Salem Web Network Acquires tangle.com and GodTube.com
The Addition of the Largest Christian Video and Social Networking Portals Expands Salem's Internet Presence
RICHMOND, VA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/14/10 -- Salem Web Network, the online division of Salem Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SALM), the leading radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian family-themed content, announced that it has acquired Christian content & community websites tangle.com and GodTube.com.
The addition of tangle.com, the leading Christian niche social networking website, and GodTube.com, the leading Christian video website, will complement Salem's portfolio of faith and family-themed content sites, including Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, OnePlace.com and Crosscards.com, and add to the largest online Christian advertising platform.
"Both of these brands have pioneered new content and community interaction in the faith-based market and give Salem a strong presence in the rapidly growing web 2.0 video and social networking space," said Tom Perrault, Senior Vice President of Salem Web Network. "We are excited about adding these sites and combined audience to our network, and we have plans to aggressively grow both over the next several years."
According to ComScore, video is now larger than search, with 33 billion video views -- vs. 15 billion searches a month. U.S. consumers are watching an average of 12.71 hours of online video each month.
"Professionally produced and user generated inspirational videos were a significant gap in our content offerings," said Rick Killingsworth, Salem's Executive Vice President of New Media. "This acquisition gives us the leadership position overnight, while also opening up important new multi-media advertising opportunities."
In addition to music, comedy, inspirational, and theological video sharing, GodTube.com and tangle.com also provide an interactive online Bible, prayer wall, social networking, and a national Church directory.
About Salem Communications and Salem Web Network:
Salem Communications Corporation is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company that provides programming targeted at audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content, as measured by the number of stations and audience coverage. Upon completion of all announced transactions, the company will own a national portfolio of 96 radio stations in 37 markets, including 58 stations in 22 of the top 25 markets. Salem also programs the Family Talk Christian-themed talk format on XM Radio, channel 170.
Salem owns Salem Radio Network, a national radio network that syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliated radio stations and Salem Media Representatives, a national media advertising sales firm with offices across the country.
In addition to its radio broadcast business, Salem owns a non-broadcast media division. Salem Web Network is a provider of online Christian and conservative-themed content and streaming and includes websites such as Christian faith focused Christianity.com, Christian living focused Crosswalk.com®, Online Bible Study at BibleStudyTools.com, and Christian radio ministries online at OnePlace.com. Additionally Salem owns conservative news leader Townhall.com® and conservative political blog, HotAir.com providing conservative commentary, news and blogging. Salem Publishing circulates Christian and conservative magazines such as Homecoming® The Magazine, YouthWorker Journal, The Singing News, FaithTalk Magazine, Preaching and Townhall Magazine. Xulon Press is a provider of self publishing services targeting the Christian audience.
About tangle.com and GodTube.com
Big Jump Media, parent company to GodTube.com and tangle.com, is a global technology company that creates social networking and video sharing tools for the faith-based and family marketplace. As one of the largest providers of Christian content in the world, Godtube.com and tangle.com reach well over 1 million unique visitors a month, with millions of page views and maintains over 800,000 registered users. Providing a place for Christians to connect, watch and share videos, access the top singers in Christian music, read the Bible online through the Online Bible, and upload prayers to the Prayer Wall and network with friends, GodTube.com and tangle.com have become the world's largest Christian online video sharing network and the world's largest Christian social network, respectively.
Contact: Jonathan Yang Vice President of Sales (804) 205-9731 Email Contact Kristie Rutzel Director of Marketing & SEO (804) 205-9674 Email Contact
Released June 14, 2010