Suck and Feed Become Part of New Media Network Called Automatic

Posted on July 10, 2000

Advance.net and the founders of Feed magazine have announced the formation of Automatic Media, a new company that will build an online network of sites and services. The company will be led by Lee deBoer, former president of HBO International and CEO of New Century Network. Lycos, Inc. has taken a 25% equity stake in the new company. In addition, Suck.com, the satirical website acquired by Lycos in 1998, has become part of Automatic Media's new network.

Automatic Media also announced the acquisition of Alt.Culture, an online encyclopedia of alternative-culture. Automatic Media is expected to add more sites in the coming months. All the sites in the new network will share a single advertising sales force, as well as other technology and administrative resources, but they will retain their respective brand names, publishing schedules, and editorial teams.

``It's increasingly clear that Web publishing is moving away from the single-title model towards content networks,'' said daBoer. ``Automatic Media is backed by a powerful and unique combination of players with complimentary strengths: Lycos' huge worldwide reach, Advance's wealth of resources and experience in offline and online media, and the creative vision of some of the true innovators of Web content.''

Joseph Anuff, who joins Feed founders Steven Johnson and Stefanie Syman to lead Automatic's creative team, will oversee development of the network umbrella site. ``Up to now, no large-scale site has spoken to the generation that made the Web a mass phenomenon in the first place,'' Anuff said. ``If you're tired of Reuters headlines and stock tickers, but not ready to go back to television, you're our audience.''