NY POST – Dec 12 – Former Miss New York Meaghan Jarensky is suing Match.com over a fake profile. The fraudster is using the name “1078Yogi” as well as accurate details of her background and career. She’s suing to unmask the fraudster, demanding that Match.com hand over the person’s name, mailing address, phone number and computer IP address.
Category: Match.com
Match.com Launched Android Wear App
TELEGRAPH.CO.UK – Nov 26 - Match.com has launched its first Android Wear app, bringing the popular dating app to smartwatches and other wearables. Users can browse profiles featuring just their name, picture, age and city. Match.com is among the first dating apps to make the transition to wearables, which will play a "big role in the future of dating services" according to the company's country manager Karl Gregory.
by Rhiannon Williams
See full article at Telegraph.co.uk
This post also appears on Wearable.ai.
58% Of IAC’s Value Is Locked In The Match Group
SEEKING ALPHA – Nov 24 – Match Group’s growth slowed to 9.5% in Q2, and many fear growth will continue to fall. Berkeley Investment Group sees a strong long-term prospects for Match Group over time due to subscriber growth and operating leverage.
Unlocking Tinder Could Lead To $5 Billion Spinoff For IAC’s Dating Biz
THE STREET – Nov 18 - Tinder success is fueling speculation that IAC will spin-off Match Group. Match Group may be worth as much as $5.3B. A spin-off would unlock a much higher valuation for IAC's dating websites and apps than the rest of IAC. Tinder alone could be worth $1.1B by the end of 2015.
Match.com: Online Dating Goes 3D
3DPRINT – Nov 12 – Through this Friday, life-size mannequins of Keron Knight and Michael Catuogno are on display on Bethnal Green Road, in London’s Brick Lane, in the window of “Guy Candy.” Interested women who pass by are invited to check out the men’s dating profiles on Match.com. More than 40 DLSR cameras scanned each man’s head in a booth setup to provide the 3D images. The final products were designed via iMakr software.
by Sarah Anderson
See full article at 3DPRINT
Use Of Porn Star’s Photos On Match.com: Complaint Dismissed
JD SUPRA – Nov 11 – The initial complaint was filed in late 2013 against IAC by Internet model Yuliana Avalos, on behalf of herself and “all individuals” whose photos had been used without permission in fake dating profiles. In early 2014, the complaint was amended to substitute as plaintiffs the adult film actress Melissa Harrington. The complaint alleged trademark infringement, copyright infringement and various other counts. On October 30, 2014, the complaint was been dismissed.
Match Group Dating Revenue Up 5%
WSJ – Oct 29 – IAC’s Match Group reported revenue of $230.2M, an YOY increase of 12%. Dating revenue grew 5% due to 6% growth in North America and 3% growth in International. The growth in Dating revenue was driven by increased paid subscribers (up 9%). Adjusted EBITDA decreased 11%.
Online Dating Hasn’t Killed Matchmakers
CHICAGO TRIBUNE – Oct 23 – A matchmaking school is reporting growing enrollment. "People have dating overload – they're on Tinder, Match, OKCupid," said Talia Goldstein, co-founder and CEO of Three Day Rule, Match.com's "white glove" matchmaking partner. "People are getting so confused by all the options that they are looking for someone to help them." Three Day Rule charges $3,5K for three months of personal matchmaking and $5K for a six-month package that includes date coaching, styling and professional photography. Some matchmakers say their clientele is getting younger. Business models among matchmakers vary widely. On the high end, Selective Search, charges $25K. 90% of the clients are men, who are matched with dates who do not pay for the service. On the other end is Project Fixup, a startup that charges $20 per setup.
by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
See full article at Chicago Tribune
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Match.com Dating Scam: Four Men Jailed
MIRROR.CO.UK – Oct 17 – Four men were jailed for a total of ~14 years for the 'highly sophisticated' crime which used a false dating profile to snare victims. The victims were duped after they responded to the false profile of an "attractive middle-aged man" on match.com. They then fell for the conman's story that he was due to receive a £100M inheritance from his father but that it was tied up by red tape in India. At first the women were asked for a £700 legal fee by a fake solicitor but then the sums requested rose to up to £100K. In a statement, match.com said: "These verdicts show that scammers do get caught, though that's no consolation for those they exploited.
Q&A With Sam Yagan, CEO Of Match Group
THE ATLANTIC – Oct 13 – Last week, IAC launched Delightful, a dating site aimed at people who seek love and relationships, rather than just hookups. It will be headed in part by the comedian Steve Harvey, who will serve as the brand’s “Chief Love Officer.” “This is our first brand focused on the L word as opposed to other brands that focus on dates,” said Sam Yagan, the Match.com CEO who will run Delightful with Harvey.
Q: What is your role at Match?
A: We sold OkCupid to Match in Jan '11. In Sep '12, I became CEO of all of Match. We haven't slowed OkCupid down. I run all the brands like cousins. You want your cousins to do well, but you want to do better.
Q: Why did you decide to pursue dating?
A: Before we launched SparkNotes, everybody used CliffsNotes, which was sort of the Match of study guides. What really made it work is that SparkNotes was a better product than CliffsNotes, and it was free. We decided for online dating because it was one of the things people pay for, and we wanted to make it free.
by Olga Khazan
See full article at The Atlantic
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