The Sony Web Site Takes Over #1 Entertainment Site Position
The Sony Web site has become the #1 entertainment Web site and is #16
among all sites accessed from home PCs, according to the January 1998
report from Media Metrix, the PC Meter Company and leader in new media
audience measurement, it was announced today by Sony Online Ventures
Inc. (SOVI). The Sony Web site (located at www.sony.com) also achieved
top rankings within the news, information and entertainment category
among key audiences, including the much-coveted female demographic.
This latest rise in rankings can be attributed to several factors: the
success of Sony's online entertainment network, The with its new
fall/winter programming such as College JEOPARDY!  Online; increased
traffic to other Sony Web sites; and new online and print advertising
campaigns. "The latest rankings prove that Sony has delivered on
providing a fun, entertaining experience online, and, in a short time,
has clearly become an entertainment leader on the Web," said Lisa
Simpson, Senior Vice President, Sony Online Ventures Inc. "With `The
Station' in particular, we've combined branded content and high
entertainment value to attract both the core online and mainstream
consumer audiences, including women of all age groups."
The Sony Web site experienced a nearly 60% growth in audience reach
(from 4.9% in December 1997 to 7.8% in January 1998), and increased
unique users by 1.1 million, rising to 2.9 million, making it one of
the fastest growing sites within the news, information and
entertainment category, as well as on the Web overall. The Sony Web
site also ranked first among the top 10 in its category reaching the
elusive female demographic including ages 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, and
total overall female audiences. The site was also #1 among males ages
18-24 and #5 among females ages 55 and over.
SOVI reports that The Station added more than 90,000 new members in
January, one of its highest registration rates to date. And The
Station, along with sites for Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures
Entertainment and Sony Electronics, Inc., each experienced an
approximate 20% increase in traffic in January 1998, contributing to
an upward trend for the Sony Web site. In fact, Media Metrix reports
an 80% growth in the Sony Web site's audience reach since October
1997.
A large contributor to this success has been the continually growing
traffic on The Station@@sony.com, which offers strong branded
entertainment content such as JEOPARDY! Online and Wheel of Fortune
Online. Since October, The Station has added the College JEOPARDY!
Online tournament; Tanarus, its first subscription-based game; and
game shows from BoxerJam Productions, the first third-party content to
appear on The Station.
The Media Metrix reach measurement is based on the percent of
unduplicated Web-active individuals that visited the Sony Web site
from a home PC at least once in a given month. Each reach point
increase represents a significant increase in the number of visitors
to the Sony Web site.
With its patented PC Meter technology, Media Metrix has developed the
standard for measuring real-time, actual usage of the entire digital
universe, including the World Wide Web, proprietary online
services,computer software, hardware and other new interactive
applications.
From:  Silicon Times Report / March 06, 1998 / No.1409
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