BBC Russian Takes Video and Text Content on to MSN with New Partnership

BBC Russian is entering a new partnership with MSN Russia that will see the internet portal displaying a variety of Russian language video and text content from the BBC.

The deal will make MSN the first multimedia partner in Russia to take video in Russian from the BBC, and will enable the broadcaster to reach a wider audience with a range of its content.

At the heart of the partnership will be a series of new one-minute video bulletins, recently launched by BBC Russian, designed to present the global news agenda to Russian-speaking audiences online.

These feature headline reporting on the essential news stories of the day from the BBC's newsgathering network across the world.

In addition to this, MSN will also be taking text content in Russian.

Both video and text content will cover a broad news agenda, including science, technology and culture, as well as international and regional news.

All videos will carry BBC and BBC Russian branding.

Nikki Clarke, Head of Americas and Europe Region, BBC World Service, says: "This partnership is a first for the BBC Russian Service and a great opportunity to reach new audiences, with its range of international and Russian news and analysis.

"The partnership offers the Russian audience an exciting new way of reaching and interacting with the BBC and builds on our successful partnerships with MSN elsewhere in the world."

Sarah Jones, Head of European Business Development, BBC World Service, says: "This is a hugely exciting partnership; our international perspective makes us a unique resource for news consumers in Russia.

"The partnership will enable even more Russian-speaking news-seekers to access the BBC's online output in their own language."

Nikolai Botashev, MSN Russia's lead, says: "MSN was recently named one of the top 10 most visited sites amongst Russian users, our relationship with BBC will help us build on this success.

"The BBC has a world view that is of particular interest to many Russians. It has a long and respected history of fair and objective reporting in Russia and has been relied on in the past as a valuable source in information.

"All of these factors mean it will be a valuable addition to MSN.ru's already strong content, helping cement the site's appeal as a popular destination for authoritative news and entertainment in the Russian market."

BBC Russian content can be accessed at www.msn.ru from this month.

Notes to Editors
BBC Russian is a multimedia broadcaster offering radio and online content to Russian-speaking audiences, with up-to-the-minute news, features and analysis.

The BBC Russian radio programmes are streamed online via bbcrussian.com and are broadcast on shortwave, on medium wave in Moscow (1260 MW), St Petersburg (1260 MW) and Yekaterinburg (666 MW), and are available direct to home through Hotbird 2 satellite.

The 24/7 website bbcrussian.com offers news and information in text, audio and video.