I'm not sure how these purchases will filter down to its user bases, but there were some major deals brokered in the online dating world recently. Match.com purchased SinglesNet, and private equity firm Great Hill Partners LLC has made an offer to buy Spark Networks (who owns a myriad of sites including SingleParentsMingle, and American Singles).
For those of you who belong to one of these dating sites, are you worried that the services you've gotten used to will change, or are you happy and hopeful it will lead to a better online dating experience?
More information:
Are we looking at a monopoly?
Hm. Good question Lisa. I’d say no off the top of my head. SinglesNet has never really been a big player – they were able to get a lot of page views because of their scantily clad ads all over the net, but their actual user base has been negligible (in my opinion). I read somewhere (can’t find where now, if anyone knows feel free to enlighten me) that Match.com has a history of buying up what they feel might be competition, so I think its probably just business as usual.
Naturally, the word “monopoly” brings to mind cold corporations that destroy their competitors, but in this case, I’m okay with the buyouts.
It just seems like online dating is an overly-saturated industry. Look at how many websites are vying for people’s money/attention/time! It’s a bit like how there have been fewer Romantic Comedies lately in the world of film. I’m okay with some love-at-first-sight flicks…but please: quality over quantity.
I think there are many unique dating sites now a days. I never thought Singlesnet was a big player.
Every change of owners brings new rules, fees and strategies. It is a matter of time until things will change for those dating sites, that’s for sure…