Google to provide Web search and targeted sponsored links to Walt Disney Internet Group Web properties - Disney.com, FamilyFun.com, Go.com and Movies.com
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - March 10, 2003 -
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG), and Google, developer of the
largest performance-based search advertising program, today announced
an agreement through which Google will provide several Disney web
properties with Google's search technology and highly relevant
sponsored links. Google's web-wide search results and sponsored links
are available now to Go.com visitors. Additionally, Google will power
site-specific searches and provide sponsored links on Disney.com,
Movies.com and FamilyFun.com beginning in the Spring.
"Google's web search and sponsored links programs enable us to offer
our visitors highly useful, comprehensive and relevant information,
improving their overall experience on our sites," said Larry Shapiro,
executive vice president of Operations and Business Development for
WDIG. "From a business perspective, Google's sponsored links program
creates a significant revenue opportunity for us."
"The addition of Disney to our rapidly growing network of search
partners enables Google's 100,000 advertisers to reach the millions
of Internet users who visit the Disney websites," said Omid
Kordestani, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Field
Operations. "As a Google search partner, Disney will benefit from
additional revenue opportunities while its users will receive
relevant advertisements and the ability to search billions of web
pages."
WDIG sites are among the most popular on the Internet. Collectively
the portfolio of Disney websites represent the 10th largest Web
property overall (source: comScore Media Metrix, January 2003), with
31.5 million unique visitors in January. Disney.com is one of the
most popular family entertainment sites on the Internet. Go.com
provides content to its users from the ABC News, ESPN and Disney
websites through an automated process, requiring very limited
resources.
Google global search services provide websites and portals with
access to 3 billion web pages and the world's most advanced search
technology. Additionally, these Google partner sites have access to
revenue opportunities through sponsored links from Google's worldwide
network of advertisers. Google's advertisers enjoy broad exposure
across these Google partner websites, including many of the largest
websites in the world such as AOL, Ask Jeeves, and Earthlink.
For more information on Google's advertising programs, visit
www.google.com/ads.
About Walt Disney Internet Group
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership and
operational management for The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:DIS)
Internet properties including category leaders Disney.com, ESPN.com,
and ABCNEWS.com. WDIG has led the way in developing new forms of
interactive content, such as its Enhanced TV service which showcases
the convergence of video and interactive programming, and is a market
leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational
content to new platforms. Through relationships with some of the
world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG distributes content and
services to wireless users under the Disney, ESPN and ABC brands.
Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North
Hollywood and has operations in Seattle, New York, Orlando, Fla.,
Tokyo and London.
About Google
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by
Stanford PH.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a
top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted
advertising program, which is the largest and fastest growing in the
industry, provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results,
while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is
headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout North
America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit
www.google.com.
Fuente: Google Press
