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MCI and News Corp. Launch Joint Venture to Revolutionize Online Services

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

MCI Communications Corporation and News Corporation joined forces to launch a new joint venture, combining their existing online services to create a revolutionary online experience for consumers and businesses. The venture, led by Scott Kurnit as chief executive officer and president, will feature a wide range of interactive products and services, including a comprehensive guide to the Internet, online news, games, and specialized programming developed in collaboration with News Corp.'s various companies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The joint venture will offer a comprehensive guide to the Internet, an online news service, a variety of games, an online space for children, and specialized programming developed jointly with News Corp. companies.
  • The online services will incorporate industry-leading, easy-to-use core applications for content browsing, electronic mail, interactive chat, telnet, and ftp.
  • MCI's annual revenue exceeds $13 billion, making it one of the world's largest and fastest-growing diversified communications companies.
  • News Corp. is one of the world's largest media companies, with diversified operations, including motion pictures, television broadcasting, and publication of newspapers, magazines, and books.
  • Scott Kurnit has been named chief executive officer and president of the joint venture, while Anthea Disney has been appointed editor-in-chief.
  • Dr. Alan E. Baratz, former president and chief executive officer of Delphi Internet, will join the board of directors and become President, News Technology Ventures.
  • The joint venture will be headquartered in Washington, DC, with a 40,000 sq. ft. online Web publishing studio in lower Manhattan and a 100,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Internet Web hosting environment and customer support center in Lowell, MA.

Statistics:

  • MCI's annual revenue exceeds $13 billion.
  • News Corp.'s diversified operations include production and distribution of motion pictures and television programming, television broadcasting, and publication of newspapers, magazines, and books.
  • The joint venture will be headquartered in Washington, DC.
  • The joint venture will have a 40,000 sq. ft. online Web publishing studio in lower Manhattan.
  • The joint venture will have a 100,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Internet Web hosting environment and customer support center in Lowell, MA.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, August 9, 1995
  • MCI Communications Corporation (Name, Title, and Email)
  • NEWS CORP./DELPHI (Pamela Hamilton, Phone Number and Email)

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