SEO Home reports that the MSN UK home page currently has the search box prefilled with the query “The Apprentice BBC,” effectively making it into an ad. Here’s a screenshot:
Clicking “Search” takes you to the search results for The Apprentice BBC. The first result I see is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/ with information about the show provided by the BBC.
I wonder how much that cost? 🙂
Postscript From Danny: I’m trying to get comments and more details from both the BBC and Microsoft about this unprecedented deal.
Postscript from Barry: It appears MSN UK is now testing several keyword phrases in the search box. At this time I see “Cricket World Cup” but earlier I saw “Euro 2008 results.” Here are more screen captures:
This may not be an advertisement.