REDMOND, Wash. and NEW YORK, July 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Msnbc.com, the leader in online news,* officially opened its interactive digital cafe today at the NBC Experience Store in New York's Rockefeller Center. The msnbc.com digital cafe is a sleek new space that brings to life the site's innovative nature and immerses consumers in msnbc.com's trademark "fuller spectrum of news" in a casual cafe setting.
The digital cafe is like no other, with one-of-a-kind interactive activities that showcase msnbc.com's rich content in compelling and unexpected ways. Spectra, msnbc.com's latest news-infused innovation, allows visitors to truly interact with the day's headlines. This visually stunning news reader is showcased on five touchscreens for individual play and on a large Sharp TV screen filled with whirling color and up-to-the-minute headlines. Coming in Fall 2008, Spectra will be featured on the 108-inch Sharp TV, one of the largest TVs in the world. Spectra on the large screen also uses motion-sensing technology to detect cafe guests' color of clothing. It then reveals a stream of the latest content channels that match that hue. For instance, if a visitor is wearing blue, Spectra will activate and display content in "Entertainment" in varying shades of blue.
"We've tapped into what excites our 'news explorers' and created a digital playground where consumers can engage and experiment with news in unconventional ways," said Catherine Captain, vice president of marketing, msnbc.com. "Bringing the msnbc.com experience offline to create a news-infused cafe is something we are uniquely positioned to do because our audience enjoys discovering news in unique formats. Consumers tell us that the msnbc.com brand is more innovative and cutting-edge than its peers. We coined the term and created NewsWare (www.newsware.msnbc.com) online that taps into that understanding and now we've created a physical space with the msnbc.com digital cafe."
The digital cafe also features free msnbc.com NewsArcades, which house the site's addictive NewsBreaker and NewsBlaster games first introduced online. Consumers have access to free WiFi. While visitors immerse themselves in the latest headlines, they can snack on Garrett Popcorn, sip Chock full o' Nuts coffee, and enjoy the spectacular views of Rockefeller Plaza and the Today Show studio.
"We worked closely with the NBC Experience Store to select premiere partners to enhance our cafe experience," said Captain. "We're thrilled to have Garrett and Chock full o' Nuts on board."
"The msnbc.com digital cafe is a fantastic addition to our NBC Experience Store," added Judith Dutch, vice president of Retail Operations and Consumer Marketing, NBC Universal. "The cafe brings a new interactive dimension to our customers, who can now enjoy msnbc.com content in a truly unique and entertaining way."
"Garrett Popcorn Shops is an iconic brand, and as we continue our expansion out of Chicago and into New York City, it's fantastic to now have a presence in such an iconic building and with such a powerful brand like msnbc.com," said Scott Schroeder, executive vice president and CFO of Garrett Popcorn Shops.
Jim LaGanke, senior vice president for Chock full o' Nuts Cafe division added, " We are proud to be associated with such a great brand as msnbc.com and look forward to exciting customers with our cafe menu reminiscent of yester year, including our legendary coffee and Datenut Bread with Cream Cheese Sandwich."
According to Captain, "The msnbc.com digital cafe is the latest in a series of exciting extensions of the msnbc.com brand. This has been more than a year in the making and we're happy to throw our doors open to the thousands of daily visitors to the NBC Experience Store. From here, we will continue to brainstorm new ways to delight our consumers. This is just the beginning."
About msnbc.com
Msnbc.com delivers a fuller spectrum of news. Drawing on its award-winning original journalism, NBC News heritage, trusted sources and Microsoft's advanced technologies, the site presents compelling, diverse and visually engaging stories on the consumer's platform of choice. Based in Redmond, WA, msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) and NBC Universal (NYSE:GE).
About NBC Universal:
NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
About Garrett
Garrett Popcorn Shops is a world renowned company based in Chicago since 1949. Garrett is committed to maintaining quality products with the finest and freshest ingredients folded into a three-generation secret family recipe for freshly-made, hot-air popped Plain and Buttery Popcorn, CaramelCrisp(r) and CheeseCorn(tm). Garrett's Chicago locations include 4 East Madison St., 2 West Jackson St., 26 West Randolph St., O'Hare International Airport, and the Northwestern Station/Ogilvie Transportation Center at 500 W. Madison St. In New York City, Garrett has three locations at One Penn Plaza, 560 Fifth Avenue and 30 Rockefeller Center.
Garrett Popcorn Shops' products are available for ordering through their international Mail Order Division by calling 888-4-POPCORN (888-476-7267) or online at www.garrettpopcorn.com. Specialized Popcorn Consultants handle Corporate Orders at 866-6-POPCORN (866-676-7267).
About Chock full o' Nuts
Chock full o' Nuts, New York's Heavenly Coffee since 1932, is now being served along with an extensive line of hot and cold cafe beverages in the msnbc.com digital cafe.
* The MSNBC Digital Network (msnbc.com) was the number one Current Events and Global News site with more than 37 million unique visitors in June, 2008. Source: Nielsen Online.
**Spectra was developed with SS+K (New York) and Fluid Dynamic Media Design (Amsterdam)