Germany-based Broadcaster ProSieben Takes Over American Online Dating Site eharmony

ProSiebenSat.1 Media, a Munich-based mass media company, confirms that it has acquired US online dating site eharmony. The development came to light on Monday.

“We are bringing together two strong brands and will build them into one of the world’s leading online dating businesses,” ProSieben CEO Max Conze said in a statement. The CEO was quoted on Reuters.

The acquisition complements ProSieben’s own dating franchise, Parship, which is considered market leading in Germany.

eharmony was incorporated in 2000 by clinical psychologist Neil Clark Warren and is headquartered in Los Angeles. In order to determine the compatibility of potential couples, the dating site uses an extensive online questionnaire – since it is founded by such a reputed psychologist. The dating site expects to register close to three million new users this year, according to a report published on the new agency website.

“They are based on the same convictionsaid Claas van Delden, co-CEO of Nucom.

“In addition, the takeover is so attractive because eharmony has a brand awareness of nearly 90 percent and a very big user base that we can serve better from a common platform,” he added. Mr.Delden was quoted on the new agency website.

Nucom is ProSieben’s newly created division; it owns 94 percent of Parship.

According to the report, Grant Langston, eharmony CEO, will continue to head the operations while representatives of Parship will join eharmony board.