AOL-Microsoft-Yahoo Team Up to Sell 'Premium' Ads

AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo officially announced a rumored partnership today, one that would allow advertisers to buy inventory from all the three companies.

The partnership covers "premium, non-guaranteed display inventory," namely, display advertising that's normally sold through ad networks rather than the companies' sales teams, said Ross Levinsohn, Yahoo's executive vice president for the Americas, in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. He called the move a "fundamental rethink of how our digital media is bought and sold." Starting in January, an advertiser will be able to approach Yahoo, AOL, or Microsoft and purchase ads across Yahoo Network Plus, AOL's Advertising.com, and/or the Microsoft Media Network.