Industry related news item:
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday January 14, 10:49 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Cox Interactive Media
Cox Interactive Media to Launch Interactive Classifieds
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Just another example of how the internet advertising industry is taking off...
Dave
Atlanta, Austin, Dayton and West Palm Beach are First Sites to Go Online
ATLANTA, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Interactive Media (CIM), the nation's largest provider
of comprehensive local content on the Web, is continuing the growth of its online network through
the launch of interactive classified advertising Web sites. The new sites, serving as a one-stop
interactive marketplace, will enable Cox Newspapers, Inc. to extend its classifieds business to the
Web while becoming an integral part of CIMnet(TM), CIM's network of city and specialty Web
sites.
CIM's interactive classifieds are being developed as individual, stand- alone Web sites in select
markets. The sites will also be accessible through local CIMnet city sites. The CIM interactive
classifieds product will protect and grow the market position of Cox Newspapers, including the
Atlanta Journal- Constitution, the Austin American Statesman, the Dayton Daily News & Springfield
News Sun, The Palm Beach Post, the Palm Beach Daily News and the Florida Pennysaver.
Features of CIM classifieds sites will include:
-- Powerful search engine capabilities enabling local customers to find
quickly and thoroughly what they want to buy or sell;
-- Customer-generated automatic search agent tools which will notify
users in a daily email when the item they want to buy becomes
available;
-- Compelling editorial content combining local and national news and
features related to automotive, real estate and employment, which
helps users make smarter and more informed decisions;
-- Multimedia features, including online photos, video and audio
excerpts.
Leading this new area is Jim Todesco, manager of classified development. His responsibilities
include overall development and execution of the interactive classifieds vision, and supervision of
four project managers in Atlanta, Austin, Dayton and West Palm Beach. Prior to joining CIM,
Todesco was the manager of advertising systems and technology for the San Diego Union- Tribune
where he was instrumental in the development of its online classified advertising.
''Classified advertising is a significant revenue builder for newspapers, with more than $15 billion
spent in 1996 alone,'' said Todesco. ''The Internet is also experiencing tremendous growth in this
area. With CIM's market-reach through its city sites, it is a natural fit for Cox Interactive Media to
develop localized online classifieds. Not only will our interactive classifieds enable consumers to
conveniently utilize the largest source of updated classified advertisements through our partnership
with Cox Newspapers, but it will also offer advertisers an alternative medium to reach their
audiences.''
This new product will launch first in Atlanta in partnership with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dean Welch, director of classified advertising for that newspaper, shares Todesco's enthusiasm for
CIM's classified advertising Web sites. ''The people in our communities have come to trust the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution to provide them with a database of classified advertisements that is rich
in quality and quantity,'' said Welch. ''The addition of online classifieds will not only broaden our
reach across the nation but also allow us to transition to a larger audience and enhance what we
already provide in Atlanta.''
CIM's interactive classifieds products will also launch in early 1998 in three other Cox Newspaper
major markets: Austin, Dayton and West Palm Beach. CIM plans to roll out the product in
additional markets beginning in mid-1998.
In the past year, Atlanta-based CIM has experienced explosive growth, going from a two-person
shop to employing more than 225 people. By mid-1998 it will employ 400 people. The company
produces the nation's largest, most extensive and fastest growing network of city and specialty Web
sites, CIMnet(TM). To date, CIMnet includes 14 city sites and six specialty Web sites.
Cox Interactive Media, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. A
leading media company, Cox Enterprises includes Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, direct mail
marketing, book publishing), Cox Broadcasting, Inc. (TV, spot sales, television production,
research, publicly traded Cox Radio, Inc. (NYSE: CXR - news)) and publicly-traded Cox
Communications, Inc. (NYSE: COX - news; cable distribution, programming, broadband
communications). The company is also the world's largest operator of automobile auctions through
Manheim Auctions, providing financial services, government auctions, online services and price
guides.
SOURCE: Cox Interactive Media
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Cox Communications Inc (NYSE:COX - news)
Cox Radio Inc (NYSE:CXR - news)
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