MSN is testing two channels – MSN Debate and MSN Contribute, which will utilize user generated content (ala Yahoo Answers). They plan to launch regional language movie content in the coming months. Jaspreet Bindra, Country Manager India for MSN and Windows Live answers some tough questions in this interview with the Financial Express:
The winners in the Indian market have not yet been decided, says Bindra. Online spends are “ridiculously low” and the poor Internet penetration in India is embarrassing (Romania is a bigger market). MSN India’s main revenue stream is display advertising, and Bindra admits that they haven’t focused yet on search. MSN has, he believes, taken the first mover advantage with mobile search. MSN research reveals that around 20 percent of mobile users use the Internet. Bindra remains bullish on video advertising online (Desktop TV, with NDTV Media). MSN India saw an increase in advertisers from 65 in December 2005 to over 260 at present. I don’t agree with that – while Desktop TV may offer an easier (and easier to understand) advertising solution to the advertiser, given our rather low connection speeds, it does result in a rather poor user experience. But then, they’re getting the advertisers, aren’t they?
I also noticed that MSN India has a classifieds listing up, in collaboration with Yello Media. Readers will remember that NDTVs jobs portal is powered by Yello Media, and this seems to be an extension of Yello’s partnership with MSN in Thailand
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