AOL to Offer Time Warner Content To Subscribers

Posted on December 6, 2002

In a move that highlights the cross-promotional power of AOL Time Warner Inc., the company announced plans to offer magazine content from Time Inc., audio samples from Warner Music Group, and clips and trailers from Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema films to AOL users. AOL Time Warner also said that AOL will continue to seek and actively promote online content from outside partners on its service.

Don Logan, Chairman of the Media & Communications Group, said, "This is a great example of how our individual businesses can benefit from being part of AOL Time Warner. Making this compelling content available on the AOL service is yet another new benefit for our members - delivering the best content to them first at no extra cost. Our media companies now will have more and better opportunities to create value with their online offerings, promote their products and leverage AOL's communications, community and commerce features. Today's announcement is just the first step to putting even more AOL Time Warner content on the AOL service and to working with outside providers to showcase their content to AOL members."

Time Inc. editors will work with AOL to integrate content from magazines like People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, Parenting, Real Simple, Cooking Light, and other magazines at no additional cost to AOL members. AOL also will extensively promote the Time Inc. content across the service. Access to this content will be restricted on the Internet, and the magazines individually may decide to offer their content online for a fee. AOL members will also receive access to CNN's pay video news services on AOL Broadband.

Warner Music Group and AOL Music AOL members will continue to see certain videos before they air on any other media outlets through First View. They will also be able to hear select songs before they air on radio through First Listen, experience interviews and live performances at Sessions@AOL, and download ring tones from popular songs for their wireless phones.

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema will work more closely with AOL. Together, they already have been showcasing on AOL stills, clips, trailers, celebrity interviews and other programming about both new films and home video/DVD releases through First Look and Inside the DVD. In addition, they are offering opportunities to purchase related merchandise.

On the television front, AOL and HBO will jointly develop original online experiences for AOL members. This programming will include original content for AOL, as well as sharing new and existing HBO content, threaded through the service. The first initiative is expected to involve HBO Comedy. AOL also will work with Warner Bros. Television and Telepictures Productions to build new programming models and companion programming experiences for AOL members -- including such shows as Smallville and The Bachelor franchise.