NEWS 07.04.99: US entertainment group Playboy has admitted it expects to continue making a loss from its website and ecommerce venture until 2003.
However, the company, which has been making a loss from its online arm since its launch in 1996, said yesterday that its strong brand name would give it an edge over other online retailers
Playboy CEO Christie Hefner said revenue from subscriptions, advertising and Playboy-branded products will double every 12 months for the next five years.
Hefner predicted that by 2003 the group's online arm would have a profit margin of 29 per cent - more than the company's publishing group.
07.04.04: "US entertainment group"? What were we thinking? This was back in the day before we realised 'sex' sells and 'porn' is a hugely popular click winner.
Over the years Playboy has provided a rich supply of pun-fodder for headlines - such as 'A bunny thing happened on the way to the casino'. The company has also taken full advantage of the fluctuations in the technology sector - a point proved by its controversial choice to feature female Enron executives in the buff shortly after the company went 'tits up' - to use a very apt phrase.
The company also provides compelling content for mobile phones and operator 3 considered it a coup when it signed up the pornographer for an exclusive content deal over 3G phones.
