MSN Live Earth Website Launched

MSN has today unveiled a new, enhanced LiveEarth.MSN.com Web site as part of its exclusive online media partnership with Live Earth.

The Live Earth series of concerts are scheduled for July 7 at the Wembley Stadium in London. The objective being to get more than 2 billion people together, and try and educate them about climatic change, and the dire need to combat the climate crisis.

A new song 'Hey You' inspired by- and written exclusively for- the upcoming concerts will be performed by Madonna at the event. Beginning today, 'Hey You' can be exclusively downloaded for free from MSN.com and LiveEarth.MSN.com.

And MSN has pledged to offer 25 cents for each of the first 1 million downloads of this song to the Alliance for Climate Protection.

In keeping with the central idea of Live Earth, the new LiveEarth.MSN.com site sports an innovative design, marrying rich entertainment with credible information about climate change.

With the help of photos, videos, and editorial content, the site aims to heighten users' knowledge regarding climate change, and make them aware of solutions for combating the impending crisis.

Besides, publishers Grist.org, Hearst, TreeHugger, and Rodale have partnered with MSN to provide thoughtful programming and content on climate change for the site.

And, leading organizations devoted to environmental causes including the Alliance for Climate Protection, Conservation International, and Environmental Defense are going to be lending content and counsel to the site.

The site will offer access to Live Earth through videos, photos, and information about artists and venues.

In coming weeks, the site will feature a video show player designed specifically for Live Earth content. The player will allow viewers watch videos in DVD-style, along with the ability to create their own playlists to share with friends.

On the day of the concert, the player will allow viewers switch between live and exclusive on-demand footage. MSN plans to add a Soapbox feature plus interactive maps later.

Commenting on the partnership, Joanne Bradford, Corporate Vice President and Chief Media Officer of MSN, said through the new Web site, they will give their 465 million-odd monthly users an exciting and interactive experience that will educate them about climate change and spur them to take action.

Kevin Wall, Founder and Producer of Live Earth, said Live Earth is all about engaging a global audience with tools to tackle the climate crisis, and MSN would play an instrumental role in helping Live Earth reach an unprecedented audience.