TMZ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see TMZ (disambiguation).
 | |
| Web address | tmz.com |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Celebrity Gossip. Entertainment News. Celebrity News. |
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Celebrity news |
| Registration | Optional[1] |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | Time Warner |
| Created by | Harvey Levin Jim Paratore[2] |
| Editor | Harvey Levin |
| Launched | November 8, 2005[3] |
| Alexa rank |  428 (November 2013[update])[4] |
| Current status | News-in media |
TMZ's managing editor is Harvey Levin, a lawyer-turned-journalist who was previously a legal expert for the Los Angeles television station KCBS-TV.[6] The site claims that it does not pay for stories or interviews; however, Levin has admitted that TMZ does "sometimes pay sources for leads on stories".[7][8][9] Levin has stated that "everything is researched and vetted for accuracy."[10] A companion television series, TMZ on TV, debuted on September 10, 2007.
Contents
[hide]Development[edit]
Seven months prior to the official launch of TMZ, America Online (AOL) had hinted that it was planning to launch a Hollywood- and entertainment-centric news site that would be produced in conjunction with Telepictures Productions and had shown interest in launching a website featuring a focus mainly on celebrities.[11] At the time of the launch, AOL confirmed that the site would primarily feature and consist of Hollywood gossip, including interviews, photos and video footage of celebrities and information pertaining to industry news on movies, television shows, etc.[11] The site was described as "an effort to further feed the current American obsession with celebrities". Mike Shields of MediaWeek.com wrote, "the site also boasts of an expansive collection of archived star photos and videos", allowing fans to "trace changing hairlines and waistlines of their favorites performers over the years".[11]Background[edit]
Since 2005, TMZ has signed Revlon, Chrysler, Hilton Hotels and New Line Cinema as charter advertisers to their Web site.[11] The New York Times cited TMZ as "one of the most successful online ventures of the last few years."[12] In October 2008, the New York Times reported that TMZ, at the time, was receiving more than 10 million viewers every month.[12] Alexa.com ranked TMZ as the five-hundred-fifth most trafficked website worldwide and as the one hundred-fifty-fifth most trafficked website in the United States.[13]Levin has acknowledged that TMZ has passed on multiple notable coverage because he felt that, while the stories are true, he questioned how the sources obtained their information.[12] Levin has acknowledged that TMZ pays source, but in the form of a "tip fee". Levin stated that TMZ pays for photos and for 'tips' and or leads on stories, and defended TMZ's position by stating that the sources and tips are verified before being used and or reported.[7]
In November 2009, TMZ's revenue was publicly disclosed for the first time.[14] Telepictures (which TMZ is operated by) stated: "Subject to certain performance adjustments and the reimbursement of expenses, revenues are split evenly between the parties [...] Telepictures received payments of $6.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and $12.7 million, $9.6 million and $3.0 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively."[14] Based on released figures, TMZ's revenues for 2008 was $25.4 million and is projected to have less revenue in the 2009 year with the revenue of $12.4 million in first three quarters of the year—unlike the previous year, which was within the $15 million range.[14]
On May 29, 2012, co-founder Jim Paratore died of a heart attack during a cycling trip in France. Paratore was known for his work in television production, producing several daytime and syndicated programs.
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