The AOL On Network and Vibe Media Form Strategic Video Partnership

Deal Includes Content and Syndication Partnerships, Advertising Sales and Technology

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) today announced a strategic partnership with Vibe Media | Access Network, the premier destination for youth oriented music & urban entertainment and media. The multi-faceted partnership gives The AOL On Network, which includes AOL’s owned and operated and partner sites, access to Vibe Media’s catalogue of over 1,800 high-quality video, while bolstering the video offering on Vibe.com with relevant selections from the AOL On library of more than 380,000 short-form videos. In addition, AOL On will power the back-end technology for Vibe Media’s video player and content management system, and will power the advertising sales for all of its video content.

“Video is a new territory for many publishers who have built their business on print and don’t yet have this new medium baked into their DNA”

“Vibe is in a unique position to capitalize on the explosive growth of online video because we have a very strong fan base and editorial voice in the youth oriented music & urban entertainment space,” said Ari Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Vibe Media. “AOL will help us quickly capitalize on this trend and ensure that the content we produce is distributed to all of the relevant corners of the web, while helping to power our technology and extend our sales needs.”

Content from Vibe Media will be programmed into AOL On’s 14 channels and shared across the entire AOL On Network, which includes the AOL On video hub, AOL’s owned and operated properties and publisher partners. The partnership will expose Vibe Media’s lifestyle content to new and relevant audiences online, giving hip hop and electronic music fans an inside look at exclusive interviews, photo shoots, and behind the scenes footage of their favorite artists.

“Video is a new territory for many publishers who have built their business on print and don’t yet have this new medium baked into their DNA,” said Ran Harnevo, SVP of The AOL On Network. “Partnering with The AOL On Network provides these publishers with best-in-class video expertise and a seamless solution that gives them everything they need to get their video strategy off the ground.”

Launched in April 2012, The AOL On Network brings AOL's entire video offering under one umbrella and reaches more than 61 million unique visitors per month. It is one of the top 10 video platforms on the web according to comScore and is number one in categories including Autos, Business, Style, Home, Health, Food, Travel and Tech. The network attracts approximately 1 billion video streams per month.¹

About Vibe Media | Access Network

Vibe Media | Access Network is the parent company of Vibe magazine, Vibe.com, VibeVixen.com, Uptown magazine, UptownMagazine.com, and BlackBookmag.com. Vibe Media is a vertical content and advertising platform which represents over 25 websites, several publications, direct mail, TV shows and media platforms reaching over 15 million consumers per month. As the premier destination for urban entertainment and media, Vibe Media creates solutions for advertisers looking to engage consumers via music, entertainment, culture and lifestyle 18-54. www.vibe.com

About AOL

AOL Inc. is a brand company, committed to continuously innovating, growing, and investing in brands and experiences that inform, entertain, and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.

¹ comScore Media Metrix, August 2012 Total Videos