MSN stops selling pop-ups
Reported by newcster68 on 14 Feb 2004 - 01:55
MSN has pledged to phase out both pop-up and pop-under formats by the summer, across its entire worldwide network following a decision to offer a pop-up 'blocker' on its browser software at the end of last year.
The company will stop selling the format immediately across all of MSN's global businesses and take immediate effect in the UK, Nordic regions and Belgium, although a summer 2004 deadline has been given so that regions can honour existing deals with advertisers.
In a statement the company said: "[We have] taken the decision to no longer sell pop up and pop under ads. Local countries will make the change at the best time to suit their local market needs and to meet pre existing arrangements with MSN customers... Removing pop-ups and pop unders on MSN is a win for consumers, advertisers and our partners."
However, the ban does not apply to rich-media, 'over-the page' ads, which the company will continue to sell, and around which the IAB set up an initiative to standardise formats late last year.
According to customer research performed by MSN, pop ups are a key contributor to user dissatisfaction on the Web. Yahoo and Google both imposed pop-up blockers in early 2003, while Microsoft added a blocker to its proliferate internet browser software, Internet Explorer, in November.
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