News Releases

The latest figures from Friends Reunited show that since the re-launch in May this year the number of unique users has more than doubled, with over 1.8 million messages sent per month and a 450% increase in content sharing through photo uploads.

The Friends Reunited group* received a total of 6.6 million users over the course of July, with 5.5 million visiting the recently re-launched Friends Reunited site according to new Nielsen figures.

With over 19 million registered members, Friends Reunited represents an unparalleled cross section of Britain’s online population. Over 11 million of those users are over 35 and with an average use age of 42, Friends Reunited is now firmly placed as the nation’s favourite social networking site for grown-ups compared to other social networks, which are used mostly by under-30s.

The increased usage follows the recent move of Friends Reunited from a subscription model website to totally free to use as well as the addition of new site features.

New features on Friends Reunited that contributed to the site’s growth include a Timeline that allows members to share events from each other’s past. Over 200,000 events have been added to the Friends Reunited Timeline since the site re-launch.

Andy Baker, MD of Friends Reunited, commented: “One of the main reasons for our success is that we have made use of new, easy-to-use, no-nonsense features aimed squarely at helping UK grown-ups stay in touch with their friends online. To allow British grown-ups to be more sociable online, we’re providing them with something that they trust and can use easily.”

Jeff Henry, MD of ITV Consumer, adds: “We are extremely pleased with these results from Friends Reunited which show our recent decision to change from subscription to an advertiser funded model has resonated with our loyal and valuable users who also mirror the core ITV audience. We have changed the Friends Reunited business model and moved it into the heartland of what ITV knows and does best; working with advertisers to deliver more ways to engage and connect across a range of platforms”.

There is also more good news from the rest of the Group. Researching family trees is an activity that has taken the nation by storm in recent years and is at the core of hugely successful sister site, Genes Reunited. There are now over 8 million registered members, representing one in four UK adults online. The site holds 500 million names in its archives, with a new name added every second. There are 1.3 million ‘Smiths’ on Genes Reunited and the largest family tree created on the site holds 149,787 members.

The third site in the group, Friends Reunited Dating, now boasts 970,000 members. Members say their success in using the site is down to its grown-up demographic – with three out of four members finding a date within the first two weeks of starting out on the site. The site also boasts an unusually even gender balance, with an almost perfect 50/50 gender split.

Andy Baker concludes: “Friends Reunited is preparing for the launch of new features to be released later in 2008 which will further extend it’s position as the leading UK social network for grown ups. One of the areas we’re most excited about is the rampant growth of video across the other ITV portfolio sites and online generally, which presents opportunities to add considerable value for the communities developing on the site.”

~Ends~

*The three sites in the Friends Reunited site are Friends Reunited, Genes Reunited and Friends Reunited Dating.

For further information, please contact Sophy Silver or Ben Ayers from the ITV Consumer Press Office on sophy.silver@itv.comor ben.ayers@itv.com.

Notes to Editors

About Friends Reunited

Friends Reunited is the original social network with over 19 million members, representing an unparalleled cross section of Britain’s online population. It was launched in 2000 as a back-bedroom hobby to put old school friends back in touch with each other and swiftly became a British media phenomenon. In 2005 Friends Reunited was acquired by ITV and in May 2008 dropped its subscription charge and evolved into an interactive social networking site for grown-ups.

About ITV Consumer

ITV Consumer incorporating itv.com, ITV Local, ITV Mobile, ITV Interactive and Friend’s Reunited is ITV’s new media division, established to drive new revenue streams and offer innovative and entertaining content designed to enhance viewers’ on air experience. itv.com was re-launched in 2007 and offers more of ITV channels streamed online, plus access to further ITV programming, clips and exclusive content. ITV Local offers local information, news and services and has launched dedicated channels in 2008 including travel and crime. Both itv.com and itvlocal.com are primarily funded by online advertising.