Changes to Media Corp's Vertical Search Enable Regional Targeting

The leading Internet media and advertising group Media Corporation plc has made changes to its proprietary technology that drives its vertical search web portals, which widen the options available to advertisers to target consumers by region.

Search Focus Limited, the Group's vertical search business, has implemented a new geographic targeting tool within its search engine which allows advertisers to organize their search listings into two separate territories: The Rest of the World, which excludes the US and UK, and the UK only

Media Corp CEO Justin Drummond said: "These changes are part of our strategy to expand our business internationally beyond the UK and the US. Feedback from customers suggests that in some market segments they welcome the opportunity to more closely target their market.

"It is a useful addition to the range of options we offer. For example, this geographic targeting technology now allows gaming advertisers to prevent US residents from viewing their listings after the recent legislative changes in the US."

Search Focus Limited operates the top-ranked gaming related vertical search engine, Gambling.com, which allows Internet users to look up listings ranging from online casinos to the latest sporting odds or where to find a book on gambling.

It is also at an advanced stage of launching a search engine for the personal finance and travel markets.

"There are rapid changes taking place in the search engine market, and we believe there is potential for our search business to grow substantially into other vertical markets," Mr Drummond said.

Vertical search platforms are specialised search engines that use highly refined databases and defined sites on the Web, and which index only information about specific topics. This distinguishes them from broad search engines that search the whole of the Internet.

Vertical search benefits both consumers and advertisers. Advertisers get very a focussed audience, consumers get only very relevant listings. While the major search engines have indexed most of the Web, it can be hard for users to figure out what keywords will get them the content they want.

SearchFocus combines its proprietary latest technology with a well-informed editorial team to ensure best possible listings.

Fast growing Media Corp is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market. Last month it reported record full year revenues of almost £19m and an annual after tax profit growth of 400% to £2.5m in the year to end September 2006.

Enquiries:
Justin Drummond, Chief Executive, 020 7618 9000
Paul Tuson, Group Finance Director, 020 7618 9000
Trevor Phillips, Holborn PR, 020 7929 5599

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Media Corp (MediaCorpplc.com) is a leading internet media and advertising Company focused on search, publishing and media sales. The company has three principal divisions:
•Search - The vertical search specialists - building sector specific search engines for advertisers to communicate in a highly targeted environment with their particular audience. All of our Search and Media products are powered by our own high performance proprietary technology. We can therefore partner with your online businesses to offer "White Label" services across a number of key vertical markets. SearchFocus.co.uk.
•Publishing - Media Corp has a diverse publishing division ranging from online to printed media. Our impressive stable of websites includes a number of market leading sites including OnTheBox.com, www.casino.co.uk.
•Media - Eyeconomy was formed in 1996, and is a separate operating division of Media Corporation. Eyeconomy specialises in the various sectors of online marketing and advertising, such as online media planning and buying, as well as managing online media campaigns for clients including AOL, Dell and American Express.