News portal adds dating service to content

The co-branded service allows Atnext.com's users to tap a database of nearly 26 million members of one of the largest online dating organisations in the world. "We feel that this service will enhance Atnext.com's overall content and services strategy on the site," said Kevin Huang, CEO of Pixel Media, Atnext.com's global advertising sales representative. The launch is accompanied by Match.com's sponsorship of the Dream Channel on Atnext.com's two-year-old female vertical portal Lady.Atnext. com, which features profiles of actors and celebrities. "This allows users who visit the section to browse the celebrity profiles featured as part of editorial and the profiles of male members of Match.com hence creating a stronger value proposition," Huang added. Comprising the online editions of Next Media Group, including Apple Daily online, Next Magazine and Sudden Weekly, Atnext.com has more than 1.6 million unique users a month, 57 per cent are men and 43 per cent females. Eighty-five per cent of users are between 20 and 39 years. "Atnext.com was selected based on its desirable audience base, massive user reach and the long time spent per user duration on its site," said Huang. Nielsen/Netratings pegged time spent on Atnext.com for September at 13 minutes per session. No charge is levied to join, provide user profiles or browse other profiles, but a one-month subscription fee of HK$175 (US$22) is charged for contacting other members. Match.com provides services in English, simplified and traditional Chinese and Korean for the region.