14 DAY TRIAL // Whether it's the result of the recent Time Warner-AOL split or just the natural trend, new data released by the latter company shows some very positive results for both its homepage as well as some of its many online ventures. According to data from comScore, AOL.com has risen to 40.6 unique visitors in May 2009, a 23 percent increase since last year; this while MediaGlow, its publishing arm, has gone up 5 percent year over year, reaching a record 76.3 million uniques in the last month.
“We are focused on delivering the most valuable and relevant interactive experiences to consumers on the Web and mobile devices, and reaching an all-time high demonstrates that consumers are clearly responding,” said Bill Wilson, president, MediaGlow. “From our homepages, to our general interest sites, to our growing stable of very targeted niche sites, our high-quality content is attracting a growing audience of engaged users.”
Recently launched property PoliticsDaily has climbed to 2.4 million unique visitors becoming the number one rated political site despite being less than two months old. The company's home and parenting sites, under the “AOL Living” umbrella, also saw a 5 percent rise from last year, reaching 17 million visitors.
AOL's Entertainment Network, with sites like AOL Music, Moviefone, AOL Television and others, grew to 39 million unique visitors, a 14 percent increase year over year. Meanwhile, the AOL Technology Network, numbering some of the company's, arguably, hottest properties – with the popular gadget blog Engadget as well as other sites like Switched and The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) among them – also saw a healthy growth of 35 percent in unique visitors.
While AOL's sites may be doing OK, the company itself is struggling – with its biggest revenue stream, its dial-up business, losing customers fast – and has recently announced it will become an independent company again after Timer Warner decided to spin off the division.