• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, October 14, 2005

Faced with increased market competition, rich media company Eyeblaster on Thursday debuted a preferred partner network dubbed EyeNet. The new network will be billed as a means to simplify the use of rich media for both publishers and agencies. EyeNet partners will receive pricing incentives and a full suite of publisher products and services, plus special attention from Eyeblaster's sales and marketing team.

For agencies, EyeNet provides an all-inclusive media cost, which does not segment rich media serving fees--as well as vertical lists to better target their campaigns. EyeNet's verticals were created to help agencies determine which category of preferred publishers to select when planning a media buy, according to Fred Tietze, Eyeblaster's vice president of North American sales. Tietze added that EyeNet will also assist publishers in selling pre-roll inventory.

Over 15 publishers have already joined the EyeNet network--including Yahoo!, AOL, IGN, BURST! Media, About.com, and Advertising.com--said Tietze. He added that he expects as many as 50 partners by the end of the year.