Go.com
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Go.com | |
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 Screenshot of Go.com |
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| URL | www.go.com |
| Commercial? | yes |
| Type of site | web portal |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | Walt Disney Internet Group |
| Created by | Walt Disney Internet Group |
| Launched | January 9, 1998 |
Go.com (also known as The Go Network) is a web portal created and operated by the Walt Disney Internet Group, which is a part of The Walt Disney Company. The portal includes content from ABC News, ESPN, Movies.com and FamilyFun.com, all of which are associated with Disney and are hosted under a .go.com name. Along with TimeWarner's Pathfinder.com, Go.com proved to be an expensive failure for its parent company, as web users preferred to use search engines to access content directly, rather than start at a top-level corporate portal.
The site was founded in 1995 and was redeveloped after Infoseek, created by Steve Kirsch, was merged into the Go.com network in 1998. The site originally started off as a search engine, using a distinctive green stoplight logo. However, in early 2000 Go.com was forced to abandon its logo because of a complaint of similar-looking logos filed by Goto.com (A court later ruled that Go.com had to pay $21.5 million in damages to Goto.com).
In 1998, Disney changed Go.com from a search engine into a web portal. In addition, the company used the site as a hub for other Disney-related sites, including ABC.com and Disney.com. Go.com also hosted personal web pages. In early 2000, with visits to the site dropping, Disney announced that the general portal would now focus more on entertainment.
Almost all Disney/ABC sites migrated to the Go.com domain, and the site was mentioned at the end of programs on ABC/Disney networks often (for example at the end of a program on ESPN, the end line was "For more visit ESPN.com, part of the Go Network", while the logo was displayed on-screen, or at the end of an ABC News program, the bumper would freeze frame at the end while the logo animates, accompanied by "ABCNews.com is now a part of the Go Network.").
However, in January 2001, Disney announced that it would be closing Go.com and its search engine, laying off approximately 400 employees and retiring the go.com tracking stock.
Despite its announcement, go.com never ceased operations. Instead, in March 2001, the site ended its search engine and switched to a search engine provided by goto.com. Go.com currently uses a search engine powered by Yahoo! and features content and news from its family of sites.
[edit] Notes
- ^ January 28, 2000 - Judge bars Disney from using Go.com logo
- ^ February 3, 2000 - Go Going Elsewhere, Loses Logo
- ^ January 29, 2001 - Disney to Discontinue Go.com Portal
- ^ March 15, 2001 - Go.com Becomes GoTo
[edit] External links
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