Tuesday, September 13 2011
AOL has signed a deal with RealNetworks to provide content from its network of news and entertainment sites for its media player.
The UK-wide deal will see content from sites such as Huffington Post and TechCrunch Europe screened on RealNetworks’ RealPlayer media player.
AOL will also use its ad-serving capabilities, including Project Devil and goviral, to manage all of the ads served against its content.
The pair will implement the partnership from the fourth quarter of 2011.
Ken Murphy, Real Networks’ general manager for Europe, said the partnership was indicative of the company’s “dynamic new direction”.
“With AOL UK focusing on delivering its content and advertising formats, we are able to focus on the innovation and development of best of breed applications for media consumption and utilisation,” he added.
The partnership is also a byproduct of AOL’s year-long acquisition spree of ad-serving companies and high-profile websites, which saw the company’s investment exceed $500m (£317m).
In AOL’s second quarter earnings call, it reported a 5% annual increase in ad revenues, driven mainly by third-party network and display ad revenues, although its total revenue fell 8% year on year, representing a loss of $1.1bn (nma.co.uk 9 August 2011).
