Internet Hook-Ups Cheaper Than Hitting The Bar
New York: In a tough economy, people are heading to Match.com, where 35 dollars a month is a bargain as compared to a boozy night on the town.
The site, which is part of Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, posted a 53 percent jump in revenue, to 178.4 million dollars, in large part because of the purchase of a French dating site, Meetic.
Even without the acquisition, the core business grew 12 percent, fuelled by a 10 percent increase in subscribers.
Match.com is benefiting from several factors, including a rise in singles over the last decade, according to Victor Anthony, a Topeka Capital Markets analyst. Online dating has also become more socially acceptable, while people in general are more comfortable with the Web.
"It's also a cheap way of meeting people - 35 dollars a month is cheaper than going to bars or fundraisers," the New York Post quoted Anthony as saying.
