Programming

AOL Launches BigDownload.com

New York, NY – July 2, 2008 – AOL announced the launch of BigDownload.com, http://www.bigdownload.com, a new content- and service-centered site for the PC gaming audience providing free downloads, game reviews and industry news. BigDownload.com is the first joint project between AOL Games, http://www.games.com, and Weblogs, Inc., http://www.weblogsinc.com.

BigDownload.com Targets PC Gaming Community

AOL launched BigDownload.com, a PC gaming site that offers free downloads of games, demos and HD game trailers as well as comprehensive coverage of the PC gaming market. Senior Producer Barbara Dybwad noted that the staff "eats, breathes and sleeps PC gaming so they can bring readers a deeper level of analysis." Other highlights include original and community features where the audience is encouraged to be a part of the site.

AOL enters mobile partnership with WIN

London, June 23th 2008 - AOL UK today announces a partnership with WIN plc that will see the interactive mobile innovator provide AOL with a mobile content delivery platform for web and mobile.

Under the terms of the agreement, WIN will provide AOL UK with a fully managed mobile content store on both its mobile and web-based portals, supplying entertainment, information and paid-for content to AOL users.

In addition, WIN will provide content aggregation, web and mobile portal design and ongoing service development.

As well as sourcing and managing content for AOL, WIN will integrate mobile delivery of AOL UK’s popular Instant Messenger service (AIM). WIN’s extensive product suite will also be available under this agreement to support the future enablement of multimedia, video and WAP services.

Consumers Struggling to Cope with High Gas Prices

A new MapQuest survey finds that high gas prices have caused 94% of consumers to make lifestyle changes: planning routes more carefully (57%), walking or biking more (24%), partially filling their gas tanks (31%) and making a conscious effort to drive less (82%). In addition, two-thirds have changed vacation plans, with one-third cancelling them altogether.

AOL Launches Black Voices Weekly Wire

Black Voices launched The Black Voices Weekly Wire, a weekly three-minute video recap of buzz-worthy entertainment news. Sponsored by Toyota, the Weekly Wire will be hosted by Tatyana Ali, best known for her role as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

AOL’s Black Voices Launches ‘The Black Voices Weekly Wire’ Sponsored by Toyota

NEW YORK – June 27, 2008 – Black Voices, http://www.BlackVoices.com, launched The Black Voices Weekly Wire, http://www.blackvoices.com/the-weekly-wire, a weekly three-minute video recap of top entertainment news. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the official sponsor of the six-week program, with a new video available every Friday on Black Voices' Entertainment Newswire and Style Spotter blogs. The Black Voices Weekly Wire is hosted by Tatyana Ali, R&B artist and actress who is best known for her role as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Black Voices is the No. 1 online destination for African-American news, culture and community¹.

Scripps Networks to Syndicate Video Content on AOL

Knoxville, TN and New York, NY, June 18, 2008 –Scripps Networks and AOL today announced a partnership to deliver clips from Scripps’ portfolio of leading lifestyle content on AOL Video, http://video.aol.com, and selectively throughout AOL Food, http://food.aol.com, AOL Home, http://home.aol.com, and Slashfood, http://www.slashfood.com, later this summer.

AOL Video Offers Content from Scripps Network

AOL and Scripps Networks are partnering to deliver clips from Scripps' portfolio of lifestyle content through AOL Video. Program segments include HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network and Fine Living Network. Relevant content will also be available on AOL Food, AOL Home and Slashfood throughout the summer.

AOL Launches New AOL Radio Experience

New York, NY, June 10, 2008 – AOL unveiled a new AOL Radio experience, http://radio.aol.com, that features a redesigned online player and a wealth of new radio stations, including 150 local CBS RADIO stations and custom channels plus more than 200 AOL Radio channels. The new player, powered by CBS RADIO, lets users skip songs, add unlimited channel presets and share streams with AIM users. AOL Radio is part of AOL’s comprehensive music offering which includes AOL Music, http://music.aol.com, the Web’s most trafficked music site.*

AOL launches Euro 2008 site

LONDON, 9th June 2008 – AOL has today launched an extensive Euro 2008 site, offering fans full coverage of the tournament and a range of associated content.

The site www.aol.co.uk/euro2008 provides the essential elements for all football fans – news, stats, scores, galleries and video content.

As well as the serious stuff, the site provides a distinctively irreverent and fun look at the tournament, with a multitude of tongue-in-cheek content. Whether it’s a case of switching nationalities, drinking to numb the pain, swapping sports to become a cricket fan or restoring some national pride by cheering on the unbeaten England women’s team in their quest for European glory; AOL can show you how to enjoy the tournament once again and stop you from hanging your head in shame for the next month.

AOL Launches International Versions of Men’s Lifestyle Site, Asylum.com

New York, NY, June 5, 2008 – AOL today announced the international expansion of its popular men’s lifestyle site, Asylum, with launches in Australia, www.asylum.com.au, India, www.asylum.in, Italy, www.asylumitalia.it, and the UK, www.asylum.co.uk. AOL plans to launch Asylum in additional countries by year’s end, as part of the company’s ambitious global expansion effort.  Launched in the U.S. in December, Asylum is already the Web’s most visited men’s lifestyle site, attracting nearly 3 million domestic unique visitors in April, with nearly 40% of the traffic coming to Asylum from outside the AOL network.*

Asylum Launches Internationally

AOL's popular men's lifestyle site, Asylum, is launching in the UK, Italy, India and Australia. In the six months since its launch, Asylum has risen to become the top men’s lifestyle site, attracting 3 million users in the U.S. with nearly 40% coming to Asylum from outside the AOL network. “We’re confident that Asylum’s unique editorial voice, which provides an irreverent look at all things that matter to guys, will resonate with a world wide audience,” said Jared Willig, Asylum Managing Director.

AOL’s Black Voices Celebrates Black Music Month; Announces New Video Experience

NEW YORK – June 2, 2008 –Black Voices, www.BlackVoices.com, the No. 1 online destination for African-American news, culture and community, today debuted its celebration of Black Music Month, www.BlackVoices.com/black-music-month. The special section will run throughout June, highlighting black music and the incredible range of influence African-American artists have had on all music genres. In addition, AOL also announced it will be launching a new video site on Black Voices, www.BlackVoices.com/videos, offering searchable videos appealing to the interests of the African-American community.

Highlights of the Black Music Month site include:

Black Music Month Featured on Black Voices

Black Voices is offering a special site dedicated to African-American music in honor of June's Black Music Month. The site will feature a special essay by Aretha Franklin, an exclusive online "Jam Session" by R&B band Mint Condition, quizzes, profiles and polls to vote for the best albums of all time. In addition, Black Voices is launching a new video site that appeals to the interests of the African-American community.

KOL and Planet Cazmo Form Content Partnership

NEW YORK – May 29, 2008 – AOL today announced a content agreement between its popular online kids site, KOL, http://www.kol.com, and Planet Cazmo, http://www.planetcazmo.com, a virtual world that hosts a global audience of ‘tweens and teens. The year-long arrangement lets the two properties feature and cross promote content on each other’s sites.

With this partnership, KOL content will be featured throughout Planet Cazmo in the form of virtual goods, and a new racing game will incorporate KOL characters and branding. This game and others will also be embedded widgets on the KOL site for users to play there as well.