• With 15.4 million unique visitors, all points of connection combined at the end of September (up 7.5%), Lagardère Active reaches 47.5% of active Internet users (source: Mediametrie/NetRatings);
• The leading French media group in terms of audience ratings (all connection points);
• The Web’s 8th largest player in terms of unique audience (all groups combined).

Focus :

The leader in the “Women’s” segment

• In the rapidly growing women’s segment, Lagardère Active’s website, doctissimo.fr, posted a 6% increase, thus confirming its leadership position (as the No. 1 website targeted at women), while elle.fr registered a 60% increase, infobebes.com a 47% increase and psychologies.com a 6% increase;

Exceeds the symbolic threshold of one million unique visitors in the “Children’s” segment

• With the “Children, games and toys” category expanding on a global scale (increase of one million unique visitors between August and September), the “Lagardère Children’s offer”* exceeded the one million unique visitors mark, remaining the leader in its competitive universe (excluding e-commerce).
  * The “Lagardère Children’s offer” includes the websites Gulli, Canal J and TiJi.

Strong growth in the “News” segment

• In the “News” segment, le jdd.fr, with nearly 1.6 million unique visitors, posted strong growth and Europe1.fr stabilized its audience rating above the one million unique visitors mark.

Main audience figures – Source: Nielsen Netratings
Unique visitors all points of connection combined (in thousands) September 2008

(SEPTEMBER 2008 NIELSEN NETRATINGS SURVEY, ALL CONNECTION POINTS)

Platform-A, AOL’s digital advertising business, reaches more than 80 million unique users or 76% of the online audience across France, Germany and the UK.* The Platform-A commercial brand was launched in the three largest markets in Europe over the course of just the last few weeks. Platform-A offers advertisers and publishers a single point of contact for a full suite of industry-leading marketing solutions powered by the Web’s most advanced advertising technologies.The roll out marks the latest step in Platform-A’s global expansion strategy for Brendan Condon, the division’s International Managing Director. Philippe Besnard, Harald R. Fortmann and Michael Steckler are leading the French, German and UK businesses respectively. Further launches in Europe are planned by year end.

“No other network can offer the reach, relevance and richness of Platform-A,”said Condon. “With one point of contact, advertisers will be able to use the most advanced optimisation technology and behavioural targeting, combining AOL’s premium inventory and partner sites with Advertising.com’s network, including social media, video and mobile.”

Platform-A in Europe aligns AOL’s existing advertising operations, bringing together Advertising.com’s third-party networks with the AOL sales divisions, which markets its owned and operated Web sites as well as its network of third party sites. Platform-A also includes TACODA’s audience insights and behavioural targeting technology; Quigo, a site- and content-targeting solution; ADTECH, an international digital ad serving business; Third Screen Media, a mobile ad serving network; and buy.at, an affiliate marketing solution.

Condon continues: “Our experience has shown that advertisers and marketing professionals are looking for simplicity. Platform-A makes it easier to buy enhanced targeting and expansive reach across the Web and its new forms such as mobile in France, Germany and the UK. We’ve listened to what the market wants and our experience means we are able to deliver the solutions advertisers want.”

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, August 2008

About Platform-A
Platform-A, AOL’s advertising business, is the industry’s largest digital advertising platform, offering the most comprehensive suite of marketing solutions, powered by the Web’s best advertising technologies. Platform-A includes AOL’s leading media properties – AOL.com, AIM, MapQuest, and more – and Advertising.com’s third-party networks. Platform-A also includes TACODA’s audience insights and behavioural targeting; Quigo, a site- and content-targeting solution; ADTECH, an international digital ad serving business; Third Screen Media, a mobile ad serving network; and buy.at, an affiliate marketing solution. Platform-A currently has operations in the United States, nine countries across Europe, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and Japan through a joint venture with Mitsui. Learn more at http://www.platform-a.co.uk.

AOL announced the international expansion of its popular Autoblog.com to France, http://fr.autoblog.com, Germany, http://de.autoblog.com, and the United Kingdom, http://uk.autoblog.com. Part of the Weblogs network, Autoblog.com, http://autoblog.com, is a leading automotive news blog in the U.S. in terms of page views, and attracts 2.2 million monthly unique visitors worldwide, according to the September 2008 comScore Media Metrix Report. Autoblog obsessively covers the auto industry and publishes more than 25 stories a day and thousands of photographs every month.

“Autoblog is a must read for anyone who is into cars and wants to get the latest industry and consumer news and views,” said Brad Hill, Director, Weblogs. “We’re excited to take our leading franchise internationally and believe Autoblog.com’s unique voice and extensive coverage will resonate with consumers and advertisers across the globe, just as it has in the U.S.”

Autoblog delivers cutting-edge news, commentary, rumors and images to a global audience of motoring enthusiasts. The site offers live, in-person coverage of every major auto show in the world, while always giving readers the opportunity to engage with the writers and contribute to Autoblog’s pages. By partnering with AOL Autos, http://autos.aol.com, Autoblog is a jumping-off point for in-market auto buyers who can combine a virtual window shopping experience at Autoblog with the comprehensive buying information at AOL Autos.

Each international site has a local editorial team that creates specialized content as well as syndicates content from the U.S. and the other Autoblog sites. In addition, standard and customized local advertising packages are available.

This launch continues the international expansion of other Weblogs brands - such as Engadget.com, http://engadget.com, which has recently launched in Poland, Germany and South Korea - and AOL’s overall global expansion of its leading brands.

About Weblogs
Weblogs is a leading global professional blogging network owned and operated by AOL LLC, with 16.4 million worldwide unique visitors, according to the September 2008 comScore Media Metrix Report. With 34 blogs focused on major consumer passion points such as technology, autos finance, video games and travel, Weblogs currently publishes in eight countries and eight languages. Weblogs produces well known blogs including Engadget, Autoblog, Joystiq, Switched, Gadling, Luxist, www.TUAW.com (The Unofficial Apple Weblog), WOWInsider and others.

About AOL
AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs one of the largest Internet access businesses in the U.S., and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC and its subsidiaries have operations in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at www.AOL.com.

A new feature designed to increase interactivity between CBS RADIO stations and their more than 50 million weekly listeners, and providing a range of specialty information and services, launched today live online on the websites of some of the Company’s most popular music stations such as WXRK and WWFS in New York, WXRT in Chicago and WVEE in Atlanta.  The “Now Playing Widget” gives listeners total control of their listening experience with opportunities to own, share and play the music they love on demand.

Previously beta tested at stations in Dallas, San Francisco and Orlando, the widget will be rolled out to every CBS RADIO music station within the next 4-6 weeks.

The new CBS RADIO designed and developed widget will allow listeners to learn the title, artist and album of the song currently being played, and the previous 10 tracks aired on the station; purchase the song through iTunes or Amazon.com; and share links to the station via email or AIM.

Additionally, listeners can now dedicate songs to their husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, friends and family, co-workers and acquaintances by using the appropriate tab of the widget, or search for specific tracks for on-demand listening.  Through a unique partnership with Last.fm, CBS Corporation’s free global music Web site, CBS RADIO is taking what has long been a staple of radio broadcasting one step further by offering that same personalized on-air service through an online application.

“Radio stations have been fulfilling song requests and dedications since their first moments on the air,” said Greg Strassell, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS RADIO.  “With the tools available to us today we can take those popular features and seamlessly transfer them to the web where listeners can be the ultimate arbiters of their music choices on demand.”

“Distinctive applications like the Now Playing widget fosters an increase in the time listeners spend with our websites and their overall satisfaction with our online assets and brands,” said David Goodman, President Digital Media and Integrated Marketing, CBS RADIO.  “We’ve also created a number of new ways for advertisers to reach specific audience demographics of those who favor one particular format over another.”

To experience the Now Playing widget, visit these CBS RADIO websites:

WVEE (Atlanta – Urban) (www.v-103.com)

WXRT (Chicago – Triple AAA) (www.wxrt.com)

KLUV (Dallas – Classic Hits) www.kluv.com) 

WVMV (Detroit – Smooth Jazz) (www.wvmv.com)
WYCD (Detroit – Country) (www.wycd.com)

WWFS (New York – Adult Contemporary) (www.fresh1027.com)

WXRK (New York – Rock) (www.923krock.com)

WBZW (Pittsburgh – CHR) (www.b94.com)

On October 23, Dell and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, teamed to provide a simple, economical way to jump-start a digital music library by pre-loading MP3 bundles on select new systems purchased on Dell.com. For the first time, individuals will now be able to select a variety of optional music bundles to be pre-installed on their new PC, creating highly personalized music collections right out of the box.

Pre-installed music bundles are immediately accessible once the PC is turned on, neatly organized under the “Music” icons on the Dell Dock. — no CDs or downloads required. All pre-loaded music titles come in DRM-free MP3 format making it easy for users to play that content on any software or hardware player of their choice. Dell and UMG plan to expand the Music selection and will refresh offerings on a regular basis. More information about the Dell Music program is available at www.dell.com/musicandmovies.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value.

Orange cinema series, symbol of the Orange “Content Everywhere” strategy
For several years, Orange has committed itself to offering its customers content that is always more attractive and more exclusive by providing cutting-edge innovations in terms of content consumption. With the launch of Orange cinema series, Orange is offering cinema addicts a new way of watching films and TV series. Apart from traditional broadcasting, all programmes are available on demand and and can be watched on any screen at any time depending on the circumstances.
Quality, up-to-date films for everyone and previously unseen series
Orange cinema series includes a main “feature film” channel, called Orange cinemax, which is available in HD and groups together the best of recent films and TV series that have never before been seen in France. The offer also includes four other channels that are organised along the themes of family, action, arthouse and classics.

• Orange cinemax: all the blockbusters exclusive to Orange and in High Definition
• Orange cinehappy: cinema for all the family
• Orange cinechoc: all types of action film
• Orange cinenovo: a reference in independent cinema
• Orange cinégéant: cinema classics at your fingertips

a premium exclusive offer
Orange cinema series offers its subscribers more than 1,200 films, 1,000 hours of TV series, 200 documentaries and 300 hours of children’s series each year. To broadcast the best films and series, Orange is leading an intensive partnership policy with prestigious studios. Today many of the greatest Hollywood and French studios have signed an agreement with Orange cinema series: Warner Bros, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, HBO, Gaumont, BAC Films, Wild Side Films and Fidélité Film.
Orange cinema series subscribers will be able to watch several exclusive films from Warner Bros International TV (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ocean’s 13, I am Legend, Dark Knight…), and the new HBO TV series (True Blood, Generation Kill, John Adams, In Treatment…). They may also rediscover successful series from the Gaumont, Warner and HBO back catalogues (Six Feet Under, The Sopranos…).

And to be sure not to miss a single episode or film broadcast exclusively, all programmes shown on the five channels will be accessible on demand during 30 days after the first broadcast. Additional programs on demand including series and films will be also available so that cinema lovers will always have a good film to watch.
Orange cinema series, another form of television

The richness of the Orange cinema series offer goes beyond exclusive programming. In fact, Orange offers many innovations to subscribers that will revolutionise their experience of cinema and series. With the multi-screens approach, subscribers may watch Orange cinema series channels and programmes on-demand on five different screens (TV, PC and portable video players). Furthermore, Orange cinema series offers a catch-up service to see or re-watch programmes that have already been broadcast. In addition, subscribers will be able to pursue their journey in a film director’s world thanks to the “complementary” service that enables them to watch related programmes by theme. For example, when Rocky Balboa is broadcast, the five previous Rocky films will be available on demand as a complement.  From 2009, subscribers who have missed the beginning of a programme will be able to watch the film again thanks to the restart solution.

Users increasinly show their desire for more flexibility to be able to watch films and series wherever and whenever. To satisfy them, Orange cinema series enables them to freely transfer all video content from the five channels and on-demand programmes onto portable video players such as Archos devices and, in coming months, compatible mobile phones.

Orange cinema series, it’s happening now
TV + PC offer: €12 euros/month

• Free access to Orange cinéma séries channels available until 30 November for all Orange TV customers
• For all new subscription, the first three months are free until 14 January 2009

Mobile offer: €6 /month. Free access to Orange cinéma séries channels available until 12 January 2009

Following the acquisition in April 2008 of Editions Massin, France’s leading publisher of home decor magazines, Lagardère Active, now the No. 1 in this market in France, offers unrivalled reach and coverage with:

• 8.83 million copies sold per year (ODJ DFP 2007) and 11.5 million readers (AEPM 2007).
• A range of 6 titles with multifaceted and complementary orientations: aspirational / emotional / regional interest / action: Elle Décoration, Le Journal de la Maison, Campagne Décoration, Mon Jardin Ma Maison, Art & Décoration (ex-Massin), Maison & Travaux (ex-Massin).

To this same end, Lagardère Active is investing in the digital medium by launching a search engine dedicated to decoration: Dekio.fr. This innovative service-centred site complements the magazine offering, which focuses on specialised editorial content.
It should be remembered that Lagardère Active is already the France’s leading media group on the Internet, with nearly 12 million non-duplicated single hits and the ninth-largest audience group. (Source Médiamétrie/NetRatings)

The Sony Reader can store up to 160 booksand provides access to a wide range of reading materials on a compact mobile device.
The Reader will be available exclusively at Fnac stores and via Fnac.com as of late October, or by reserving a unit in advance at Fnac.com starting in mid-September.Once the Reader goes on sale, it will only be possible to download books from the Fnac.com website, which will offer a catalogue of some 2,000 books selected by Hachette Livre.

The initial selection comprises some 2,000 titles published by Hachette Livre (from Fayard, Jean-Claude Lattès, Grasset, Le Livre de Poche, Hachette Littératures, Armand Colin, Calman-Levy and Marabout) and its partners, Albin Michel in particular. The catalogue, which will be expanded every week, offers enduring works from our backlist, including bestsellers from such authors as Michel Onfray, Max Gallo, Erik Orsenna, Benoîte Groult, Bernard-Henri Levy, Boris Cyrulnik, Katherine Pancol and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, as well as new releases, including a large selection of titles published this fall, such as Le Fait du Prince by Amélie Nothomb and Miserere by Jean-Christophe Grangé (both from Albin Michel), Ce Que Nous Avons eu de Meilleur by Jean-Paul Enthoven (Grasset) and Du Cristal à la Fumée by Jacques Attali (Fayard).

“This partnership allows us to offer a complete package based on the Reader. It’s perfect for those who want access to a large selection of books on a compact mobile device. The Reader’s launch in France opens new opportunities for book lovers,” says Philippe Citroën, managing director of Sony France.

“The partnership provides Fnac customers who are passionate about both books and technology with a turnkey solution. Electronic books make reading easy, enjoyable and practical. Our goal is to add all of our editorial products to our digital catalogue by the end of the year so that we can offer our customers the widest selection, ranging from classics to bestsellers, as we do in our stores,” says Christophe Cuvillier, chairman and CEO of Fnac.

”Through this partnership with Sony and Fnac, Hachette Livre is taking a significant step forward in implementing its digital strategy, as it did in the United States. The partnership will let readers experience a whole new way of reading based on an extensive list of titles that will expand over time,” adds Arnaud Nourry, chairman and CEO of the Hachette Livre group.

Product information

Weighing only 260 grams and with a battery that allows readers some 6,800 pages on the go, the new Reader will serve as a trusty companion during the daily commute or trips abroad. In addition to books, the Reader supports personal and professional documents in a number of formats (ePub, Adobe PDF, RTF, TXT, BBeB book and MS Word, automatically converted into RTF by the software provided) as well as images in the JPEG, PNG, GIF and BMP formats plus mp3 and AAC audio files.
The device’s storage capacity can always be increased by adding a memory card (SD or Memory Stick™*).

And thanks to its “E Ink®”* electronic screen, it offers the same reading comfort as a traditional book. What’s more, it has three zoom options that allow the reader to enlarge the text size.

* E Ink is a trademark of E Ink Inc.
* Memory Stick is a Sony trademark.

Continuing efforts to make television advertising more relevant, accountable and measurable, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced on Sept 25 that the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network will make national cable advertising time in the U.S. available through the Google TV Ads™ platform. By offering self-service buying opportunities through Google TV Ads, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network will expand its reach to a wider range of advertisers, including those that are new to the medium. With the addition of BLOOMBERG TELEVISION inventory, advertisers using the Google TV Ads platform can not only reach the high-net-worth BLOOMBERG TELEVISION U.S. audience but can also gain access to viewership data at an unprecedented scale. Google’s TV Ads platform can report second-by-second data from millions of anonymized set-top-boxes, allowing advertisers to measure viewership of their ads more precisely than ever before. With this data, advertisers can better understand what consumers are responding to and make real-time adjustments to their campaigns to maximize the return on their TV ad investments. Google’s digital platform also makes it easier for advertisers to find relevant programming through its keyword search functionality.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with BLOOMBERG TELEVISION to continue to make TV advertising more relevant and measurable,” said Mike Steib, director of Google TV Ads. “We will now be able to give advertisers, many of whom have never tried TV advertising before, access to the desirable BLOOMBERG TELEVISION demographic.”

“The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION audience is the wealthiest and most powerful in cable television,” said Trevor Fellows, head of advertising sales at Bloomberg. “As high net worth viewers are extremely difficult to quantify using traditional methods, we believe that involvement with Google TV Ads from an early stage will help us and our advertisers learn more about our audience.”

Google TV Ads offers greater accountability in advertising. With Google’s auction-based pricing system, advertisers only pay for impressions delivered to their ads, and they can receive integrated digital reporting within 24 hours. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network joins Google TV Ads’ growing list of inventory, which also includes NBC Universal and DISH Network.

“We’re very happy with the progress of Google TV Ads,” said Michael Kelly, executive vice president for DISH Network, Google TV Ads’ current inventory partner. “Google TV Ads has brought more accurate, accessible, and up-to-date viewer measurement to the industry, enhancing value to our advertisers.”

The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION service is the only 24/7 business and financial news television network. BLOOMBERG TELEVISION content is created exclusively by the global BLOOMBERG NEWS service, with 143 bureaus in 69 countries. BLOOMBERG TELEVISION programming offers viewers a snapshot of the markets with fast, accurate reporting of world indexes, currencies, U.S. Treasuries, commodities futures, agricultural futures, and exchange traded funds, as well as special features, insight and analysis, and proprietary coverage of leading stocks and industry sectors. The worldwide service broadcasts in seven languages.

About Google Inc.
Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Apple and NBC Universal  announced on Sept 10 the return of NBC programming to the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) including NBC networks’ top 10 series available immediately for purchase and download in both standard definition and stunning high definition. iTunes customers can choose programming from NBC, USA Network, SCI FI Channel, Bravo, Sleuth and NBC News including favorites such as the award-winning and critically acclaimed “Heroes,” and the Emmy award-winning programs “The Office,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “30 Rock.” NBCU standard definition television shows on the iTunes Store are $1.99 per episode and HD programs are available for just one dollar more at $2.99 per episode and select library content is available for $.99. Additional NBCU programming from Oxygen, Telemundo, Mun2 and NBC Sports will be available on iTunes soon.“The return of our shows to iTunes is terrific news for everyone who loves television and the ease and convenience of Apple’s iTunes,” said Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal. “And now, by offering consumers a variety of new options, our fans have even more ways to enjoy our content.”

“We are thrilled that NBC is back on iTunes in time for the Fall TV season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “NBC has some of TV’s most popular shows and now customers can purchase and download them from iTunes in SD or stunning HD.”

iTunes customers can also purchase a Season Pass which allows viewers to buy an entire season of programming at a discounted price. In addition, NBC Universal is offering one free episode from each of their top series, available in either SD or HD, on the iTunes Store for the next two weeks. The premiere episodes of upcoming NBC shows, such as “Knight Rider,” “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Kath & Kim” will be available on iTunes a week before their broadcast premieres later in September and October, with subsequent episodes available the day after broadcast. NBC is also making full episodes of several vintage television shows available on iTunes for $.99, including “The A-Team,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” “Miami Vice,” “Kojak” and the original “Battlestar Galactica.”

The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 8.5 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.