WorldNow, a leading CMS provider for local television news sites that total over 19 million visitors monthly, has partnered with JS-Kit to provide them with a number of community based widgets that will be embedded across their sites. JS-Kit, founded in 2006, creates simple widgets that can be implemented with only a few lines of code (you can see our introductory review of them here).
Besides JS-Kit’s flagship commenting widget, WorldNow will be adding Ratings, Score, Reviews, Navigator, and Polls to their sites. WorldNow has 320 television customers, including a number of ABC and NBC affiliates (example). Advertising revenues from the JS-Kit widgets will be split 50/50 between the two companies.
JS-Kit CEO Khris Loux sees the partnership as a huge step for the company, which will be significantly increasing its reach. While he concedes that many of WorldNow’s 19 million readers probably won’t use the commenting system (at least at first), he says there will still be very sizable growth in the company’s user base.
This may be the case, but it’s hard to gauge just how much they stand to gain from WorldNow’s expansive readership - few people are used to the idea of participating in a community on a news site. Loux also believes that with the charging atmosphere of the economy, companies will be more likely to turn to companies like JS-Kit for commenting systems rather than build their own in-house.
JS-Kit is obviously maturing as a company, having grown from a basic commenting system to a full-featured suite that includes APIs, security, and OpenID integration. In January the site also announced a partnership with HaloScan, which provides easily-deployable comment systems for 489,300 sites. These partnerships should put them in a good position to take on the other players in this space, which include Disqus, SezWho, and IntenseDebate.
Favorite quote from article:
“few people are used to the idea of participating in a community on a news site.”
isnt TechCrunch considered a news site, somewhat?
I’d consider TechCrunch a news site, but I think the fact that we’re based on a blogging platform does differentiate us from television or newspaper sites. You’ll certainly see more community here.
What does it matter what type of platform a site is based on? Visitors come to a site to consume information…Whether that information is presented in a “blog” style layout shouldnt dictate whether they are able (and willing) to get involved with comments, etc.
Didn’t WorldNow partner with KickApps for social networking needs? Or is this strictly widgets?
We’ve been using JS-Kit for a long time now and they have been fantastic in responding to our needs and making sure the servers are up and running even with our crushing traffic.
We’ve evaluated other ratings and comment options, but JS-Kit has been the most publisher-friendly. We’re glad to know they are getting some recognition.
I Can Has Cheezburger?
Thanks for your comments, haha and Jason. Given the right tools, tv and newspaper site readers are quickly jumping on board with building community and becoming participants in the story. We are excited to bring web2.0 inclusiveness to historically more traditional news media venues.
For example, from the folks in Indianapolis:
http://www.wthr.com/Global/sto.....=menu188_2
Best,
Nancy
JS-Kit.com
You’d think with their success they’d be able to invest in a decent logo design or a new name.
I am a user of JS-Kit and have been for months. I left Haloscan because I could not get a single question answered from them. In contrast, JS-Kit implemented many features I asked for and are working on several other right now, including Open-ID.
Other features are in the works and I am expecting rollouts within a month or less.
If anyone wants to see JS-Kit in action go to http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/
I endorse JS-Kit, Its model, and its willingness to consider user sponsored improvements.
Mish
This is an awesome validation of the power and appeal of widgets and of the forward thinking that JS-Kit is known for. Looks to me that Commenting, Rating, etc. widgets are key for blending TV and the Web.
Wow… JS-Kit. Keep it up.
I forgot to point out that I have implemented both JS-Kits commenting structure and “Top Badge” Feature. The latter you can see in the right sidebar.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/
I am working on a new blog layout and will increase the space given to “Top Badge”, now currently top 5 but soon to be top-10.
It turns out that my very favorite post I have ever done in 3 years of blogging is the top vote getter on top badge as well.
Fed Uncertainty Principle
http://globaleconomicanalysis......ciple.html
Mish
Outbrain’s ranking widget and recommendations engine beats them by far…
Interesting timing.
I just reviewed their CEO’s presentation at NextWeb last month. If you want to get a sense of his vision for JS-KIT and the business angle he is pitching to win deals like this you can read my scribbled notes on his talk here:
http://timbauer.bauerfive.com/.....ss-elixir/
Hope it helps.
great, thanks for for the info
@I can haz Go Seattle! JS-KIT seems to be legit.
Ryan
lessons in brevity: http://www.mofata.com
Just started playing with js-kit today. I can’t imagine something simpler than that to get started. Way to go!!!!
Can’t way to try it out on my website.
As an enterprise customer, I can certainly attest to:
“…companies will be more likely to turn to companies like JS-Kit for commenting systems rather than build their own in-house.
Rock On, Khris and team!
Alan
http://www.businesscreditfacts.com
Way to go JS-Kit. Good job!
Big congrats to Khris and the JS-Kit team - this is big news for the company’s continued meteoric rise to the top!
Jis-Kit is made in USA
We recently published an interview of their CEO. Watch it here http://uk.intruders.tv/The-Nex....._a402.html to get a sense of his vision.
I have been following JS-Kit since its inception. Khris and his team are phenomenal. It’s one of the rare companies capable of being both innovative and attentive to their users and partners needs. Their components are also part of my rapid prototyping arsenal, it saves us development time, which helps us focus on testing our core value proposition with our customers (here is an example of a recent prototype using a JS-Kit component http://www.planect.com).
Thanks JS-Kit for your great service and support!
Keep up the good work!
Awesome!!! great job! can’t wait to try it out on my web:-)
How does Js-kit make money?
Many thanks to the whole JS-Kit team! We looked at a variety of potential partners in this space and they were easily the most flexible and full-featured solution. So far we’ve turned up about a dozen sites and the early returns in terms of consumer participation are excellent.
Todd
worldnow.com
Hi,
#1 Will readers use the service?
Certainly!
http://www.wthr.com/Global/sto.....menu188_2#
Fourteen pages of Comments on one story!
#25 Making Money
1) Sites earn money using JS-Kit widgets. The owner gets 50% of all ad revenue served within the widget. 2) Sites that do not want ads pay a small ASP fee to JS-Kit.
Easy to install & simply to customize services with a balanced revenue model has encouraged 65,000+ web sites to use JS-Kit widgets.
Be Well,
Khris, CEO
JS-Kit
http://js-kit.com
I consult to many of the major brands and major web publishers. How do the smaller websites compete in functionality? JS-kit allows medium and small website to have lightweight, efficient community features very quickly. The features will increase pageviews and, thus, advertising revenue.
I am particularly impressed with JS-Kit Advisor. This is a new way to use the web. I believe adoption by directories and blogs will be very fast. Bringing valuable content to users and the right place and time is huge for all involved.
Ken Mallon, Digital Media Consulting, Millward Brown
We are among the first World Now sites to jump on the js-kit comment bandwagon, after the deal was announced. The great thing for us is it’s built into the WorldNow CMS. Check out http://www.ktvz.com and you’ll see we have generated about 1,000 postable comments a month (in Nielsen Mkt. 192) since February (started with a really nice bolt-on homegrown comment system - the one thing we’re about to get that I really want is LARGER TYPE in the comments - you young whipper-snappers must like 6-point type for comments, a la Word Press, etc. - us old folks need easier to read type;-) World Now is helping us get the changes we need, but obviously it’s been a huge success.
So we’re very happy with JS-kit - AND are looking at KickApps for a community built around the news. The comment posts have been fascinating - scary at times, enlightening but without them, a Website feels cold and sterile.
thanks, this is great