MSN Strikes New Entertainment Deals
Microsoft's MSN division inked two new content deals on Wednesday, including an agreement to rebroadcast the Bob Marley Festival in Miami as well as a deal with Billboard to run a music site on the MSN Latino service.
The 13th Annual Bob Marley Festival "Jam Rock" would be rebroadcast live on Saturday from 7pm to 11pm ET on MSN Video. Scheduled to perform at the concert are Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Kaymani Marley and Mother Cedella Marley Booker, along with Toots and the Maytals, Maxie Priest, Mos Def, and Dianah King among others.
Before, during and after the concert, content such as previews, highlights and the actual event would be available from a special Web site on MSN Video.
"Giving music fans a front-row seat at their favorite concert is just one of the many ways we strive to provide diverse and quality experiences to MSN Video viewers," MSN general manager of entertainment and video Rob Bennett said in a statement.
The event is an annual gathering that honors the late Bob Marley. As part of the concert's admission fee, attendees are required to bring four cans of food to help feed the poor. To date, the event has gathered some 1.5 million cans of food, organizers say.
MSN also said Wednesday that it was teaming up with music magazine Billboard to offer users of its MSN Latino service a music site in the Spanish language. Called Billboard Latino, the site would feature articles, charts and multimedia content on popular Latin artists.
Coverage of the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards would be provided from the site, along with exclusive content. Billboard added that it would air content from its popular Spanish-language entertainment show "Billboard Latino" on the site as well.
MSN did not say if Billboard's partnership with the service would extend to its English language sites.