Microsoft signs with Catcha Digital

Malaysia - Microsoft has signed a partnership with Catcha Media Group, allowing access to a base of more than 4.2 million Malaysian MSN and Windows Live users and providing new content channels as well as increased contextual advertising opportunities.

The deal officially kicks off on 4 July and will mark the start of Catcha Digital - a new company which will leverage the online sales and content development rights for Catcha's market consisting 20 magazines and Microsoft's online properties including MSN news and information portal.

"By combining the resources of the world's largest online player and Malaysia's largest independent magazine publisher, we will be able to offer users a wider variety of quality content and advertisers a more robust and targeted way to reach out to consumers," Mark Inkster, general manager for Microsoft's Online Services Group in Southeast Asia, said.

He adds that Microsoft believes we this will spur continued growth in the online advertising industry as more people were making choices thanks to information from the internet.

Patrick Grove, group CEO of Catcha, said the partnership positions Catcha Digital to benefit from the rapid movement of advertising budgets to online media.

"As online spending grows, users and clients want engaging, exclusive local content. Catcha's portfolio of 20 magazines offers the perfect content platform from which Catcha Digital can develop online media content. Combining this resource with Microsoft's online user base will see Catcha Digital become a leading media player in Malaysia," Grove said.

Microsoft Internet claims their properties are popular in Malaysia with some 2.7 million Windows Live Messenger users. Malaysia has more than 14.9 million internet users as of June 2007, representing 60% of the population, growing at 10% per year.

 

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