MSN extends search listings deal with Yahoo!'s Overture

by Philip Buxton,, Revolution UK 19-Nov-04, 08:00

LONDON - MSN has extended its deal with Yahoo!-owned paid-for search business Overture for the firm to provide sponsored search listings across MSN sites in the UK and the rest of Europe, as well the US, Canada, and Asia.

The extension takes the deal, which was due to expire in June next year, to June 2006 and comes as a surprise given Overture's ownership. MSN was expected to develop its own paid-for search technology in an attempt to reduce its reliance on Overture listings.

Last year, MSN pledged its search allegiance to Overture after it said its own tests had revealed that the Yahoo!-owned business provided the best results. However, it has since developed its own natural search tools, with a beta version of the service launching last month.

"Overture has been a strategic partner of MSN since 2001, and we look forward to continuing our productive relationship," Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice-president for the MSN information services and merchant platform division at Microsoft, said. "We are pleased that our collaboration has helped grow the online ad industry and benefited consumers and advertisers in the process."

Ted Meisel, president of Overture, said: "MSN is a valued industry partner and we are pleased to extend our successful relationship in the US and around the world," said "We appreciate the vote of confidence from MSN and we look forward to working with them on innovative sponsored search solutions."

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