IDG Consumer & SMB Launches TechHive.com; Redesigns Macworld and PCWorld Sites

Next generation of IDG’s consumer brands built on sleek, HTML 5 publishing platform delivering engaging content across all screens

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IDG Consumer & SMB (www.idgcsmb.com), home to trusted tech media brands Macworld and PCWorld, announced today the launch of TechHive.com. Created by a team both passionate and expert on consumer technology, TechHive offers analysis, insight, and conversation to an audience of enthusiasts who build their lives around technology.

For the Love of Tech

TechHive brings IDG’s renowned editorial quality to the tech lifestyle category. The new website features high-impact visuals, custom infographics, and compelling videos, and has been designed for anyone who truly loves phones, tablets, cameras, HDTVs, apps, and gadgets. A robust tech product database gives users access to information on hundreds of products. The site’s “compare” feature enables tech buyers to get the specs they need to make informed purchase decisions anytime, anywhere. The new site aims to reach the growing, broader base of tech enthusiasts, with a focus on the 18-34 age demographic.

With the launch of TechHive, the redesigned PCWorld and Macworld sites will have a clear editorial focus on “Power to the PC” and “Apple to the Core.”

“TechHive brings the core DNA of PCWorld and Macworld to a new audience,” says Jason Snell, VP/ Editorial Director. “That DNA is product expertise, and you see it in our trustworthy in-depth reviews, in our productivity-boosting how-to and tips articles, and in our analytical news coverage. With TechHive we don't cover technology for entertainment, we cover it to tell our audience what matters and why it matters in their life. Our mission is to tell them which products to buy, which ones to avoid and how they can be as productive as possible.”

Multi-Site Publishing Platform a Media Game Changer

In the past year, IDG Consumer & SMB has built a state of the art publishing platform based on HTML5, responsive design, and in-house applications. This new platform powers TechHive as well as the redesigned PCWorld and Macworld sites. With the new platform, PCWorld and Macworld can deliver the latest news, reviews and how-to-stories to their respective audiences on any screen. For all three brands, content is automatically presented in the most visually compelling format for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

“What TechHive, PCWorld, and Macworld have done is a model for media brands that struggle with multiple publishing systems and the growing universe of user devices,” said Mary Laplante vice president and lead analyst at Outsell, Inc., a research and advisory firm serving the world’s publishers, information providers, and enterprise marketers.

The new site designs also feature unique, high-impact advertising placements and sponsorships that are integrated among editorial content and designed to perform for marketers while adding value to the user experience. Intel has signed on as a launch partner across all three sites and will use the high-impact placements to promote Intel Core-powered Ultrabook™ devices.

About IDG and IDG Consumer & SMB

IDG Consumer & SMB publishes leading tech media brands, PCWorld, Macworld and TechHive, and offers innovative marketing services to technology vendors. PCWorld.com and Macworld.com attract 16 million and 6.8 million unique visitors each month respectively (Omniture). PCWorld and Macworld are read monthly in print by 4.5 and 1.5 million magazine readers (Intelliquest).

IDG Consumer & SMB’s marketing services group offers tech-focused custom content through their Content Works division along with high-impact advertising/marketing solutions for a wide array of technology marketers.

IDG Consumer & SMB is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading technology media, events and research company. Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is available at http://www.idg.com.

Additional information about IDG Consumer & SMB is available at http://www.idgcsmb.com/.

IDG Consumer & SMB
Jim Hopkins, 415-978-3380
jhopkins@idgcsmb.com

Source: PCWorld