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Technology Stocks : ZD Inc., Ziff-Davis (ZD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Moose who wrote (223)	11/30/1998 7:11:00 AM
From: sam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 855

Ziff-Davis Sees Improving Ad Sales, Alliances: Bloomberg Forum New York, Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Ziff-Davis Inc., publisher of No. 1 computer magazine PC Week, sees stronger advertising revenue in 1999 and is in talks with several companies about possible alliances, said Michael Perlis, president of ZD Publishing. Ziff-Davis is aiming to be a leading print and online publisher of technology-related content. ZD Publishing has more than 60 titles worldwide, including Yahoo! Internet Life and Inter@ctive Week. Ziff-Davis also broadcasts ZDTV, a 24-hour cable channel devoted to the Internet; produces computer trade shows such as Comdex; and operates ZDNet, a technology Web site. Higher ad revenue is crucial to New York-based Ziff-Davis, whose stock has fallen 23 percent since it went public for $15.50 a share on April 29. Sliding ad sales prompted the company in October to announce a restructuring plan that included cutting its staff by 10 percent and folding three magazines. ''What we're hearing from some of the computer chipmakers and hardware manufactures is that orders look good,'' said Perlis, 45, who joined Ziff-Davis earlier this month. ''We're hopeful in terms of what that means for us in the beginning of 1999.'' ZD Publishing is also ''talking to everyone,'' both traditional publishers and Internet-related companies, about possible business combinations, said Perlis, who declined to elaborate. ''I think you'll hear some interesting things in 1999,'' Perlis told the Bloomberg Forum. Three Groups of Advertisers Three types of advertisers will drive ad revenue next year, Perlis said. The first will come from Ziff-Davis's traditional computer hardware and software advertisers, while the second will stem from businesses selling Internet-related products and services. ''That's very important to us,'' he said. ''It represents the potential for real growth in our traditional print magazines.'' The remainder is expected to come from non-technology advertisers, such as automobile and fashion companies, who are starting to notice the attractiveness of Ziff-Davis readers, Perlis said. ''The raw demographics of our readers are very powerful,'' he said. ''When you add this to the Internet savvy our readers possess -- it's a one-two punch for businesses with a Web-based marketing strategy looking to reach these consumers.'' ZD Publishing had combined 1997 circulation of more than 8 million readers worldwide.