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 Opeations 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 for Google. "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.
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