Over the past 18 months, AOL has transformed itself from a largely subscription-based ISP into an ad-supported publisher and ad outfit. It has formed Platform-A to combine its various ad businesses such as Tacoda and has created People Networks, its social media unit, which houses Bebo and ICQ. MediaGlow and its publishing assets will now join Platform-A and People Networks as the third core business for AOL.
AOL's publishing unit has been led by Bill Wilson, executive vice-president of programming for AOL. He will now lead MediaGlow as president of the new business unit.
"Our vision was to rebuild AOL into three core businesses - publishing, advertising and social media. With the launch of MediaGlow, we have completed our goal in less than 18 months," said Randy Falco, chairman and chief executive of AOL. "MediaGlow provides us with the ability to extend our publishing success and puts AOL in a strong position for the future."
In conjunction with today's announcement, AOL announced plans to create 30 new sites within AOL.com. For example, it will expand AOL News and AOL Sports into a variety of new niche-oriented news and sports sites.
MediaGlow will add to its infrastructure two new studios, located in AOL headquarters in New York and its offices in Los Angeles. MediaGlow Studios will provide new video production capabilities from HD video to complete editing and encoding.
The studios will also be used to shoot original video productions that will be distributed globally. Productions to be developed and produced through the MediaGlow Studios include original programming developed by AOL - Moviefone's Unscripted, AOL Music's Sessions, AOL Living's Trade Secrets branded entertainment shows, Spinner's The Interface and AOL Television's Outside the Box.
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