MTV Networks, home of mtvU, VH1 and other popular networks, has recently purchased ratemyprofessors.com. The Web site was specifically purchased by mtvU. The site, used by over nine million college students, including many at the University, allows users to rate over one million professors in more than 6,000 schools across the nation.
"We have been hearing about this site a long time and thought it was a smart, organic site that was a useful tool for students," mtvU head Stephen Friedman said.
MtvU reaches over 750 college campuses nationwide and is a 24-hour college networkdesigned for the college demographic.
Ratemyprofessors.com is a site where students rate their professors on clarity, easiness, helpfulness and interest with the option of weighing on the "hotness" factor.
"This site is 100 percent generated by peer reviews," Friedman said. "The reason we liked it so much is it's simple and to the point."
Although the site will not undergo any major changes, new features might be added to make it more user-friendly, according to Friedman. Students may soon have the option of rating dining halls and dormitories.
This is not mtvU's first partnership with a college-related Web site. Recently, the network created a partnership with Y2M, Youth Media & Marketing Networks. Y2M is the owner of College Publishers, a network consisting of 450 college newspapers.
According to Darden School Prof. Susan Chaplinsky, this move will allow mtvU to attract more advertising dollars.
"It's strategy," Chaplinsky said. "In a roll-up strategy you combine different entities to make one large unit. It'll allow MTV to make more money, my guess, through ad rates."
MtvU is not looking to purchase any other college-related Web sites in the near future, Friedman said. He noted, however, that they are always looking for more opportunities to work with college students.
"I think college students are at the forefront of new technology and ideas," Friedman said. "We're always interested in partnering with our audience."
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