$200 million Windows ad push. (Microsoft Corp.'s advertising expenditure for launch of Windows 95 operating system)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, August, 1995 by McConville, Jim

Besides paying the Rolling Stones a reported $4 million-S12 million to use the rock group's song "Start Me Up" in Windows '95 TV spots, Microsoft reportedly will spend some $200 million in marketing and advertising to roll out its new computer operating system. Although Microsoft won't disclose how its marketing and ad money will be broken out, an estimated $3 million-S5 million will be spent on what it calls a "syndicated TV special." The half-hour infomercial will be interspersed with 30-second spots from Coca-Cola, Eastman Kodak, CompUSA and Compaq Computer.

It will air Aug. 27-28 in 70 markets. --JM