Walt Disney Internet Group Acquires iParenting Media

Acquisition Grows Portfolio of High-Quality, Family Targeted Web Properties

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. & EVANSTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Walt Disney Internet Group has acquired iParenting Media (www.iParenting.com) in a move that adds to its already strong line-up of family-targeted Web properties within Disney Online, including Disney Family.com, FamilyFun.com and Wondertime.com. With the acquisition, Disney Online gains iParenting’s vast resources, quality content and vibrant community that serves families, young parents and parents-to-be in English and Spanish. iParenting’s content and services will be integrated into Disney’s network of family targeted sites. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“iParenting will be able to bring its core strengths and see them leveraged across the Disney Family network of sites. Together, we will provide many more parents and parents-to-be with much-needed information and inspiration along their parenting journey.”

iParenting’s portfolio features a wide array of professional and user-generated content, including thousands of articles and expert Q&A’s and hundreds of active mom message boards. Additionally, the network includes the highly-regarded iParenting Media Awards (www.iParentingMediaAwards.com), the only certified product review and awards program in the industry. The iParenting Media Awards recognize the best products in the children’s media and juvenile product industries. Disney will continue the awards program as an impartial resource for parents and consumers. Disney Online plans to integrate all members of the Evanston-based iParenting team.

“iParenting has built a strong, trusted reputation among parents, and we feel the site is a perfect complement to our overall portfolio of family-targeted, online brands,” said Paul Yanover, Managing Director of Disney Online. “This acquisition builds on the successful launch of Disney Family.com earlier this year, and the ongoing success of FamilyFun.com and Wondertime.com, by broadening our content for parents to include information about pre-natal and new baby care. We’re excited to welcome such a talented group to Disney Online.”

“Disney is one of the most trusted brands for parents and we believe this will be a great fit for iParenting,” said Alvin All and Elisa Ast All, co-founders of iParenting Media. “iParenting will be able to bring its core strengths and see them leveraged across the Disney Family network of sites. Together, we will provide many more parents and parents-to-be with much-needed information and inspiration along their parenting journey.”

About Disney Online

Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group, offers a portfolio of parenting sites including the award-winning Disney Family.com (www.family.com), FamilyFun.com (www.familyfun.com) and Wondertime.com (www.wondertime.com). Disney Family.com is designed to present information on a variety of topics important to today’s families in a manner that is compelling, comprehensive, entertaining and, most importantly, unbiased. FamilyFun.com serves moms with kids ages 3-12 with easy-to-do ideas for family oriented activities. Wondertime.com celebrates the joys of parenting, serving moms with kids 6 years old and under.

Additionally, Disney Online produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web, Disney.com. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, mobile, music, shopping and live events. Disney.com also features Disney XD, a highly interactive broadband experience, that lets Disney.com guests create their own customized online channel with games, videos, music, and chat – all of which can be enjoyed simultaneously in an immersive environment.

Disney Online also develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Disney Family.com, Disney's Toontown Online, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, Disney Game Downloads, Disney Game Kingdom Online, Disney Connection and Hot Shot Business.

About iParenting Media

iParenting Media operates one of the Internet's most popular communities for parents and parents-to-be at www.iParenting.com. Founded in 1996 by Alvin All and Elisa Ast All during their first pregnancy, the company grew from a single pregnancy site, www.PregancyToday.com, to an award-winning network of more than 40 sites, in English and Spanish, from preconception through raising teenagers and beyond. iParenting's Editor-in-Chief, Elisa Ast All, MSJ, writes a monthly newspaper column and co-hosts a Chicago-based radio show, Points on Parenting.

iParenting produces the highly-respected iParenting Media Awards program, the only ISO9001:2000 certified product review and awards program in the industry. Consumers can learn more about iParenting Media Award-winning products, and find out where to purchase them via a retailer network online directory, by visiting www.iParentingMediaAwards.com/consumer.