AOL Time Warner has announced a blizzard of deals and relationships, coinciding with the newly merged media giant's first earnings statement and an analyst briefing on the company's future.
As expected, the company moved quickly to capitalize on cross-marketing opportunities, such as packaging software for AOL Time Warner's America Online Internet service with Time's flagship Time magazine, and extending a promotion on AOL.
The company also expanded on and unveiled new advertising and marketing deals between companies such as Nortel Networks and Compaq Computer and the range of AOL Time Warner's print, online publishing and TV properties.
The breadth of the announcements partly reflects the merger's lengthy gestation period. Regulators took about a year to approve the deal, giving the companies ample time to lay the groundwork for the marriage.
On the music front, AOL Time Warner has said it may eventually launch an online subscription service, although the announcements stayed on well-trodden paths.
Music promos
AOL has worked with Warner Music Group since last year to promote musicians on its service, most notably for Madonna's recent "Music" CD. The companies said they will expand that relationship, promoting new releases from Warner's label groups, including Atlantic Recording, Elektra Entertainment Group, London-Sire and Warner Bros. Records.
The artists that are expected to participate include Barenaked Ladies, Bjork, REM and Tracy Chapman.
Among the announcements, TiVo said that its ties to AOL Time Warner will be tightening.
It includes an enhanced multimillion-dollar marketing campaign for TiVo across the media giant's online, print and TV properties. The goal is to make consumers more aware of the benefits of TiVo's digital video recorder service, which allows subscribers to record TV programs to a hard drive.
