NBC has tapped software giant Microsoft to create and promote the Web sites of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and "Access Hollywood."
Deal is part of Microsoft's continued effort to bolster its MSN portal and other online brands among Netizens through partnerships with Hollywood film and TV properties.
Microsoft's MSN portal has already bowed the "Access Hollywood" site, which is an attempt to compete with "Entertainment Tonight's" popular online destination. It features musicvids, movie trailers and entertainment news. "The Tonight Show" site will debut in the spring.
Previously, online info about the shows could be found only on
NBC.com.
As part of the deal, the "Access Hollywood" and "Tonight Show" sites will be promoted on-air during the programs, which will send viewers to its MSN portal. Links to the sites will be featured on the portal.
The promotional elements are similar to the deal Microsoft inked last year with ESPN.com. In exchange for giving ESPN an exclusive spot on MSN's sports channel, the software giant was given considerable real estate on
ESPN.com with links to other MSN services, such as Hotmail, MSN Search and its shopping channel.
Digital delivery
Separately on Monday, Microsoft said it has struck a deal with ContentFilm and Magnolia Pictures to digitally distrib the thriller "Wendigo" in March to theaters using Microsoft's Windows Media digital audio and video technology.
The first screenings of the digitally produced pic will begin on March 1 in Seattle and on March 15 in Dallas. Pic also is being released in traditional 35mm format in New York and Los Angeles.
"Wendigo" was encoded using Windows Media Corona, which enables the delivery of high-resolution video and multichannel Surroundsound to multiple distribution platforms. Offering will bow commercially to filmmakers in spring.
Contact Marc Graser at
marc.graser@variety.com