Overture and MSN Extend Search Deal

Overture Services, Inc. today announced it has extended its search distribution relationship with Microsoft Corp. in the United States and United Kingdom through June 2005.

Under the terms of the new deal, the companies have entered into a paid placement search agreement to provide Overture search results to U.S. and UK users of MSN Search. The agreement provides for the companies to potentially expand into additional countries.

The signing ends speculation that Microsoft would look elsewhere for paid search services or create their own instead of extending its relationship with Overture, which recently became a Yahoo! subsidiary.

There’s been a lot of interest in Microsoft’s plans for MSN search, since it announced it was aggressively working on in-house search technology. Some of industry-watchers’ questions were answered recently, when MSN said it would not extend its contract with LookSmart for paid listings and directory results.

“Overture has been an important search provider to MSN, offering high-quality search listings to MSN customers and strong opportunities for advertisers,” said Christopher Payne, vice president of MSN at Microsoft. “We are pleased to continue this mutually beneficial relationship in the U.S. and UK.”

Overture’s industry-leading global distribution network includes major Web portals, ISPs and other heavily trafficked destination sites. Overture’s search listings are generated by the company’s more than 100,000 advertisers who bid for placement on keywords relevant to their business.

“Overture is focused on supporting and growing its distribution network by providing value to partners around the world,” said Ted Meisel, president of Overture. “We believe that extending our relationship with MSN in the U.S. and UK will allow us to further develop customized solutions and additional revenue-generating opportunities for our partners.”

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