VNU LAUNCHES INTERNET TELEVISION SERVICE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS BRAND PORTFOLIO

• Friday, 09 February 2007

– New video and audio content targets business and consumer audiences –

VNU Business Publications Ltd, the leading UK B2B and consumer publisher, today launched a dedicated internet television service from its central London On Air Studios’ facilities. The new web TV channels’ compelling online audio and video content is targeted at both business and consumer audiences and expands the reach of four of VNU’s market-leading brands– VNUnet, Computeractive, Accountancy Age and Computing.

Complementing VNU’s successful print and online products the new web TV service features a mix of audio and video content, both live and on-demand, and is designed to appeal strongly to the more than four million monthly users of VNU’s 20 on- and offline brands. Editorially led programming makes up the bulk of the schedule and programme strands include news, product and technology reviews, discussion and debate strands. As well as viewing content, audiences are encouraged to interact with VNU’s brands by participating in video and audio web seminars and attend virtual exhibitions, deepening the relationship between the magazine brands and its readers and advertisers.

To deliver the new web TV services VNU has partnered with ROO Media (http://www.roomedia.com/), deploying its Video Exchange platform to aggregate content, and distribute it through multiple channels and then to dynamically insert targeted advertising within individual video streams. This enables the delivery of up-to-the-minute original video content created in-house by editorial teams, as well as relevant third party content from media suppliers such as Reuters. Users can access the new TV services through individually branded ROO Media video players reflecting the look and feel of the magazine’s websites which are embedded on the homepages of each of the brands.

VNU is working with podcast advertising service specialist PodBridge, (http://www.podbridge.com) to deliver a wide ranging portfolio of podcasts as well as to implement an audience measurement and ad insertion service. Podbridge was chosen for the accuracy of its audience measurement capabilities, and the ability to maximise revenue through targeted advertising insertion and rotation.

In addition VNU has partnered with webcasting specialist BrightTALK (http://www.bright-talk.com) to launch a new web seminar interface which provides additional functionality for the interactive strands within VNU’s On Air Studios TV services. This partnership will allow VNU to extend the range of interactive formats for connecting buyers and sellers it can offer to its advertiser base with new online products such as eSymposia.

The facilities available to the On Air Studios team include four fully integrated studios which have been configured with High Definition digital video cameras to capture live and pre-recorded programmes. The programmes are mixed on a Sony Anycast editing suite which is operated from a central control room, and the suite is fully portable to allow the same HD programming to be broadcast from external shows, events and even client office locations.

Commenting on the launch of the new On Air Studios TV services John Barnes, Deputy MD at VNU BPL, said: “The exponential growth in audiences for audio and video content on the web presents media businesses like VNU with a huge opportunity to further extend the relationship we have with both our readers and advertisers. The investment we have made to deliver exciting and compelling web TV services from our On Air Studios will strengthen the connections we have established with readers and vendors alike.”

Notes to editors

• VNU’s On Air Studio facilities include four studios and a theatre space suitable for seating up to 100 people and staging events for later broadcast. The studios are fully equipped to deliver live-to-air and streamed content in a variety of packages including vidcasts, podcasts, news broadcasts, seminars, conference reports, and video product reviews.

• The On Air Studios service builds on the pioneering success the company has had delivering compelling video and audio events over the last two years through its series of web seminars, live conference reports, business club briefings and podcasts.

• VNU On Air Studios are part of the company’s commitment to provide readers and advertisers with a Total media solution

• Total Media is an approach to media pioneered by VNU that uses every possible platform as a complete means of distributing and sharing information and knowledge with Audience 2.0.

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About VNU Business Publications Ltd. (http://marketing.vnu.co.uk)

VNU Business Publications Ltd. is a leading UK business to business and consumer publisher. It specialises in three main areas, professional IT, consumer technology and business & finance. VNU publishes 20 cross media brands including Computing, IT Week, CRN, Computeractive, Personal Computer World, Accountancy Age, Financial Director and VNUnet.com. In January 2006 VNU acquired The Inquirer making the VNU Network the largest online technology network in the UK attracting more than 4 million users per month.

For more information, contact:

Stephen Orr,
AxiCom UK (on behalf of VNU BPL)
Tel: +44 20 8392 4056,
Email: stephen.orr@axicom.com

This press release was distributed via SourceWire, a service from Daryl Willcox Publishing, on behalf of AxiCom. For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/pressreleasewires