MSNBC Interactive acquires Seattle news commentary site

redmond, wash. – MSNBC Interactive News said it had acquired Newsvine Inc., a small Seattle start-up that lets visitors read and comment on news stories from mainstream media outlets.

MSNBC, which is jointly owned by Microsoft Corp. and NBC Universal, did not disclose financial terms of the deal late Sunday. NBC Universal is a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Vivendi.

Newsvine was launched in 2006 and employs six people. Mike Davidson, its co-founder and chief executive, said about a million people come to the site each month to read articles and submit their own articles and commentary.

Charlie Tillinghast, president of MSNBC Interactive News, said Newsvine would remain a stand-alone site.

Msnbc.com will provide technology resources to the start-up Internet site and add links to drive more visitors to Newsvine. Msnbc.com receives about 29 million unique visitors a month, he said.

MSNBC also plans to incorporate some of Newsvine’s social and community aspects into msnbc.com, Tillinghast said.

Newsvine will stay in its Seattle offices. Davidson will retain his CEO title and will report to Tillinghast.