Microsoft Corp. today unveiled its strategy for increasing the amount and effectiveness of dynamic advertising on MSN�, the most popular portal on the Web, by announcing alliances with Eyeblaster Inc. and Point�Roll Inc., two leading developers and distributors of rich media advertisements. The new strategy enables advertisers to place rich media ads -- ones with moving and expanding images, full-page overlays, interstitial windows or other features -- across the 12 most popular channels on MSN, including CNBC on MSN Money, MSNBC and the MSN Carpoint� online automotive service.

The new Eyeblaster and Point�Roll ads began appearing recently on MSN in the United States, and there are plans to deliver additional rich media ads to international markets in the future. Beginning today, advertisers can place ads developed by both vendors on the 12 most popular MSN channels. By working with these advertising vendors, MSN makes it easy for more than 200 advertising agencies that already use these vendors' rich media formats to place ads on MSN and maintain consistent advertising across online networks. "To be effective, advertising needs to catch the attention of consumers -- and that's just what the new rich media offerings from MSN do, using formats and vendors many advertisers trust and already use," said Joanne Bradford, vice president and chief media revenue officer for MSN. "When combined with the consumer excitement of the new features of MSN 8, these new rich media services make MSN an unbeatable place to advertise."