PRIVATE EYE TEAMS up with MICROSOFT NETWORK -�SHURELY SHOME MISHTAKE! Submitted By: Archetype (Text100) Wednesday, 4 February 1998

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PRIVATE EYE TEAMS UP WITH MICROSOFT NETWORK -SHURELY SHOME MISHTAKE! Submitted by: Archetype (Text100) Wednesday, 4 February 1998

London February 5th - The Microsoft Network today announced that it has teamed up with the usually 'techno-sceptic' Private Eye, Britain's favourite topical satire magazine, to pour scorn on politicians, the media and bungling sports commentators on a new interactive multimedia web site. The site is available free to all Internet users at http://msn.co.uk Without sounding like Pseuds Corner, the site will exploit the Internet's capabilities to combine text, audio and moving illustrations, bringing many of the Eye's most loved characters and columns to life for the first time, in full multimedia glory. So if you've ever fancied yourself as a successor to Peter Cook, Willie Rushton, Richard Ingrams or Ian Hislop, now's your chance to pen those famous speech bubbles for the front cover. If your acidic retorts are good enough, the winning entry will be published on the Internet the following week, and you'll win the customary tenner into the bargain. Lord Gnome will be presiding over the new media venture, Victor Lewis-Smith will be reading his Funny Old World and Harry Enfield's The Bores become slightly more interesting thanks to sound and animation. And watch out for The Yobs! They'll be running amok throughout the site breaking things, headbutting people and telling jokes. And for a bit of interactive fun, play the Colemanballs game or visit Blairzone, and strum along with the country's latest boy wonder as he chooses his favourite 70s guitar riffs. Alternatively, you can splat politicians' heads in the all new Silly Waste of Time game. - more - Judy Gibbons, director of The Microsoft Network in the UK, commented: "The Microsoft Network already offers some of the best coverage and analysis of news, politics and sport available on the Internet. This joint initiative with Private Eye means the service will now also include the UK's foremost topical satire, from some of the country's best commentators, comedians and cartoonists." Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, said: "It's all incredibly exciting and cutting edge and state of the art and I've no idea how it works."

Page 1 The new fortnightly site, developed exclusively for The Microsoft Network by NoHo Digital, goes live on 6 February and can be found at http://msn.co.uk msn.co.uk, one of the top five leading web sites in the UK, attracts nine million page impressions per month. The site, which is the starting point for the best content on the web is available free to Internet users worldwide. About The Microsoft Network MSN, The Microsoft Network, is the Internet service of the world's leading software company. MSN is currently giving new subscribers a 30 day free trial. Free starter packs can be ordered from MSN on 0345 00 2000. After the 30 day trial, MSN's membership plans start from £4.95 a month. If you are a journalist and would like to access msn.co.uk but do not have an Internet service provider, please call The Microsoft Press Office on 0181 242 4242 to arrange a free MSN account. - ends - About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. For further press information, please contact: Nickie Smith Or Microsoft Press Office Microsoft Ltd Text 100 Ltd Tel: 0870 60 10 100

Page 2 Tel: 0181 242 42 42 [email protected]

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