[Updated at 7:55 p.m. ET with a revised Denver Post story clarifying that Metromix is closing in seven markets, not nationwide, as the paper originally reported.] This is from the Post's revised account:
Gannett pulled the plug on Metromix in seven markets including Denver Thursday.
"The decision was made because the business model did not prove to be effective in broadcast," the company said in a statement. "We are appreciative of the employees who worked on the Broadcasting Metromix sites and have been able to offer eight employees positions within Broadcasting's operations."
The three fulltime staffers at the Denver entertainment site Metromix were informed of the decision by KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta.
The original post: Gannett pulled the plug on its national entertainment websites Metromix today. The three fulltime staffers at the Denver Metromix were informed of the decision by KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta.
Media giants Gannett and Tribune Co. announced a partnership in October 2007 to create a cluster of entertainment websites called Metromix, aimed at 21-to-34 year-olds and designed to carry national and local advertising. The sites were essentially listings of local bars and restaurants, originated by the Chicago Tribune. The goal was to launch in the nation's top 30 markets, starting in those where Gannett publishes papers or owns TV stations.
Today's closing comes as GCI moves to focus on more promising digital ventures. Two months ago, the company shut down its once-popular Moms Like Me network aimed at women consumers.
Only yesterday, Chief Digital Officer David Payne told a Wall Street analyst conference that GCI was now triaging digital projects, focusing on those that are worthy of additional investment.
Gannett pulled the plug on Metromix in seven markets including Denver Thursday.
The three fulltime staffers at the Denver entertainment site Metromix were informed of the decision by KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta.
The original post: Gannett pulled the plug on its national entertainment websites Metromix today. The three fulltime staffers at the Denver Metromix were informed of the decision by KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta.
Media giants Gannett and Tribune Co. announced a partnership in October 2007 to create a cluster of entertainment websites called Metromix, aimed at 21-to-34 year-olds and designed to carry national and local advertising. The sites were essentially listings of local bars and restaurants, originated by the Chicago Tribune. The goal was to launch in the nation's top 30 markets, starting in those where Gannett publishes papers or owns TV stations.
Today's closing comes as GCI moves to focus on more promising digital ventures. Two months ago, the company shut down its once-popular Moms Like Me network aimed at women consumers.
Only yesterday, Chief Digital Officer David Payne told a Wall Street analyst conference that GCI was now triaging digital projects, focusing on those that are worthy of additional investment.
The problem is that the "strategic thinking" members of Gannett management cannot come up with anything that is successful long term. Think of all of the defunct magazines and other special pubs launched in recent years.
ReplyDeleteIf Metromix is shut down, why is the site still up?
ReplyDelete@7:09PM: Because the Denver Post story was wrong, that's why.
ReplyDeleteWhat were the other markets?
ReplyDeleteMinneapolis appears to be one of the other markets:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2011/12/08/33711/metromix_twin_cities_to_eliminate_staff_become_express_metromix
Cut cut cut cut. These Gannett execs should be surgeons. If only they were as good cutting their peers out of the payroll.
ReplyDeleteAnother dumb idea crashes and burns, but very sorry for the workers who got laid off less than three weeks before Christmas.
ReplyDelete9:39 Agreed. When do you think the Deal Chicken will meet the same fate?
ReplyDeleteMetroMix didn't get cut at the clarion-ledger, but months ago they laid off the hard-working guy who ran the site and put all the work on our under-staffed and already over-worked online desk. Typical Gannett crap: more work for less people.
ReplyDeleteIf the Gannett Execs were surgeons, they'd be considered the most brilliant surgeons anywhere. How else could you explain surgically removing your own heart and soul with you head up your ass!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean no more bikini beach babes adorning the website in Brevard?
ReplyDeleteThink back to the Young Reader Pubs (INtake, CIN, Velocity, et al). They were locally created with full staffs that would have been promotable in to newrooms in time. The issues were thicker in terms of content and local advertising and nicely profitable. The pick up rates were regularly over 90%. Their web presence felt local because it was. Those were replaced by corporate with Metromix. And now ...
ReplyDeleteIn full context, it's so sad.
St. Louis, Denver, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Cleveland, Atlanta and Tampa. They will now have "Express" versions.
ReplyDeleteWe should start placing bets on when the Deal Chicken gets plucked.
ReplyDeleteMy money is on Planet Discover, the local search that doesn't work.
ReplyDeletePlanet Discover? That's still around?
ReplyDeleteHey, after I found Shop Local, I never left.
ReplyDeleteThe three Ds of GCI product management:
ReplyDelete-- Decent product idea
-- Done on the cheap, then...
-- Deep six'ed when it doesn't miraculously catch on
Highschool Sports.net when we had to launch this piece of trash they gave me a larger marketing budget than I had to promote the television station. Nothing like using the Dollar Store to promote the five and dime store.
ReplyDeleteHigh School Sports Net = WORST product ever. Bar none. Stunk when they launched it. Still stinks, 2-3 redos later. Talk about some hard-headed corporate mofos who just dont get it.
ReplyDeleteAs of this morning, Metromix Tampa Bay is still up and there's a link to it on the navigation bar of WTSP.com.
ReplyDeleteThe axed sites will still exist, they just laid off all of the team members.
ReplyDeleteThese clowns are just throwing crap against the wall. It sounds like they are going to the Bowery and asking residents about a digital strategy.
ReplyDelete