CompuServe Exec: Online Service's Business Strategy Alienates ConsumersDenny Matteucci, Pres. of CompuServe Online Services, Discusses Company's Future with CMP's TechWeb (http://www.techweb.com)PRNewswire Denny Matteucci, President of CompuServe Online Services, said the online service's new marketing strategy is alienating consumer users. "We have turned away some of the non- business/professional/technical users," Matteucci told CMP's TechWeb® about his company's plan to boost revenues and spur a turnaround. "We will continue to see churn in the mass users segment, and we will see a positive swing in the months ahead in the business/professional/technical segment," Matteucci said. When questioned about when the company will return to profitability, the exec said, "No, I'm not going to speculate like that. But you can draw your own conclusions. You see how the company has progressed over the last three quarters and its steady change to the positive side." CompuServe reported Thursday a narrowed loss for the third quarter, a significant improvement on the second quarter loss and a pleasant surprise for Wall Street. The No. 2 online company (after America Online) also reported it had become cashflow-positive again for the first time in five quarters. On Monday, CompuServe President/CEO Robert J. Massey abruptly resigned his position to "pursue other interests." The Matteucci interview, part of a comprehensive TechWeb Focus news/feature packageyCompuServe: Not Dead Yet, also includes a look behind the third quarter earnings report. The series begins at http://www.techweb.com/investor/newsroom/tinews/feb/0220csrv2.html. Since its debut in 1994, CMP's TechWeb has become one of the Internet's revenue-leading content sites, according to Competitive Media Reporting's Ad Lab. In recent months, TechWeb has launched a host of free, advertiser- supported individual sites to address the unique needs of the high-tech audience: TechWire™, File Mine™, TechTools™, TechCalendar™, TechInvestor™, ActiveXpress™, TechPrice™ and TechHelper™. CMP Media Inc. provides publishing, marketing and information services to the entire high-technology spectrum--the builders, sellers and users of technology--through print and electronic media. All of CMP's publications and online products can be accessed through the company's TechWeb site on the World Wide Web (http://www.techweb.com/). Print titles include EE Times, Computer Reseller News, InformationWeek and WINDOWS Magazine. -0- 2/21/97 SOURCE: CMP Media Inc. CONTACT: CMP Corporate Communications, Steve Rubel 516-562-7434 or |