Edmunds.com Wakes up 9 Years Later and Recognizes Validity and Potential of On Screen Magazines Like The Originator-The Auto Channel
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Unfortunately our legal budget was used up when we brought legal action against Cox Communications for using us to launch Speedvision...so; We at The Auto Channel welcome Edmund’s validation of our 16 year old belief that there is a meaningful audience for electronically delivered automotive information and entertainment.
We wish only good luck to Edmunds and hope that their sales people can do a good job selling our concept that integrated automotive editorial is the best context in which to advertise, persuade and inform potential car buyers.
For the past 9 years our sales staff has been fighting this good fight alone with ad agencies that have not agreed that advertising their clients’ automotive products within on-line editorial automotive content is worthwhile.
We wish the deep pockets Edmunds success in their mind swaying and old ground breaking efforts, and look forward to the day when other smart media companies join this fray, for then we shall all benefit.
As per editorial...hey Edmunds The Auto Channel has 16 years of archives and exclusive and unduplicated coverage of past events and auto industry happenings…no matter how much money you have you can't catch-up to that!
This is Milton Snide, tell me what you think, msnide@theautochannel.com.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 10, 2005 -- Edmunds.com, (http://www.edmunds.com/), the premier online resource for automotive information, today launched a high-speed, on-screen car magazine called Inside Line. The new media outlet uses video, photography, interactive rich media and online community in innovative ways, taking full advantage of both the Internet and exciting subject matter.
Available free at www.insideline.com, the new publication is aimed at automotive enthusiasts, a population that is growing thanks in part to successful television shows like MTV's "Pimp My Ride" and The Learning Channel's "Overhaulin'."
By launching Inside Line, Edmunds.com is capitalizing on this automotive enthusiasm trend while creating more advertising space for automakers and others eager to present their brands to Edmunds.com's unusually responsive, high-income visitors.
The new publication also takes into account the explosive growth of broadband by delivering much of its car information through video, flash and other appealing visuals, drawing from Edmunds.com's video and photo staff and library, both of which are the largest in the automotive media world. The company's editorial staff is also bigger than that of any other car magazine: there are 30 full-time employees who produce articles, photography and video for Edmunds.com and Inside Line. Between the sites' two distinct areas of focus, there is a lot of ground to cover.
"The Edmunds.com Web site serves automotive consumers who seek straightforward auto information: prices, ownership cost projections and practical tips on buying, selling and owning a vehicle," explained Matthew Kumin, General Manager of Edmunds.com Media. "Inside Line is pleasure reading aimed at those who are emotionally involved with cars -- an audience that is growing in size and in importance to automakers."
Chrysler, General Motors and Mercedes were the first automakers to seize the opportunity to advertise on Inside Line, and a number of others are expected to finalize their ad buys in the coming days.
From an editorial perspective, Inside Line delivers well-crafted road tests, provocative columns, a daily feed of news from around the automotive world, and compelling features on styling and design, technology, personalities, motorsports, auto shows and more. Responsible for delivering this content is a team of newly-hired, experienced, prominent automotive journalists who are regularly given high-level access to the auto industry's products and people. Editorial Director Kevin Smith leads the charge, having worked at the most influential traditional car magazines in the United States. Smith left automotive publishing monolith Primedia in September, eager to move into the future with Inside Line.
"Our Inside Line editorial meetings go in entirely different directions than they do at a traditional magazine," remarked Smith. "And, amazingly, nearly everything we dream up is possible -- online."
Kumin sees this reinvention of the car magazine as a significant step Edmunds.com is taking toward grander media success, declaring, "We aim to be the ESPN of the automotive world."
