TechMedia Network Acquires Bestofmedia Group -- Home to Venerable Tech Publications Tom's Hardware and Tom's Guide -- to Create Most Trusted and Personalized Tech and Science Destinations on the Web

Expands Global Footprint to Reach More Than 72 Million(1) Tech and Science Readers Each Month; Delivers Unique Combination of Original Content, Expert Communities and Personalized Shopping Experiences


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2013) - TechMedia Network, Inc., one of the largest and most respected tech and science media companies, today announced it has acquired Bestofmedia Group, a global technology publisher and parent company to world-renowned tech publications Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide and Tom's IT Pro. These sites join a TechMedia Network portfolio already home to tech and science leaders including TopTenREVIEWS, LAPTOP and Space.com. The combined company is now the third largest technology media publisher in the U.S.,2 delivering unprecedented value to both consumers and advertisers through a first-of-its-kind integration of Content, Community and Commerce in the tech and science verticals.

TechMedia Network's flagship e-commerce property, TopTenREVIEWS, provides consumers with an industry-unique combination of content and shopping to help them make informed and immediate purchase decisions, generating more than one million "buy" transactions each month. This powerful commerce platform will soon be integrated throughout the company's expanded portfolio of premium tech and science properties and, when coupled with Bestofmedia's expert communities and content recommendation platform, will provide a highly-personalized product research, evaluation and purchase experience for more than 72 million consumers across the globe.

"Our goal is to become the most trusted tech and science publisher in the world by creating high-quality, personalized media experiences for our readers and customized ad opportunities for our clients, at scale," said Greg Mason, CEO of TechMedia Network. "By integrating our commerce engine with Bestofmedia's communities across our combined portfolio of sites, not only will we be able to deliver personalized purchase recommendations to consumers, but also highly specialized environments for advertisers to engage these consumers with timely and relevant content. It's a unique value proposition that we have yet to see in tech and science publishing."

Founded in 2000, Bestofmedia is a top ten global tech publisher, with more than 30 million monthly unique visitors3 and media properties operating in eight different languages. Its marquee publication, Tom's Hardware, has been delivering quality and authoritative technology content since 1996 and is one of the oldest and most respected tech publications on the Web. The site has recently seen more than 85 percent growth in the U.S., thanks to community platform enhancements and an expanded editorial scope. Its community, combined with that of Tom's Guide, is one of the largest online destinations for tech experts and enthusiasts in the world, with millions of registered members and more than 35 thousand new tech questions answered each month.

"When looking to increase our U.S. footprint, TechMedia Network immediately jumped to the forefront of potential partners with its growing audience of nearly 50 million4 monthly unique visitors and impressive content syndication network," said Antoine Boulin, President, Bestofmedia Group. "Its portfolio of award-winning tech and science publications is a natural fit for our sites and the opportunity to marry their e-commerce engine with our world-class communities and our combined content expertise is an exciting prospect for the future of highly-specialized, vertical media."

TechMedia Network's ever-growing portfolio of premium media properties focuses specifically on the tech and science verticals. Its expert editorial has earned it four Webby award distinctions and has made it a leading content source for the world's top news sites, including Yahoo, CBS, AOL, MSNBC, and Fox, expanding its audience reach to nearly 100 million unique monthly visitors.

"Digital publishers are moving away from the one-size-fits-all mindset toward a more specialized approach to media," said Ralph Terkowitz, General Partner, ABS Capital Partners and Member of the Board, TechMedia Network. "New publishing and advertising technology has enabled publishers to target very specific audiences with relevant content and advertising, peer-to-peer networking and integrated commerce opportunities. With the merger of TechMedia Network and Bestofmedia Group, a formidable force in the tech media landscape has emerged with the ability to achieve all of these things in a seamless, integrated experience across a portfolio of premium tech and science sites. This is a company to watch."

Together, TechMedia Network and Bestofmedia Group reach a desirable audience of tech and science enthusiasts, IT professionals, tech-curious consumers and in-market shoppers. In a recent, independent poll, Bestofmedia received an 80 percent recommendation rate from advertisers with top ratings in building awareness, driving traffic to retail locations and websites, and creating purchase intent.

"Tom's Hardware has been a valued partner of ours since the mid-1990s. From attracting enthusiast audiences to our line of computing products to helping us reach a more mainstream consumer, Tom's Hardware has been there since the beginning," said Vivian Lien, Senior Director of Marketing, ASUS. "I'm very excited about the Bestofmedia and TechMedia Network union, as we've also had great experiences working with TechMedia's LAPTOP brand. We look forward to exploring the new approach to content, community and commerce that this combined company offers."

Top advertising clients for both companies include ASUS, CDW, HP, IBM, Microsoft and Samsung.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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About TechMedia Network

TechMedia Network is a publisher of high-quality original content with owned and operated web sites and a publisher partner network that, combined, reaches nearly 50 million monthly unique visitors worldwide and is currently the third largest technology news property in the United States. TechMedia Network also reaches a vast audience through distribution of its content to major media partners, including Yahoo, CBS News, AOL, Fox News, and MSNBC. Its original content connects consumers to the news, information and reviews they need to know about technology and science -- from the amazing technology required to land the Mars Rover on the moon to the most up-to-date expert reviews of the iPhone 5 and Windows 8. TechMedia Network staff has reviewed more than 900 categories of products and services at TopTenREVIEWS, and their writers and editors develop news, features and commentary on LAPTOP, TechNewsDaily, BusinessNewsDaily, SPACE.com and LiveScience.

In 2011 TechMedia Network received a $33 million Series B financing from ABS Capital Partners, a leading growth equity investor. Existing investors Village Ventures and Highway 12 Ventures also participated in the round.

For more information, please visit www.techmedianetwork.com and www.space.com.

About Bestofmedia Group

Bestofmedia Group, a global media company, is home to the most trusted technology publications in the digital world: Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, and Tom's IT Pro. As a top ten global technology publisher, with more than 30 million monthly unique visitors, Bestofmedia reaches a passionate audience of in-market tech buyers that range from technology experts and professionals to influencers and enthusiasts.

Bestofmedia Group was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in France. The company has five offices across the globe with media properties operating in eight different languages.

1 comScore Media Metrix Worldwide audience duplication report and Tech-News category rankings, January 2013

2 comScore Media Metrix U.S. audience duplication report and Tech-news category rankings, January 2013

3 comScore Media Metrix Worldwide, January 2013

4 comScore Media Metrix Worldwide, January 2013