Marc Simoncini, C.E.O of European dating powerhouse Meetic, let me know that he has done a deal with AOL Europe. Meetic will have a personals channel on AOL in Germany which is act one of a developing long-term strategic collaboration between the two companies. AOL’s US dating partner was Match for a while, and then they switched providers to SpringStreet Networks.
Smart move on AOL DE’s part. Partnering with an established partner instead of going it alone let’s them focus on promoting the service and not unnecessary build-out of a new service. I don’t think the Match/AOL US partnership went as expected, which might be a factor as to why AOL DE went with Meetic. For Meetic it’s a big win as well. With a foot in the AOL castle, other EU AOL properties are just a border crossing away.
Torsten Ahlers, AOL Germany’s Vice President Interactive Marketing:
As Europe’s leading dating platform, meetic will enhance the appeal of our site and our editorial environments. With millions of singles worldwide, we now offer our customers the perfect setting for flirting and falling in love.
Thus, another round in the fierce battle between Meetic and Match commences.
