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Women’s Site Wowowow Launches; Sparse For Now

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imageWoman-focused site Wowowow launched earlier today..the site has been founded by by five media live-wires Liz Smith, Lesley Stahl, Peggy Noonan, Mary Wells and Joni Evans, with Evans as the CEO of the venture aimed at women 40 and older. The five have pooled $200K each to invest in the site, for a total of $1 million in self-funding. We wrote about it earlier in the week, but the site launched today (Why today? Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day).

Because of the names involved and comparison to HuffingtonPost, the launch and subsequent business ramp-up will be keenly watched. As you can see from the screenshot, it is pretty threadbare for now, so a small start. And I am not sure this is the best way to describe it, but CEO Evans puts it thusly: “WowOwow is a party—disguised as a website—where we meet for coffee (in our robes) and for cocktails (without any makeup) and even in the middle of the night (someone’s always up!).” That’s trying to define the Well in the early 90s…

Staci adds: It may be a ‘90s definition but this group is trying to apply it to a different crowd—not the primarily tech-savvy Well denizens but the tech-enabled, not always techie, women of today. Plenty of women-oriented sites aim for the moms and the younger demos; wowOwow is aiming higher demographically. Some of it is too far on the cute side—like the Hair Day Weather strikes me as one of those things that look amusing on a white board but falls flat in reality.  Ditto for the horoscopes. (I do like the way the cities in the weather report rotate through.) Rafat’s right about the actual content on the site, which is much too sparse for now. The Joan Juliet Buck interview with Diane von Furstenberg could have a lot more meat to it given that von Furstenberg is on the board of IAC (NSDQ: IACI) and her husband, IAC chairman and CEO Barry Diller, is headed to court this week in battle John Malone and Liberty Media (NSDQ: LINTA) for the company’s control. On the other hand, having designer von Furstenberg as an interview subject for a day observing womens’ protests of sweatshops made sense. And the site’s design is clean and uncluttered. wOw’s future relies on the founders’ attention span, the contributions of the broader group and deep-enough or compelling enough content to merit more than a look-see.

Rafat Ali
@rafatali Mar 8, 2008 9:09 PM ET
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Posted In: Social Media, Community, Nanopublishing, wowowow

  • Sylvia Nichols Heck

    Great beginnings!  Saw you on GMA—looking forward to more.  As former newshen for dailies in Florida and weeklies in Texas, I knew there had to be something else coming from others.  Can't wait to see!

  • Bonnie Roth

    I feel let down when woman-kind stand by their men like Silda stood by her so called man.  These are not men and if she was going to stand there beside him she should have shown the world how she felt by slapping him one good time.  Otherwise she should have stayed home and shown her girls how to stand up for herself and not put up with that type of insult from that guy that isn't a man.  There are real men out there.  I am married to one and my father and brother-in-law are real men.  They are out there.  Hillary accepted her abuser and that is why she is still married to good ole Bill.  I think she should ask Eliot Spitzer to be her running mate.  He is smart and has no morals just like Bill and he could be Bill's playmate. Perfect!

  • .I saw you all on GMA. I've often wondered if there weren't women out there over 55, had experienced all the thoughts, lessons, just everything that comes with business, children, life, the past and hopefully future. All you see any more is cute, sexy, thin, which is great if your 18-40, but the real life isn't like that for most people. I have sold antiques for 45 yrs, have had a small company making jumpers, then coats, and travel all over the US selling. I've talked to lots of ladies in my age group and they all have things to say about business, families, their lives, and want others to talk to and relate with. I hope this will be somewhere to start.      Thank you, Pam Bauer

  • Lousie Kennedy

    I was listening to this yesterday when you all were talking about what you wanted to do that would not necessarily by aimed at the younger generation.  I am 62, have worked for Immis Communications for a sort time.  I have also worked in hotels for most of my working life and love it.  I worked at the Columbia Inn in Columbia, Maryland; The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC; and The Beverly Hills Hotel.  I enjoy the hospitality venue. 

    I am not working at the moment as I am working on moving up to Chicago and join my husband there.  I am looking forward to the new environment and the opportunity to grow.

    Thank you,  Louise Kennedy

  • marg quisenberry

    please continue with this new concept.  women over 65 are waking up to new possibilities.  we need encouragement.  it is easy to fall back into old traps.  women in the arts should be helped with grants whenever worthy.  thanks.

  • Becky Berzinski

    Saw you all on GMA this AM and thought what a great idea and wanted to be a part of it.  Thanx Becky

  • Sally DeLeuw

    HI Girls!
    The idea is just great! Congratulations for having the moxy to get it started. (It helps to have the $$$$$$ too.)

    I tried to subscribe but to no avail. I guess that piece isn't quite ready now.

    Still, I look forward to what is coming down the Internet pike and hope to contribute once in awhile, if there is a need and you respond favorably.

    Keeping an eye on you!!!
    Sally DeLeuw

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