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MSN: Spend New Year's Online With Us

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

December 28, 2004, 11:59 AM

New Year's revelers will have one more way to watch the ball drop this New Year's Eve thanks to MSN. The online service has struck an exclusive deal with New York City to become the "official" online provider for the event.

Although it was announced Tuesday morning, MSN had already begun to advertise the countdown to 2005 through its video service during commercial breaks this past holiday weekend.

The webcast marks the first time in history that the ball drop will be broadcast over the Internet. Starting at 6pm EST on New Year's Eve, MSN will turn on three cameras, each promising a different angle of the festivities. In addition, MSN hired a local New York radio personality, "Romeo," to emcee the webcast.

"The Times Square 2005 MSN webcast demonstrates how interactive digital media can enable people to not only share but participate in the excitement," MSN Director Adam Sohn said in a statement. "It illustrates how digital media can provide coverage of live events beyond what a viewer can get on TV."

MSN has set up a special Web site that users can go to on New Year's Eve to view the webcast. However, users hoping to find a commercial-free New Year's broadcast online will be disappointed; MSN says that the webcast "will break periodically" to allow advertisements.

Add a Comment (4 Comments)

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By Rolphus

posted Dec 28, 2004 - 9:15 PM

I think I'll stick with my planned NYE celebrations of going into London, to a reasonably good club night, and talking to, er, people. Yes, you know, those things where you go "wow, the models are GREAT in this game"?

Just kidding, I'm sure there are at least a few people who are stuck at home... for those people this could be almost as good as watching on TV. Or something.

Score: 0

By Pipewrench

posted Dec 28, 2004 - 6:25 PM

How freaking dumb.

Why does anyone need to watch on a computer? Good Grief. Just watch on a TV or go outside and watch something local.

People need to get out of the freaking house these days. Quit sitting in front of the computer all the time.

Score: 0

By se7en11

posted Dec 28, 2004 - 4:42 PM

Step 1: Download Microsoft© Internet Explorer 6 for free
Step 2: Download Microsoft Windows Media© Player for free
Step 3: Start MSN Video
Step 4: Get infected with every know spyware
Step 5: Realized downloading IE was not worth it
Step 6: Get FireFox [www.getfirefox.com]
Step 7: Watch d*** Clarke without hick-ups

Score: 0

By nate

posted Dec 28, 2004 - 7:37 PM

No d*** Clark this year, just Regis.

Score: 0

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