Microsoft And NBC Join To Create 24-Hr News Service

NBC and Microsoft have announced they are to create two 50/50 ventures; a 24 hour news and information cable channel and an interactive on-line news service distributed on the Microsoft Network, Microsoft’s Internet on-line service. Both will be offered world wide and integrated with the NBC television network.

The 24-hour news cable service, to be called MSNBC will launch within 6-months through NBC’s existing America’s Talking distribution. MSNBC On-line news offering will be available via the Microsoft Network.

Microsoft has agreed to pay $220 million over five years for a 50% interest in MSNBC cable; in addition the parties expect to invest approximately $200m over the next five years to fund the services.

The partnership will mean viewers can use NBC News for headlines from around the world, tune into the cable channel for in-depth analysis and use the On-line service for specific information, the two companies hope.

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