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TimesLink Leaves Prodigy Network, Migrates to World Wide Web

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

TimesLink, the on-line service of the Los Angeles Times, is leaving the Prodigy network on December 31 to move to the Internet's World Wide Web for beta testing in early January. Before their departure, TimesLink will serve up holiday greetings to subscribers through a special promotional section on the Prodigy network beginning Christmas Eve. This section will include a variety of humorous and lighthearted content, such as a "Top Ten Uses for Old TimesLink Diskettes" and personal remembrances from the TimesLink staff. The move to the Web is part of The Times' plan to expand their online presence and offer a global audience access to their content. Current TimesLink subscribers are being invited to participate in the beta test, which will provide feedback on the service's content, utility, and graphics.

Key Takeaways:

  • TimesLink will leave the Prodigy network on December 31 and move to the World Wide Web for beta testing in early January.
  • The special promotional section on Prodigy will include humorous content, such as a "Top Ten Uses for Old TimesLink Diskettes" and personal remembrances from the TimesLink staff.
  • The move to the Web is part of The Times' plan to expand their online presence and offer a global audience access to their content.
  • Current TimesLink subscribers are being invited to participate in the beta test to provide feedback on the service's content, utility, and graphics.
  • The beta test will be available exclusively to TimesLink subscribers during the test period.
  • When it moves to the Web, TimesLink will continue to have access to the content of the daily paper, archives of past articles, and information on Southern California entertainment, attractions, and sports.
  • The site will offer links to related Web sites, as well as to new electronic services offered by other Times Mirror companies and the New Century Network.

Statistics:

  • 11/1994: TimesLink was launched by The Los Angeles Times.
  • 1994: TimesLink was named "Best Online Publication" by Interactive Publishing Alert.
  • December 31: TimesLink will leave the Prodigy network.
  • January (early): TimesLink will begin beta testing on the World Wide Web.
  • Spring (no specific date): TimesLink will launch publicly on the Web.

Sources:

  • "TimesLink leaves Prodigy network, migrates to World Wide Web" (Business Wire, Dec. 20, 1995)
  • "TimesLink to Move from Prodigy to Web" (The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 1994)
  • "TimesLink All-Star Recognition" (Prodigy, Christmas Eve 1995)

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