Mediabrands Announces Strategic Partnership With Navic

Mediabrands Announces Strategic Partnership With Navic

-Initiative, Universal McCann, MAGNA and IPG's Emerging Media Lab to Deliver Clients Real-Time Optimization of TV Ads-

-Navic's Advanced Technology Combines Power of Television With Accuracy of Web-

NEW YORK and WALTHAM, Mass., July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Initiative, Universal McCann, MAGNA and IPG's Emerging Media Lab -- four companies among the newly formalized Mediabrands group -- today announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership with Navic Networks, the Microsoft Corp.-owned solutions provider with innovative technology offerings that are transforming the world of television advertising.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

Under the terms of the agreement, the media agencies and their respective clients will have access to a variety of Navic's closed-loop solutions and product offerings, including its national media service, Admira, to help clients optimize their advertising campaigns more effectively than ever before.

"We are seeking new technologies to deliver unparalleled accountability to clients, and aligning with Navic was a natural fit," said Nick Brien, CEO of Mediabrands. "By combining the power of television with the accountability of the Web, we're able to offer our world-class clients cutting-edge technology to help them maximize the ROI for their advertising dollars."

"Navic is fully committed to offering innovative technologies that provide one of the most effective and accurate metrics available," said Chet Kanojia, CEO of Navic Networks. "The industry has come a long way from defining keywords for targeted clicks, and we're excited to align with forward-thinking companies that make bold moves and, like Navic, are on the cusp of new trends and technologies."

Using Admira's suite of advanced planning tools, audience behavior data and real-time viewership reporting, the agencies and their clients will be able to define their spot placement criteria and locate available spots during programming that matches the criteria most optimally, providing exceptionally high target reach efficiency within the advertiser's budget.

Initiative, Universal McCann, MAGNA and the Emerging Media Lab have agreed to pledge significant financial and human resources to inventory presently accessed through Navic's Admira platform, as well as for future deployments.

About Navic Networks

Navic Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, is a leading advanced advertising and interactive television technology provider to the cable and direct broadcast satellite television industry. Navic provides sophisticated tools that use real-time audience measurement data to optimize the delivery and placement of targeted interactive media. More information is available at http://www.navic.tv/.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: EVP, Global Communications of Universal McCann,
+1-646-865-2088, patricia.steele@universalmccann.com; or Heidi Patel, Product
Marketing Manager of Navic Networks, +1-781-398-4643, hpatel@navic.tv

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

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Profile: International Entertainment