MSNBC.com Launches a 'Big Picture' Guide to the Oscars(R)

MSNBC.com Interactive Guide, MSN Movie Awards Coverage Sponsored by Hyundai Motor America

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 17 -- MSNBC.com, a leader in breaking news and original journalism on the Internet, today announces the launch of the "Big Picture" on the Oscars(R) sponsored by Hyundai Motor America. MSNBC's "Big Picture" is an award-winning multimedia feature and the Movie Awards version will provide a complete interactive look at everything from the big names to the big night. It is available at www.movieawards.msnbc.com.

  Some of the interactive features of the "Big Picture" include:

  * Vote for your favorites:  Users can cast their votes for Best Actor and
    Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay and Best
    Picture and see the results updated instantly.
  * Dressing a star for the big night: Users get a chance to be a star
    stylist by selecting clothing and accessories for their favorite stars.
  * Independent films: Viewers learn how independent films earn nominations.
  * Handicapping the races: The experts handicap the races and users can
    decide whether or not they agree.

"MSNBC.com's award-winning Big Picture brings together compelling elements from television and the Internet allowing users to interact with stories and fully engage in the news," said Scott Moore, President of MSNBC.com. "We are pleased to be working with Hyundai on this star-studded feature."

Hyundai Motor America is also sponsoring MSN Entertainment's "Guide to the 76th Annual Academy Awards(R)" which can be found at www.movieawards.msn.com. Hyundai will also advertise on the MSN.com homepage leading up to the February 29 Academy Awards event and telecast.

In addition, one of last year's most popular attractions, the Hyundai "Stars in your Eyes" sweepstakes, is back again this year. Users can enter to win one of three Hyundai cars -- last year over 650 thousand people entered.

This is Hyundai Motor America's second consecutive year sponsoring MSN's movie awards coverage and last year's campaign was Hyundai's most successful interactive initiative to date driving the most traffic ever to HyundaiUSA.com -- over 1 million visitor sessions in the month of March.

"After last year's unprecedented success we were pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor both MSN and MSNBC.com's Oscar(R) coverage this year," said Paul Sellers, Director of Marketing, of Hyundai Motor America. "Adding MSNBC.com's interactive 'Big Picture' coverage makes this our biggest digital marketing initiative ever."

About MSNBC.com

MSNBC.com is a leader in breaking news and original journalism on the Internet. MSNBC.com delivers the best of NBC News, MSNBC Cable, CNBC, NBC Sports, MSN, and Newsweek. MSNBC is a 24-hour cable and Internet joint venture of Microsoft and NBC News .

About Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 600 dealerships nationwide. Further information about Hyundai Motor America and its products is available on the Internet at http://www.hyundaiusa.com/