PriMedia Inc explained

Predecessor:Dial Media
PriMedia Inc
Industry:Media buying
Key People:James J. Cooney
Location City:Rhode Island
Location Country:U.S.
Area Served:Worldwide

PriMedia Inc is a media buying and marketing firm based in Rhode Island, U.S.[1] The company was founded by Ed Valenti and Barry Becher,[2] [3] and helped pioneer infomercials, the use of credit cards and 800 numbers on Television ads, and the 30-minute infomercial format on shopping channels.[4] [5] [6]

History

PriMedia (then named Dial Media) was founded in 1975 by Ed Valenti and Barry Becher.[7] PriMedia became the first major infomercial company and launched several mainstream products including the Ginsu knives.[8] The company also developed the “long-form” infomercial formats, which later developed into standard half-hour infomercial formats used in Home shopping channels including QVC and HSN. Primedia was one of the first to use toll-free telephone numbers in television ads to allow use of credit cards to order products in real-time.[9]

James J. Cooney, who was a teenager when he first met the firm's co-founders, later joined the firm.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Financial Times . Night of the receptive zombies .
  2. Web site: Washington Post . Barry Becher, co-creator of the Ginsu knife TV commercials, dies at 71. Schudel. Matt. June 27, 2012 .
  3. News: The Los Angeles Times. Barry Becher, marketer who helped bring Ginsu knives to U.S. public, dies at 71. https://web.archive.org/web/20120630094834/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/28/local/la-me-passings-20120628. dead. June 30, 2012. June 28, 2012.
  4. Web site: ABC News . Ginsu Knife Pitch Co-Creator, Barry Becher, Dies.
  5. Book: Valenti, Ed . The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream . 2016 . Lancet . 978-1564148032 .
  6. Book: Valenti, Ed . The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream . 2005 . Career Press, Incorporated. 1564148033 . registration.
  7. Web site: Cleveland . Infomercial pioneer Barry Becher of Ginsu knives fame dies at 71 . Jun 27, 2012.
  8. Book: Harry, Lou . 2002. As Seen on TV - 50 Amazing Products and the Commercials that Made Them Famous. Quirk Productions, Inc. . 978-1422366998 .
  9. Book: Valenti, Edward . 2005 . The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream . Quirk Productions, Inc Career Press (March 2005) . 978-1564148032 . registration .

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