In a recent CC Looksmart's CEO advised that LOOK were (in fact)...

In a recent CC Looksmart's CEO advised that LOOK were (in fact) "working" with Viacom.

Looksmart, (at that stage) had advised they had already signed 'deals' with THREE Major Publisher/Media Co's .....

Clocker had reported On S/S (15/08/05) on Viacom, this $55B (market cap) Co .....

That .... < In response to a question about whether Viacom was a Looksmart customer, he said;

"As for Viacom and seeing LookSmart on their sites, they are a customer. I can't comment any further than that. We are certainly thrilled to be doing business with them. When they and us are ready to say more about what that relationship is, I will be more than happy to do that."

(One of the largest global media empires, Viacom has a financial interest in broadcast and cable television, radio, Internet, book publishing, and film production and distribution. Some of this vertically integrated conglomerate's highly recognizable properties include the CBS network, MTV, Infinity broadcasting, Simon & Schuster, Blockbuster and Paramount Pictures. With such a diverse portfolio of properties, Viacom is one of the most profitable media giants as CBS is a top draw for older viewers while MTV remains the most popular teen orientated media outlet.) >

Here is a Link to Viacom's Local TV Network of many 'stations', all with a Website. Viacom are currently remodelling all of their sites and Looksmart are already appearing on those, that are completed.

http://www.viacomlocalnetworks.com/

I have selected WJB for the exercise of testing Viacoms Search results against Looksmart.

In the top right hand corner, in the search boxes, I have selected 'search the web' and chosen a popular term "Play Stations". (Note also, ** "save it" in the top left hand corner)

http://www.wjz.com/

And results are as follows:
(Some of these will need to be done by you - Insert playstations - on the web - above link)

http://search.wjz.com/?__LOGIC=1411§io...g=play+stations (wont come out)

Now, we can look at results on Looksmart's Search for that search term, Play Stations

http://search.looksmart.com/p/search?qt=pl...b&search=Search

Note they are all the same results, as WJZ of Viacom are.


On the front page of this WJZ site is the ....... Welcome To The New WJZ.com
"You've probably noticed some changes here at WJZ.com. What you see is the result of a year-long project to make our website the best online news source for the Baltimore area". More ...

More ..... leads you to (next page) an explanation of what "save it" is about. This is probably a Looksmart 'white label' of Furl.Net customised for saving on Viacom sites exclusively. (Across their total Local network).

**Save It
With the "Save It" feature, which is activated by clicking on an arrow button that is located next to headlines within stories, you can save articles you want to look over later. They'll still be there, saved in a list, even if you leave WJZ.com and come back later.

I have now chosen search term "lazy crazy days of summer" from within Looksmart's Knowledge for mum's 'vertical'.

http://www.looksmartmom.com/p/search?free=...tb=web&x=18&y=6

Now we will search Viacom's WJZ The Web for that exact term "lazy crazy days of summer"

http://www.wjz.com/

http://search.wjz.com/?__LOGIC=1411§io...ys+of+summer%22

Note: Both Looksmart & Looksmart's Furl on the bottom of the page of WJZ.

http://www.looksmartmom.com/p/search?free=...tb=web&x=18&y=6

The results are the same, in both cases. The 2nd result in both cases points 'users' back to Looksmart's FindArticles ....

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_...6/ai_kepm484425

Anyone that thinks Rupert Murdoch and NEWS are/would not interested in Looksmart and the Network of Publishers/Media Co's that Looksmart have already 'set up', need rocks in their heads!!

< News Corp. wants to merge the content of a big media company with its own portal.>

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050816_5029_tc024.htm?chan=db

I'll ask the question once more ..... Would Viacom NOT fit this need of NEWS, within the Looksmart concept?? - Would not BOTH want to avail themselves and display their 'wares' on the many, many sites of Newspapers/magazines, Portals (including ASKJ) and many other Media Co's that supply the 10M articles of content, (to date), within the TOTAL LOOK "network" concept??

:)
LC