VNU Business Media and Google Sign Deal for Targeted Advertising
VNU to Show Relevant Google AdWords Ads across Network of Business Publications
New York and Mountain View, Calif. – February 15, 2005 – VNU, a leading global information and media company, and Google Inc. today announced the availability of Google AdWords advertisements on the websites of all of VNU U.S. and European business-to-business publications. The deal is VNU's first major joint US-European web partnership, featuring U.S. brands such as Adweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, National Jeweler, Progressive Grocer, and Successful Meetings and leading European titles like Computing, Accountancy Age, Computable, IT Week. As part of the agreement, Google's targeted, text-based ads will appear on VNU's global network of professional websites through the Google AdSense program.
"Google's huge collection of advertisers offers the depth necessary to provide relevant ads that match the industry-specific content of VNU's titles," said Mike Marchesano, President and CEO of Business Media U.S. and Ruud Bakker, President and CEO of Business Media Europe in a joint statement. They added, "It is a benefit to our business readers to receive additional information pertinent to what they are reading."
VNU's business-to-business titles in the entertainment, media & marketing, technology and finance, retail, travel, performance, real estate and design, and food service and beverage industries now show Google's targeted ads throughout their respective websites. The revenue from clicks on these ads is shared between VNU and Google.
"VNU's quality business content provides another excellent distribution channel for our business-to-business advertisers," said Joan Braddi, vice president of Search Services. “Google continues to collaborate and innovate to bring business-to-business users, publishers and advertisers together."
About VNU
VNU is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media measurement and information (Nielsen Media Research) and business information (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing, Intermediair).
VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands and New York, USA. The company employs 36,000 people. Total revenues amounted to EUR 3.9 billion in 2003. VNU is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (ASE: VNU) stock exchange. For more information, please visit the VNU website at www.vnu.com.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.
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Media Contact:
Barry Schnitt
Google Inc.
+1 650-623-4194
barry@google.com