LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- PrimeZone Media Network CEO Tom Madden today applauded the announcement by Business Wire that it was dropping the membership fee it has been charging its clients for more than 40 years.
Commenting on the announcement, Madden said, "We commend this decision and call on PR Newswire to do the same.
"When we launched PrimeZone six years ago, we wanted to change the newswire industry by finally offering real competition to the PR Newswire/Business Wire duopoly. We see the elimination of this 'membership fee' as a major recognition of the changing landscape.
"So we applaud Business Wire's decision to drop its membership fee and call on PR Newswire to do the same."
The elimination of membership fees is another example of how PrimeZone has been the impetus for positive changes that benefit news wire customers in an industry largely dominated by the same two firms for almost 50 years.
Some PrimeZone industry firsts:
-- First newswire service to eliminate membership fees. (1998)
-- First newswire service to eliminate 15 minute delay for
material news announcements. (1998)
-- First national press release wire service to be launched
in more than 40 years (1998).
-- First wire service to allow its customers complete online
access to their account, including releases, online website
statistics, fax & email lists, and fax & email confirmation
reports (1998).
-- First wire service to develop and offer its own IR website
management service (1999).
About PrimeZone Media Network
PrimeZone Media Network (http://www.primezone.com) operates one of the world's largest full-text news release, photo and multimedia content distribution services. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PrimeZone's multi-channel delivery network provides real-time, simultaneous access to key audiences around the globe, including daily newspapers, wire services, the Internet, online services and databases, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, and consumers. PrimeZone offers a full-suite of PR and investor relations services, including IR websites, photos, webcasts, teleconferences, as well as targeting and measurement services, to thousands of customers worldwide. Launched in 1998, PrimeZone was the first press release newswire to offer new competition in its industry, challenging a duopoly that had been held by its competitors for nearly 50 years.
PrimeZone: We are changing the news release industry.