UGO Networks
{{Short description|American website (1997, last updated 2013)}}
{{Redirect|UGO||Ugo (disambiguation){{!}}Ugo}}
{{Infobox website
| name = UGO Networks
| favicon =
| logo = Ugologo 2018.png
| screenshot =
| caption =
| url = {{Official URL}}
| commercial =
| type = News
| registration =
| owner = IGN Entertainment
| author =
| launch_date = 1997
| current_status = Inactive, defunct early 2013
| revenue =
}}
UGO Entertainment, Inc. was a website that provided coverage of online media in entertainment, targeting males aged 18–34. The company was based in New York, New York, United States.
History
The company started in 1997 as Unified Gamers Online, billed in directories as a "hand-picked network of professionally managed gaming sites and services."{{Cite web |title=Kids & Games |url=http://www.ultrabrowser.com/z1000_en/channels/Kids/games1_c.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110439/http://www.ultrabrowser.com/z1000_en/channels/Kids/games1_c.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=Ultrabrowser.com}}{{Better source needed|date=November 2021}} In 1997, founder Chris Sherman hired Ken Margolis Associates to manage sales and marketing to the Game Industry. Chris sold UGO to Actionworld, Inc.,{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Chris |date=July 21, 1998 |title=Sherman, Chris. Re: ONLINE-ADS Zapata is nuts... |url=http://www.o-a.com/archive/1998/July/0079.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203112607/http://www.o-a.com/archive/1998/July/0079.html |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=online-ads.com}} a subsidiary of InterWorld, which incorporated the company in the state of Delaware in April, 1997.{{Cite web |title=InterWorld Corps. Form :10-K. Filing Date:2/28/2000 |url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2000/02/28/10/0001060326-00-000003/Section13.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201431/http://sec.edgar-online.com/2000/02/28/10/0001060326-00-000003/Section13.asp |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=sec.edgar-online.com}} That same year, InterWorld spun off the company "in order to permit UGO Networks to build a separate management team...and to position UGO Networks to seek private parts equity financing."{{Cite web |title=InterWorld Corps. S-1. On 2/7/0 |url=http://www.secinfo.com/dsvr4.5X1.htm |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=sec.edgar-online.com |archive-date=2007-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171128/http://www.secinfo.com/dsvr4.5X1.htm |url-status=live }}
In 1998, UGO—then described as "the largest independent gaming community on the Internet"{{Cite web |title=Thrill Kill Nominated for Best Fighting Game of E3 Show |url=http://www.atarimax.com/freenet/freenet_material/6.16and32-BitComputersSupportArea/8.OnlineMagazines/showarticle.php?707 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=Atari SIG Historical Archive |archive-date=2007-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928184439/http://www.atarimax.com/freenet/freenet_material/6.16and32-BitComputersSupportArea/8.OnlineMagazines/showarticle.php?707 |url-status=live }}—created the prestigious UGO E3 Awards, now the Game Critics Awards, to recognize high quality video game entertainment.{{Cite web |title=Sherman Ventures, LLC |url=http://www.shermanventures.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218062609/http://shermanventures.com/ |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=Sherman Ventures}} In 1999, UGO changed its name to UnderGround Online as part of its efforts to expand its target audience. The company streamed various forms of media entertainment on its website as well as offering articles on topics of interest to its target audience. Topics included comics, television, music and film. Its main competitors included CNET Networks, IGN, and Yahoo!.{{Cite web |title=UGO Networks, Inc. |url=http://www.hoovers.com/ugo-networks/--ID__117850--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306195817/http://www.hoovers.com/ugo-networks/--ID__117850--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml |archive-date=March 6, 2009 |access-date=2007-04-20 |publisher=Hoovers}} On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment to expand its interactive media division.{{Cite web |date=2007-07-24 |title=Hearst Corporation To Acquire Ugo Networks: Deal Signifies Hearst'S First Major Step Into Digital Entertainment | Hearst Corporation |url=https://www.hearst.com/-/hearst-corporation-to-acquire-ugo-networks-deal-signifies-hearst-s-first-major-step-into-digital-entertainment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114059/http://www.hearst.com/press-room/pr-398-20070724.html |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=2013-12-21 |publisher=Hearst.com}} On January 6, 2009, UGO Entertainment acquired 1UP.com and its associated sites from publisher Ziff Davis.{{Cite web |title=UGO Entertainment Acquires 1UP |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172156 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225135200/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172156 |archive-date=2009-02-25}}
In May 2011, IGN Entertainment announced that it would acquire UGO from Hearst in a cash and stock. At the same time, its parent company News Corporation also announced that the profitable IGN division would be spun off into a new company. In March 2012, UGO ceased to exist as a staffed website and was dormant for a short period. Later in 2012, UGO.com relaunched as a self-described "pop culture comedy site",{{Cite web |title=What Is |url=http://www.ugo.com/whatis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224090108/http://www.ugo.com/whatis |archive-date=2013-12-24 |access-date=2013-12-21 |publisher=UGO}} which focused on producing original videos about movies, comics and videogames with a humorous tone. On February 4, 2013, UGO.com was purchased as part of the IGN network of websites acquired by Ziff Davis,{{Cite web |last=Alexa Ray Corriea |date=2013-02-04 |title=IGN Entertainment bought by digital publisher Ziff Davis |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/4/3950432/ign-entertainment-bought-by-digital-publisher-ziff-davis |access-date=2013-12-21 |publisher=Polygon |archive-date=2013-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231032518/http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/4/3950432/ign-entertainment-bought-by-digital-publisher-ziff-davis |url-status=live }} and was shut down on February 21, 2013.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2013-02-21 |title=IGN hit with layoffs, 1UP, UGO and GameSpy shutting down |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/21/4014196/ign-layoffs-1up-ugo-and-gamespy-shutting-down |access-date=2013-12-21 |publisher=Polygon |archive-date=2013-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217060019/http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/21/4014196/ign-layoffs-1up-ugo-and-gamespy-shutting-down |url-status=live }}
The network
The UGO Networks featured websites such as Hero Machine, a Flash-based website allowing to create one's own superhero and share it; Studio UGO, featuring exclusive live music performances; Actress Archives, a website focusing on actress and female entertainer related news, photo galleries, and videos; and Caster's Realm, a blog that featured news and information on MMORPGs.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}} - still online {{as of|2024|lc=y}}, but last w February 2013
{{News Corporation}}
Category:Entertainment Internet forums
Category:American gaming websites
Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2013
Category:Internet properties established in 1997