Zune and Univision Online Launch One-Stop Music Download Offering

Zune and Univision Online Launch One-Stop Music Download Offering

Two industry leaders partner to deliver most comprehensive music subscription service via Spanish-language Web site.

NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Univision Online Inc., the interactive subsidiary of Univision Communications Inc., the nation's leading Spanish-language media company, and Zune, Microsoft Corp.'s end-to-end music and entertainment service, today announced the launch of an exclusive music download service via Univision.com, to be powered by Zune. The new service will be branded Baja Zune Musica en Univision.com (Download Zune Music on Univision.com).

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"Music has been at the forefront of Univision.com's offerings, and this new partnership is part of a number of steps we have taken this year to enhance the music experience of our users," said Cesar Conde, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Univision Communications Inc. "This partnership brings two industry leaders and their recognized brands together to deliver innovative, relevant entertainment content and services across all genres and further enhance our current music options. By offering Zune's music catalog and cutting-edge features, we are delivering a comprehensive online music subscription platform experience via the most-visited Spanish-language Web site in the U.S."

As a result of this relationship, Microsoft is the exclusive integrated online music download and subscription provider on Univision.com in the United States, including Puerto Rico. The comprehensive service offers Zune music charts, artist profiles and access to more than 4 million songs through the online music store called Zune Marketplace.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Univision Online to further deepen our connections with the U.S. Hispanic community," said Chris Stephenson, general manager of Global Marketing for the Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "With this partnership we are taking user engagement to a whole new level, making it even easier for Latino listeners to connect to the music they love, and discover new music and artists through Baja Zune Musica."

Univision.com users are 15 percent more likely than the average U.S. Internet user to state that music is an important part of their lives.(1) Thus, the partnership with Univision Online solidifies the commitment of Zune to bring a high-quality, integrated digital entertainment experience to the U.S. Hispanic market. In the past few years, Zune has shown its strong support and enthusiasm for the U.S. Hispanic market by showcasing and integrating Latin artists on its digital storefront, Zune Marketplace, and by supporting Latin artists through integrated promotions.

Univision.com is the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language Web site among U.S. Hispanics(2) for the seventh year in a row.(3) The Web site has delivered an average of more than 15 million monthly unique browsers and more than 34 million monthly visits,(4) and has generated 11 million monthly video streams.(5)

For a limited time, Zune will feature a 50 percent off sale on select Latin artists and albums on the Zune Marketplace. To experience the new service, visit Univision.com, keyword Zune.

About Univision Online Inc.

Univision Online, Inc. is the interactive division of Univision Communications Inc., the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Univision Communications Inc. owns and operates Univision Online, Inc., the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., located at http://www.univision.com/, and Univision Movil, delivering the industry's most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings, including in-show wireless integrations, mobile video, SMS and Premium SMS programs, mobile portals, mobile advertising and an extensive downloadable content catalog. Univision Communications Inc.'s operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 97% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 64 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; and Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.

   For more information, visit http://www.univision.net/.    About Zune  

Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store, the Zune Social online music community created to help people discover music, and the ZuneOriginals.net online media player customization store. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.

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.

   (1) Simmons, spring 2008 NCS/NHCS persons 18-plus   (2) According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting,       on behalf of Univision, 2008; results are based on a national       telephone survey among non-Hispanic and Hispanic Internet users   (3) Forrester Research Custom Study, 2008, fielded in 2007; Simmons Custom       Study, 2006; Nielsen Custom Studies, 2001-2005   (4) Univision.com Worldwide Traffic Analytics, MRC accredited, Q1-Q3 2008   (5) Univision.com Worldwide Traffic Analytics, Q1-Q3 2008  

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Source: Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: Ivette Zurita of Edelman Multicultural, +1-323-202-1421,
ivette.zurita@edelman.com, or Zune Press, Edelman Worldwide,
zunepress@edelman.com, both for Microsoft Corp.; or Monica Talan of Univision
Communications, +1-212-455-5331, mtalan@univision.net

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

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