Category: All UK & Europe

Sky One launches Online Dating Service Through DatingDirect

Posted on August 5, 2005

SkyonedatingREVOLUTION — Aug 2 — Sky One signed a deal with DatingDirect.  Visitors to Sky One's website will be able to search for their perfect partner on the Sky-branded dating section using DatingDirect's database of 2.5m potential partners.  Sky One joins Daily Mail, ITV and Channel 4 in launching its own online branded dating proposition through DatingDirect.  "This is a great addition to our portfolio," Darren Richards, CEO and co-founder of DatingDirect, said.  Launched in 1999, DatingDirect now has more than 580,000 users, 140,000 more than its closest competitor, according to research by Nielsen/Net Ratings.

The full article was originally published at Revolution, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: In the ever more competitive online dating space, these kinds of partnership deals are golden. Europe is still prime territory.  Fyi FriendFinder acquired Spring Street Networks recently.

Jewish Community Gets Its Own Dedicated Online Jewish Dating Service

Posted on August 5, 2005

 Someone_jewish_1PRWEB — Aug 2 — Through a partnership with the Jewish Chronicle, SomeoneJewish is accepting paying members (£25 a month).  JMT Ventures has also announced its intention to expand the service outside the UK. JMT Ventures other sites include: SomethingJewish.co.uk, JewishBlogging.com, JewishReunion.co.uk and JewishJokes.net. RELEASE @ PR WEB

Mark Brooks: The European market is behind the US market and primed for growth. Check out the European internet dating convention in September in Prague, no less. 

DateandRate.co.uk Reinvents The Dating Game

Posted on July 27, 2005

Dataandratecouk_1BIOS MAGAZINE — July 25 — Date and Rate lets you put a photo of yourself up for the public vote. The image is then displayed on the Date and Rate site in the section appropriate to your age and gender. At the end of each month the man and woman with the most votes and highest average rating will win a choice between a luxury photo shoot and portfolio worth £700, or £100 cash. Other members who want to contact them (via e-mail) are charged £1.99 per contact or £39.99 per year for unlimited contact. If they reply they will earn a commission percentage of the contact fee.  The date is optional and the commission is not dependant upon meeting up.

The full article was originally published at Bios, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: A www.hotornot.com knock off with an interesting spin.  Users should get commission for actually showing up on the dates…and having photos that really look like them.  http://www.dateandrate.co.uk site is wide open for abuse. i.e. post a pretty picture, wait for the money to roll in.

Ireland’s Largest Web-Dating Site Launches Assessment Tools Powered by Thomas

Posted on July 26, 2005

ThomasTHOMAS — July 18– Thomas Technologies, a leader in private-label behavioral assessment software, reporting and search tools, today announced Anotherfriend.com successfully launched two of their web dating products – Personality Assessment and Personal Feedback reporting. Two additional products, Essay Coaching and Compatibility reporting, are scheduled for release later this year. Thomas’ Web-dating client list includes LoopyLove.com (England), Pocado.com (England), AnotherFriend.com (Ireland), NWNP Communities (US), LoveAccess.com (US) and ConnectionClub.com (US). Thomas’ Personal Profile Analysis is a web-based, self-administered, forced-choice adjective checklist consisting of 24 tetrads of descriptive words. In 6-8 minutes, the PPA assesses member’s basic characteristics, perceptions, motivators, communication style and unique strengths. The Thomas PPA is independently certified to meet the testing standards set by the British Psychological Society.

Mark Brooks: I just came across this company at the Mobile Internet Dating Convention.  Any comments from users or partner companies?

Text Date Advertisement Deemed ‘Irresponsible’

Posted on June 29, 2005

TextandmeetBBC NEWS — June 21 — A mobile/online dating firm has been criticised over an advertisement for its text dating service which could encourage teenagers to make dates with strangers. Textandmeet, promised: "You could be meeting someone tonight." The words, "over 18s only" were featured in the small print. The Advertising Standards Authority said it was possibly "irresponsible". It was "concerned" the poster could imply it was "acceptable for young people to make dates with strangers". It was spotted by a member of the public near a local swimming pool, cinema and a fast food restaurant. The posters depicted a bikini-clad woman sitting by a swimming pool with a mobile phone while three men looked on. All posters have now been removed.  FULL ARTICLE @ BBC NEWS

Speed Dating and the Art of Instant Love

Posted on June 17, 2005

HINDUSTAN TIMES — June 13 — Two years ago speed dating was an alien concept in India.  The inventors of Speed dating, aish.com modified an age-old Jewish dating technique to work in today’s world and literally hundreds of organizations have copied the idea; it’s become a worldwide phenomenon.  According to London speed dating company, originaldating.com, speed dating is an expanding business and is part of a market worth in excess of £600 Million. According to Marketresearch.com, dating is a little-researched market and is a now a $1.08 billion business in the US, as online dating services have skyrocketed in popularity since 2001. The Web has revolutionized this business and has brought affordable and convenient matchmaking to the masses. Dating website revenues grew 40% last year and Europe and Asia is the next untapped market.

DatingDirect.com Signs Two-Year Deal With AOL

Posted on May 20, 2005

REVOLUTION MAG — May 20 – AOL has signed a two-year deal with DatingDirect.com to provide its members with access to the UK's biggest online dating agency.  DatingDirect has other deals with sites including iVillage.co.uk and ITV.com, and has more than 2m members in the UK. It is ranked by Nielsen//NetRatings as the largest personals site in the UK in terms of monthly unique users, ahead of Meetic.co.uk and uDate.com.  Research compiled by Jupiter shows that the Western European dating markets will be worth €117m (£80m) by 2007. The UK online dating market is particularly showing rapid growth, currently worth £11.7m and is estimated by Jupiter to grow to £47m by 2008.  DatingDirect was founded in 1999. As well as hosting white-label dating services for other websites and its own branded website, it runs offline dating events, which it sees as a way of raising brand awareness.

The full article was originally published at Revolution, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Dating Direct is pulling ahead in the UK market it would seem.  It's tough to compete with sites that know how to do good deals.

Channel 4 (UK) Extends DatingDirect Deal

Posted on April 25, 2005

DatingdirectNETIMPERATIVE — Apr 20 — Broadcaster Channel 4 has extended its deal with DatingDirect.com, to provide a white label dating site on Channel4.com for a further 12 months. DatingDirect has two million profiles.  CEO and Co-Founder, Darren Richards said,"The existing partnership with Channel4.com will ensure that we continue to expand."  The online dating market is getting increasingly competitive in the UK, with many sites looking to expand their services through partnerships with major web publishers.  Earlier this month, DatingDirect secured a deal with Associated New Media (ANM) to provide a dating service on Dailymail.co.uk and ThisIsLondon.co.uk, snatching the contract from their rival uDate.  Founded in January 1999, DatingDirect.com also provides exclusive dating services to gm.tv, ITV.com, Handbag.com, iVillage.co.uk and NewWoman.co.uk.

Mark Brooks: Channel 4 is a major TV channel in the UK.  I've added a lookup category for UK Dating Sites fyi.  There are subtle differences in the home page photos of Brit online dating sites…I can spot them (as a Brit), it's amusing.  The British prefer to use (and probably do business with) British focused online dating sites.  The British subtleties are there, but tough to spot.  DatingDirect

SpeedDater Goes Mobile

Posted on April 24, 2005

Speeddater_speed_dating_events NETIMPERATIVE — Apr 18 — UK dating brand SpeedDater has launched a new mobile dating service, in partnership with mobile media firm Enpocket.  SpeedDater Mobile enables singles to search for dates on their mobiles by inputting their own profile and picture, then viewing other user profiles via their phone. Users can also send and receive chat requests to have conversations with other members. 

Mark Brooks: Speeddater has a funky 'design your fream date' feature.  Unique, but I couldn't find the design for a lady I liked.

Dating Direct Hooks Daily Mail

Posted on April 9, 2005

Dating_direct_powered_byREVOLUTION MAGAZINE — Apr 8 — DatingDirect.com signed an exclusive six-figure deal with (UK) Associated Newspapers online arm, Associated New Media to provide white-labelled dating services to readers of the Daily Mail online and the Evening Standard site.  Daters can access DatingDirect.com's active database though the dailymail.co.uk and ThisisLondon.co.uk homepages to reach branded dating destinations.  Mark Milner, chief operating officer at Associated New Media, said: "We believe that it's an essential service."  DatingDirect.com has more than 2 million active members and provides exclusive dating services to brands including gm.tv, Channel4.com, ITV.com and Handbag.com.

The full article was originally published at Revolution Mag, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Following in Spring Street Networks footsteps, in the UK.  Dating Direct is partnered with chemistry.co.uk for events.