV Widgets," said Arlo Rose, senior director of product management and design, Yahoo! Connected TV. "Brightcove's partnerships with many of the world's leading news and entertainment programmers makes it easy for media publishers to take advantage of the Yahoo! TV Widget platform and provide consumers with an immersive online video experience."
Yahoo! TV Widgets enhance the traditional TV viewing experience by enabling popular Internet services and online media to reach viewers with personally relevant applications and content through Internet-connected televisions from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio. Yahoo! TV Widgets enable consumers to experience some of the most popular Brightcove-powered online video experiences full screen on HDTVs. For more information on the latest on TV Widgets, visit http://connectedtv.yahoo.com.
"We are excited to expand our use of the Brightcove platform to extend our high quality video programming to the television using Yahoo! TV Widgets," said Rich Tomko, general manager, MyRecipes Network and vice president, business development for Time Inc. Lifestyle Digital. "The new distribution capability will give consumers additional ways to access our popular video content from such established brands as MyRecipes, Cooking Light, Real Simple, Southern Living, Sunset, AllYou and ThisOldHouse."
"Car buyers look to Cars.com for the information and confidence they need to make a smart purchase decision," said Bill Swislow, Cars.com chief information officer. "Our objective new-car reviews and coverage of major auto shows and new-model introductions engage consumers and enable them to take the next step toward a purchase. Video plays a growing role in the research process, so we're excited about the additional exposure the Brightcove and Yahoo! TV Widget integration creates."
"TheStreet.com is home to some of the Web's most sought-after business and financial-related online video content," said Bill McCandless, general manager of multimedia and mobile at TheStreet.com. "The Brightcove platform has enabled us to amass a highly engaged and substantial online audience for our growing library of premium video content, and the new distribution capability with Yahoo! is a great opportunity to extend the reach of our content to the living room television."
"Video is a great way to connect to Wine Spectator's audience, and Brightcove's robust and easy-to-use platform provides our viewers with a gold-standard video experience," said Gloria Maroti Frazee, director of video and education at Wine Spectator. "We're excited to continue to grow with Brightcove and to take advantage of its integration with Yahoo!, which makes it easier to reach our audience wherever they are."
"As a Brightcove customer, we look forward to making use of the new Yahoo! TV Widget," said Bill Smee, executive producer of Slate V. "We hope this new offering will allow us to distribute Slate V's content to an even wider audience, as well as give viewers the opportunity to watch our videos on larger screens."
"Online video continues to be a strategic tool for driving traffic and increasing audience engagement on The Hollywood Reporter's website, THR.com," said Nikki Hamedani, senior digital marketing manager with The Hollywood Reporter Online. "Brightcove has enabled us to extend the reach of our exclusive entertainment video content to other devices and audiences, and we look forward to leveraging the capabilities of Yahoo! TV Widgets to reach an even wider network of online THR fans."
About Brightcove
Brightcove is a cloud-based online video platform. Media companies, businesses and organizations worldwide use Brightcove to publish and distribute video on the Web. Founded in 2004, Brightcove has offices across North America, Europe and Asia and customers in 28 countries. For more information, visit http://www.brightcove.com.
Yahoo! to Hold Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Earnings Conference Call January 26, 2010
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO):
WHAT: Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific/5:00 p.m. Eastern
HOW: The live Webcast of Yahoo!'s Q4 and full year 2009 earnings call can be accessed at http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/results.cfm. The Webcast will be archived within 24 hours of the event and will be available through the same link for 90 days following the call.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
WHAT: Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific/5:00 p.m. Eastern
HOW: The live Webcast of Yahoo!'s Q4 and full year 2009 earnings call can be accessed at http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/results.cfm. The Webcast will be archived within 24 hours of the event and will be available through the same link for 90 days following the call.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit http://pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (http://yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo!(R) Brings the Internet to More Living Rooms Around the World
New Partnerships Expand Availability of TV Widgets Across a Wide Range of TVs and New Consumer Electronics
Yahoo! Makes Highly Anticipated TV Widget Developer Kit Publicly Available
LAS VEGAS -- As the center of people's online lives, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) furthered the company's Connected TV leadership by globally expanding the availability of the Yahoo! Widget Engine. New partnerships with Hisense, ViewSonic, MIPS Technologies, and Sigma Designs will dramatically increase the availability of the Yahoo! Widget Engine, delivering compelling TV Widget experiences to more televisions and other consumer electronic devices which will begin shipping as soon as Q1 2010. Yahoo! TV Widgets now work on all major consumer electronic device chip architectures worldwide.
Reinforcing the company's open strategy in this space, Yahoo! also broadly released its Widget Development Kit (WDK) today, enabling developers to create TV Widgets and effectively reach millions of consumers.
"Consumers are in love with their televisions, watching more TV, and demanding Internet connectivity to further enhance their viewing experience," said Arlo Rose, senior director of Yahoo! Connected TV. "Yahoo! is leading the connected TV market by bringing a rich variety of Internet content and services to the living room -- incorporating video on demand, social networks, games, online shopping, and more -- making it easy for consumers to personalize their TV viewing experience."
New Partnerships To Expand Distribution for the Yahoo! Widget Engine
Building on the company's existing distribution partnerships with Sony(R), LG(R) Electronics, VIZIO(R) and Samsung(R) across North America and Europe, Yahoo! is expanding the availability of the TV Widget experience globally by embedding the Yahoo! Widget Engine in an even greater number of television models and a variety of new consumer electronics devices. New partnerships and noteworthy developments include:
* VIZIO's XVT Series Connected HDTVs with VIZIO Internet Apps incorporate the Yahoo! Widget Engine and will be available at retailers throughout the U.S. in Q1. Taking unique advantage of the Yahoo! Widget Engine, VIZIO's Connected HDTVs provide consumers with unprecedented choice, convenience, and control of an ever-increasing array of Internet content and services, as well as intuitive and simple access to the TVs' settings through the Widget dock.
Hisense International Co, Ltd., a world leading provider of flat panel TVs, household appliances, and mobile communications, announced a partnership with global Internet brand Yahoo!(R) Inc. to integrate the Yahoo! Widget Engine into Hisense Internet-Connected TVs that will ship across the U.S. and Europe.
* ViewSonic will provide customers with an interactive, connected TV experience via the ViewSonic VMP80 media player. Powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, the ViewSonic VMP80 media player will enable current HDTV owners to view movies, TV shows, Web videos, and photos; and to go shopping, play games, and more with TV Widgets. The VMP80 media player will ship in Q1 2010 for an estimated MSRP of US$159.
* MIPS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer, home networking, wireless, communications, and business applications, today announced plans to develop an optimized Yahoo! Widget Engine for MIPS-Based(TM) digital home devices. MIPS will develop an optimized reference platform running the Yahoo! Widget Engine for digital TV and set-top box applications. Leveraging this reference implementation, MIPS(R) licensees will be able to quickly develop devices incorporating Yahoo! TV Widgets.
* Sigma Designs announced plans to support the Yahoo! Widget Engine on its media processors, which will enable manufacturers to easily support Yahoo! Connected TV in a wide array of consumer electronic devices, including Blu-ray players, network players, AV receivers, and cable/IPTV set-top boxes.
WDK Now Widely Available for Developers and Publishers; Offering Instant Scalability
With thousands of developers in the process of creating TV Widgets, and to further the company's open strategy in this space, Yahoo! is making its Widget Developer Kit (WDK) broadly available for developers and publishers who want to extend their brand, services, and content to a mass market.
Beginning today, anyone can download the WDK and quickly create, deploy and monetize exciting and engaging TV Widget experiences. Leveraging a rich set of application programming interfaces (APIs), developers can write widgets using simple JavaScript and XML, producing rich Internet applications to deliver dynamic content to millions of television sets and other consumer electronic devices globally.
For more information on the WDK and to begin developing TV Widgets, visit: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
Slate of New TV Widget Providers Bring Thousands of Content Sources to Consumers
The Yahoo! Widget Gallery continues to expand, enabling consumers to access their favorite TV shows on Amazon(R) Video on Demand, play music on Pandora(R), check sports scores on USA Today(R), shop on eBay(R), play games, or catch up with friends on Twitter(TM) and Facebook(R), all while watching TV. Joining leading consumer brands like CBS(R), Showtime(R) and Blockbuster(R), a sample of recently introduced Widgets will provide consumers access to a personalized selection of music, video, news and information.
* CNBC: The CNBC TV Widget enables viewers to interact with CNBC's real-time stock quotes direct from the NYSE and NASDAQ, with real-time watch lists to track favorite stocks and with other key analytics, all while still watching TV.
* NBC.com: Users can view NBC's show schedule and full-screen photo galleries, and catch up on favorite shows with up-to-date recaps, cast bios, and more.
* Napster: Subscribers can browse, search, preview, and listen to Napster's entire catalog of music on-demand, as well as enjoy custom radio stations, playlists, and Billboard charts.
* RadioTime: Create your personal selection of music from up to 100,000 radio stations.
* Sky News TV: Delivers breaking news by text and images to users' TV sets. It includes seven categories of news: top stories, U.K. news, sports, business, world news, showbiz news, and politics.
* Dailymotion: Access one of largest Web video sites in the world through your TV.
* The Weather Channel: Enables consumers to stay up to date with the current conditions, the five-day forecast, and access regional radar, all accessible in a simple interface with the ability to look up and save multiple locations.
* Betfair: The world's biggest betting community provides sports enthusiasts with an online entertainment experience to enhance their sports television watching in the U.K.
* My-Cast Weather: Provides animated Nexrad radar, hourly to seven-day forecasts, StormWatch, cloud information and more across the United States.
Yahoo! has also worked with leading video, data and photo aggregators to provide consumers access to their vast libraries of thousands of content sources.
* FrameChannel: Provides consumers with over 1,000 content channels from FrameChannel's collection of leading photosharing, social networking and content partners, including BBC News, People.com, EW Picks, Deutsche Welle, Crave, Digg.com, Facebook, Twitter and much more. Browse and configure hundreds of channels to create your personalized TV Widget.
* Brightcove: The Leading online video platform for publishing and distributing video on the Web now makes it easy for media companies and marketers to create immersive, branded video experiences for Internet-connected televisions. Some of the TV Widgets that consumers can expect shortly include: Slate V, This Old House, AllYou.com, My Home Ideas, My Recipes, Southern Living, Real Simple, Coastal Living, Sunset, Cooking Light, Wine Spectator, TheStreet.com, The Hollywood Reporter and Cars.com.
* Zinc: Enables users to enjoy high-quality Internet video, providing a simple and consistent way to browse more than 100,000 professionally produced videos from hundreds of different websites, including Amazon, Netflix, those of major networks, and more.
* 1Cast: This personalized video service delivers up-to-the-minute news video from leading programmers and broadcasters across the Web.
To see the latest from Yahoo! Connected TV, please visit us at CES in the North Hall (upper level) CES Meeting Place #N238.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its engaging content and services and innovative technology, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
For additional information on Yahoo! Connected TV, including images, please visit: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/newsroom
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Third-Party Quotes in Support of Yahoo! Connected TV/Yahoo! Widget Engine:
ViewSonic
"ViewSonic is proud to partner with Yahoo! to offer consumers the connected TV experience, without their having to purchase a new television," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. "By enabling Yahoo!'s TV Widget technology on our external VMP80 media player, consumers can enjoy the greatest Internet content while simultaneously viewing their favorite programming."
MIPS Technologies
"MIPS Technologies is pleased to announce this week that we are developing a reference platform running the Yahoo! Widget Engine that will enable a large number of MIPS(R) customers around the world to quickly develop devices incorporating Yahoo! TV Widgets. Yahoo! TV Widgets are capable of providing an entirely new connected and personalized television viewing experience. With No. 1 market share in processors for DTV and other connected digital home markets, MIPS is pleased to be enabling that experience on our customers' platforms to reach a large number of DTV manufacturers." -- Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies.
Sigma Designs:
"Sigma Designs and Yahoo! share a common vision of enabling consumers easy, seamless, and personalized access to online content through their HDTVs," states David Lynch, SVP marketing and sales, Sigma Designs. "We are excited that we can now also offer Yahoo! TV Widgets for Blu-ray players, network players, AV receivers, and cable/IPTV set-top boxes, enabling more consumers to experience and enjoy Yahoo! Connected TV."
Yahoo! Makes Highly Anticipated TV Widget Developer Kit Publicly Available
LAS VEGAS -- As the center of people's online lives, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) furthered the company's Connected TV leadership by globally expanding the availability of the Yahoo! Widget Engine. New partnerships with Hisense, ViewSonic, MIPS Technologies, and Sigma Designs will dramatically increase the availability of the Yahoo! Widget Engine, delivering compelling TV Widget experiences to more televisions and other consumer electronic devices which will begin shipping as soon as Q1 2010. Yahoo! TV Widgets now work on all major consumer electronic device chip architectures worldwide.
Reinforcing the company's open strategy in this space, Yahoo! also broadly released its Widget Development Kit (WDK) today, enabling developers to create TV Widgets and effectively reach millions of consumers.
"Consumers are in love with their televisions, watching more TV, and demanding Internet connectivity to further enhance their viewing experience," said Arlo Rose, senior director of Yahoo! Connected TV. "Yahoo! is leading the connected TV market by bringing a rich variety of Internet content and services to the living room -- incorporating video on demand, social networks, games, online shopping, and more -- making it easy for consumers to personalize their TV viewing experience."
New Partnerships To Expand Distribution for the Yahoo! Widget Engine
Building on the company's existing distribution partnerships with Sony(R), LG(R) Electronics, VIZIO(R) and Samsung(R) across North America and Europe, Yahoo! is expanding the availability of the TV Widget experience globally by embedding the Yahoo! Widget Engine in an even greater number of television models and a variety of new consumer electronics devices. New partnerships and noteworthy developments include:
* VIZIO's XVT Series Connected HDTVs with VIZIO Internet Apps incorporate the Yahoo! Widget Engine and will be available at retailers throughout the U.S. in Q1. Taking unique advantage of the Yahoo! Widget Engine, VIZIO's Connected HDTVs provide consumers with unprecedented choice, convenience, and control of an ever-increasing array of Internet content and services, as well as intuitive and simple access to the TVs' settings through the Widget dock.
Hisense International Co, Ltd., a world leading provider of flat panel TVs, household appliances, and mobile communications, announced a partnership with global Internet brand Yahoo!(R) Inc. to integrate the Yahoo! Widget Engine into Hisense Internet-Connected TVs that will ship across the U.S. and Europe.
* ViewSonic will provide customers with an interactive, connected TV experience via the ViewSonic VMP80 media player. Powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, the ViewSonic VMP80 media player will enable current HDTV owners to view movies, TV shows, Web videos, and photos; and to go shopping, play games, and more with TV Widgets. The VMP80 media player will ship in Q1 2010 for an estimated MSRP of US$159.
* MIPS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer, home networking, wireless, communications, and business applications, today announced plans to develop an optimized Yahoo! Widget Engine for MIPS-Based(TM) digital home devices. MIPS will develop an optimized reference platform running the Yahoo! Widget Engine for digital TV and set-top box applications. Leveraging this reference implementation, MIPS(R) licensees will be able to quickly develop devices incorporating Yahoo! TV Widgets.
* Sigma Designs announced plans to support the Yahoo! Widget Engine on its media processors, which will enable manufacturers to easily support Yahoo! Connected TV in a wide array of consumer electronic devices, including Blu-ray players, network players, AV receivers, and cable/IPTV set-top boxes.
WDK Now Widely Available for Developers and Publishers; Offering Instant Scalability
With thousands of developers in the process of creating TV Widgets, and to further the company's open strategy in this space, Yahoo! is making its Widget Developer Kit (WDK) broadly available for developers and publishers who want to extend their brand, services, and content to a mass market.
Beginning today, anyone can download the WDK and quickly create, deploy and monetize exciting and engaging TV Widget experiences. Leveraging a rich set of application programming interfaces (APIs), developers can write widgets using simple JavaScript and XML, producing rich Internet applications to deliver dynamic content to millions of television sets and other consumer electronic devices globally.
For more information on the WDK and to begin developing TV Widgets, visit: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
Slate of New TV Widget Providers Bring Thousands of Content Sources to Consumers
The Yahoo! Widget Gallery continues to expand, enabling consumers to access their favorite TV shows on Amazon(R) Video on Demand, play music on Pandora(R), check sports scores on USA Today(R), shop on eBay(R), play games, or catch up with friends on Twitter(TM) and Facebook(R), all while watching TV. Joining leading consumer brands like CBS(R), Showtime(R) and Blockbuster(R), a sample of recently introduced Widgets will provide consumers access to a personalized selection of music, video, news and information.
* CNBC: The CNBC TV Widget enables viewers to interact with CNBC's real-time stock quotes direct from the NYSE and NASDAQ, with real-time watch lists to track favorite stocks and with other key analytics, all while still watching TV.
* NBC.com: Users can view NBC's show schedule and full-screen photo galleries, and catch up on favorite shows with up-to-date recaps, cast bios, and more.
* Napster: Subscribers can browse, search, preview, and listen to Napster's entire catalog of music on-demand, as well as enjoy custom radio stations, playlists, and Billboard charts.
* RadioTime: Create your personal selection of music from up to 100,000 radio stations.
* Sky News TV: Delivers breaking news by text and images to users' TV sets. It includes seven categories of news: top stories, U.K. news, sports, business, world news, showbiz news, and politics.
* Dailymotion: Access one of largest Web video sites in the world through your TV.
* The Weather Channel: Enables consumers to stay up to date with the current conditions, the five-day forecast, and access regional radar, all accessible in a simple interface with the ability to look up and save multiple locations.
* Betfair: The world's biggest betting community provides sports enthusiasts with an online entertainment experience to enhance their sports television watching in the U.K.
* My-Cast Weather: Provides animated Nexrad radar, hourly to seven-day forecasts, StormWatch, cloud information and more across the United States.
Yahoo! has also worked with leading video, data and photo aggregators to provide consumers access to their vast libraries of thousands of content sources.
* FrameChannel: Provides consumers with over 1,000 content channels from FrameChannel's collection of leading photosharing, social networking and content partners, including BBC News, People.com, EW Picks, Deutsche Welle, Crave, Digg.com, Facebook, Twitter and much more. Browse and configure hundreds of channels to create your personalized TV Widget.
* Brightcove: The Leading online video platform for publishing and distributing video on the Web now makes it easy for media companies and marketers to create immersive, branded video experiences for Internet-connected televisions. Some of the TV Widgets that consumers can expect shortly include: Slate V, This Old House, AllYou.com, My Home Ideas, My Recipes, Southern Living, Real Simple, Coastal Living, Sunset, Cooking Light, Wine Spectator, TheStreet.com, The Hollywood Reporter and Cars.com.
* Zinc: Enables users to enjoy high-quality Internet video, providing a simple and consistent way to browse more than 100,000 professionally produced videos from hundreds of different websites, including Amazon, Netflix, those of major networks, and more.
* 1Cast: This personalized video service delivers up-to-the-minute news video from leading programmers and broadcasters across the Web.
To see the latest from Yahoo! Connected TV, please visit us at CES in the North Hall (upper level) CES Meeting Place #N238.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its engaging content and services and innovative technology, making it one of the most trafficked Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
For additional information on Yahoo! Connected TV, including images, please visit: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/newsroom
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Third-Party Quotes in Support of Yahoo! Connected TV/Yahoo! Widget Engine:
ViewSonic
"ViewSonic is proud to partner with Yahoo! to offer consumers the connected TV experience, without their having to purchase a new television," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. "By enabling Yahoo!'s TV Widget technology on our external VMP80 media player, consumers can enjoy the greatest Internet content while simultaneously viewing their favorite programming."
MIPS Technologies
"MIPS Technologies is pleased to announce this week that we are developing a reference platform running the Yahoo! Widget Engine that will enable a large number of MIPS(R) customers around the world to quickly develop devices incorporating Yahoo! TV Widgets. Yahoo! TV Widgets are capable of providing an entirely new connected and personalized television viewing experience. With No. 1 market share in processors for DTV and other connected digital home markets, MIPS is pleased to be enabling that experience on our customers' platforms to reach a large number of DTV manufacturers." -- Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies.
Sigma Designs:
"Sigma Designs and Yahoo! share a common vision of enabling consumers easy, seamless, and personalized access to online content through their HDTVs," states David Lynch, SVP marketing and sales, Sigma Designs. "We are excited that we can now also offer Yahoo! TV Widgets for Blu-ray players, network players, AV receivers, and cable/IPTV set-top boxes, enabling more consumers to experience and enjoy Yahoo! Connected TV."
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