New York (April 14, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — MultiVu™, PR Newswire's multimedia and broadcast PR division, today introduced expanded features to its Multimedia News Release (MNR) package including photo displays on billboards in Times Square and Las Vegas, MPEG-2 file downloads, direct-to-blogger distribution, and a "Call to Action" function that enables marketers to drive direct interaction with consumers.

According to a March 2009 Nielsen Online report, social network and blogging sites are now the fourth most popular activity on the Internet surpassing email usage, and a recent comScore report showed that YouTube surpassed 100 million unique visits in January 2009.

"The growing penetration of social networks and online video illustrates the importance of integrating social media and multimedia into communications campaigns to drive interest and empower individuals to take ownership of a message, or to act upon a message" said Gena Sabin, product manager, MultiVu. "The new functions included with our MNR are designed to help communications professionals and marketers create highly interactive campaigns that can trigger viral sharing and empower direct customer engagement."

MultiVu's MNR incorporates video, audio, digital photos, logos, text, and related documents in a single dynamic custom HTML platform that is delivered via PR Newswire's vast distribution network to more than 5,700 media points, including industry and subject-specific blog contacts, more than 5,000 websites, and directly to tens of thousands of reporters registered with PR Newswire's media-only website, PR Newswire for Journalists.

MultiVu's enhanced MNR now features a new "Call to Action," button which enables viewers to immediately act on the information in the MNR, expanding the MNR's capabilities from a media relations tool to a sales and marketing tool. Marketers can use the "Call to Action" button to interact directly with consumers to promote products or initiatives. Other enhancements include links to downloadable MPEG-2 video files and distribution to industry and subject-specific bloggers.

MultiVu MNRs are also equipped with other direct-to-consumer, viral marketing capabilities including a "Forward to a friend" e-mail option, and social media tags that allow viewers to link to leading information-sharing services, such as del.icio.us, Technorati, Twitter, Digg, Google, Yahoo!, reddit and newsvine.

In addition, MultiVu's MNR package helps organizations to maximize the reach of their video and digital photo content online. Scripted video segments are made available to a combined 30+ million users, through MultiVu's relationships with leading video portals, including YouTube, Yahoo! Video and Metacafe. Further, one photo is automatically rendered on up to 1,000 websites and posted to prime-location outdoor displays: The Reuters Sign* in Times Square and the Fashion Show Mall sign** on the Las Vegas strip.

The MultiVu MNR package also includes:

In addition to the MultiVu MNR package, MultiVu also offers a basic photo-only version of the Multimedia News Release and the Flex Release™ which allows users to build their own basic multimedia communication tool via PR Newswire's Online Member Center.

* Distribution to The Reuters Sign in Times Square is provided through a partnership with Times Square2, a Thomson Reuters alliance.
** Content restrictions apply

About MultiVu™

MultiVu™, a PR Newswire company, provides unsurpassed broadcast and multimedia production and global distribution services to organizations that want to reach the media, financial community, general public and other key audiences with their visual and audio messages.

Using the latest technologies and the vast distribution resources of PR Newswire, MultiVu™ multiplies the number of opportunities an organization has to communicate with specific audiences. A variety of current and developing platforms for tape and digital content make this possible, including traditional broadcast TV and radio, financial networks, company intranets, the Web and wireless devices.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the global leader in innovative communications and marketing services, enabling organizations to connect and engage with their target audiences worldwide.

Through its multi-channel distribution network, audience intelligence, targeting, and measurement services, PR Newswire helps corporations and organizations conduct rich, timely and dynamic dialogues with the media, consumers, policymakers, investors and the general public, in support of building brands, generating awareness, impacting public policy, driving sales, and raising capital.

Pioneering the commercial news distribution industry 55 years ago, PR Newswire connects customers with audiences in more than 170 countries and in over 40 languages through an unparalleled network of offices in 16 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and via unique affiliations with the leading news agencies across the globe. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, a leading global business media company that serves professional commercial communities around the world. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

About United Business Media Limited

UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities — from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists — with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.