Disney, Microsoft form Internet service

MickeysGirl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 07:23 PM

BURBANK, Calif. - Two titans of their industries, The Walt Disney Co. and Microsoft Corp., today banded together to launch a family friendly Web service in a challenge to AOL's leading role as an Internet service provider.

By pairing up with Disney in the new service called Disney on MSN, Microsoft's new MSN 8 service gains access to the Walt Disney's movie properties like hit film "Monsters Inc.", ABC broadcast TV network, ABC News, ESPN cable TV sports channel, and Radio Disney.

AOL, a unit of No. 1 media company AOL Time Warner Inc. , has the largest number of Web subscribers with some 35 million worldwide, and it offers content from sister companies like the Warner Bros. film studio, home of the "Harry Potter" movies, HBO cable TV network, People magazine and Warner Music Group recording stars such as Madonna.

The news comes on the same day as software giant Microsoft launched MSN 8. Microsoft has long sought to unseat AOL as the world's No. 1 Internet Service Provider with its MSN service, which has some 9 million subscribers.

"One of Disney's undisputed competitive advantages is its strong brand, and the ability to adapt beloved characters and stories to new technologies is a cornerstone of our strategy to grow," Disney Chairman Michael Eisner said in a statement.

The new service will offer items such as parental controls and new start-up pages for kids that are filled with Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, as well as a separate start page for adults, the companies said.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates called Disney on MSN, "the ultimate resource" for family-oriented content.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Disney on MSN will be available immediately for a price of $21.95 per month, the companies said.

Oct. 24, 2002, 2:12PM Reuters News Service

Source: HoustonChronicle.com

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netenyahoo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 07:26 PM

Thats cool, but too expensive for me.

Tigger58 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 07:46 PM

Thats cool and thats actually cheaper than some monthly services.......... I have road runner and we pay 45.00 a month!

But I like the SPEEEEEEEED!! beep beep!!

netenyahoo · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 07:54 PM

Yeah I usually do all my internet stuff at work because it is so fast. We only have 56k at home.

disneyaholic · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 10:01 PM

Very intersting news MG. Maybe there will be some good Disney stuff when you sign up only to subscribers. Most likely won't happen but one can always hope.

MickeysGirl · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 11:53 PM

:mEars: IDD! That would be cool! I don't think the cost is high, but I would not give up my cable modem for the service. They would have to be able to offer broadband before I would consider it

.... Can't give up the speed! Disney is my homepage. I would love to have this service if it were available in cable. :mEars:

Tigger58 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2002, 12:30 PM

I agree MG! I would love it too but wont give up my cable for it! :&Sad:

MickeysGirl · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2002, 01:55 PM

:mEars: here's the link for Disney on MSN! :mEars:

Tigger58 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2002, 02:14 PM

Yeah, I just signed up for my CD to take a look at it! If dial up were fast I might just switch, but my Road Runner is SUPER Speedy!

MickeysGirl · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2002, 08:27 PM

:mEars: There's just no way I'd ever switch to a telephone modem! I would not ever move unless I knew I had access to cable modem! :mEars: