April 2009

AOL launches Platform-A Canada

SAN FRANCISCO—In the latest geographic expansion of its ad business, AOL has announced the launch of Platform-A Canada, in an effort to allow easy access for advertising clients in the country to manage ad buys across the Web portal’s largest online advertising networks equipped with the most comprehensive suite of marketing solutions and the best ad technologies, following recent country specific European launches in the U.K., France and Germany.

The move essentially combines AOL’s ad network with its existing AOL Canada media network into Advertising.com. This combination gives Platform-A an audience of collectively 22.5 million unique visitors per month to its ad network, which includes AOL’s media properties AOL.com, AIM and MapQuest, as well as Advertising.com’s third-party niche sites like online automotive magazine Canadian Driver, Engadget and TMZ.com from AOL’s MediaGlow publishing unit, which alone reaches more than ten million Canadians monthly, according to comScore.

Senior director of Platform-A Canada James Prudhomme notes: “With the scale and reach of our network, Platform-A Canada offers a cost-effective way for marketers to reach their targeted audiences at scale through the delivery of highly engaging and effective advertising for maximum value and results, which is crucial in today’s economic environment.”
All Platform-A services currently available in the US are now available in Canada. The new unit will also cater to other services for Canadian publishers including the firm’s ad-serving technology AdTech and Quigo’s AdSonar sponsored link network, behavioral targeting from Tacoda, and mobile ad serving from Third Screen. Previously, AOL has launched country-specific versions of Platform-A for Germany, France and the U.K.

Key Facts:

• 548,000 unique visitors per month*
  
• 32.2% male, 67.8% female*
• 47.2% are 25 – 49, 55.9% are ages 25 – 54, 48.9% are ages 35 – 64 and 8.9% are 65+*
• 42.8% have a HHI of $60,000+ and 25.8% have a HHI of $75,000+*
• 50% have children*
• 50% live in Ontario, 25.6% in Quebec, 8.0% in Prairies, 12.8% in BC and 3.5% in Atlantic*
  *Source: comScore Media Metrix, All Locations, January 2007

A new player on the Internet landscape
AOL.ca/qc has a distinctive personality, leveraging Time Warner media assets and promoting strong community events that make the success of this online service. The AOL French service is a dynamic partner creating flexible solutions for campaign success.

Target Audience:

• 35,000 unique visitors per month*
• 22.7% male, 77.3% female*
• 49.9% are 25 – 49, 84% ages 25 – 54, 64.7% ages 35 – 64*
• 61.5% of visitors have a HHI of $60,000+ , 20.3% have a HHI of $75,000+*
• 17.4% have children*
• 96.1% live in Quebec and 3.9% in Ontario*