Akamai Unveils Real-Time News Traffic Index for Global Internet Users

Akamai Technologies, a global leader in content delivery, is set to introduce a Web traffic report that offers a real-time look at news consumption globally. The Akamai Net Usage Index for News will provide a comprehensive view of how the internet is used for news, allowing consumers, online journalists, and advertisers to track the aggregate number of viewers per minute by geography, identify peak times of the day, and measure above-average news viewing. This innovative tool can gauge the attention-grabbing potential of news stories, such as the Michael Jackson trial or the London bombings, by tracking traffic spikes on Akamai-hosted sites.

Key Takeaways:

• The Akamai Net Usage Index for News will offer real-time data on global news consumption, providing a comprehensive view of how the internet is used for news.
• The index will track the aggregate number of viewers per minute by geography, identify peak times of the day, and measure above-average news viewing.
• The tool can gauge the attention-grabbing potential of news stories by tracking traffic spikes on Akamai-hosted sites.
• Paul Sagan, Akamai's president and chief executive, stated that the index is not commercialized, aiming to contribute to the understanding of news consumers' habits and trends.
• The index is free to consumers and marks a departure for Akamai, which is known for hosting content exclusively for businesses.
• The tool can be useful for online journalists and advertisers to track viewing patterns emerging over time, and focus content on topics of consistent interest.
• Peter Christy, principal at the Internet Research Group, noted that establishing Akamai as an information tracker could put the company in competition with Google Inc.

Statistics:

• Akamai hosts content for over 100 online news sites, but the index will only include data from these sites, making the index a relevant sample.
• The index will update every minute, covering real-time data on global news consumption.
• The company will not release traffic numbers for specific news sites nor collect data on individual news consumers due to privacy concerns.
• If the index proves popular, Akamai could follow up with other indices measuring traffic at e-commerce or business-to-business portals.

Sources:

• Byline: Robert Weisman Aug. 18--CAMBRIDGE -- (The Boston Globe)
• Paul Sagan (president and chief executive, Akamai Technologies)
• Peter Christy (principal, Internet Research Group)
• Joseph Laszlo (broadband research director, Jupiter Research)
• Peter Christy (Internet Research Group in Los Altos, Calif.)
• Robert Weisman (The Boston Globe)
• Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News