PriMedia Inc is a media buying and marketing firm based in Rhode Island, U.S.[2][3] The company was founded by Ed Valenti and Barry Becher,[4][5] and helped pioneer infomercials, the use of credit cards and 800 numbers on Television ads, and the 30-minute infomercial format on shopping channels.[6][7][2]
| Industry | Media buying |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Dial Media |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | James J. Cooney |
| Website | www |
History edit
PriMedia (then named Dial Media) was founded in 1975 by Ed Valenti and Barry Becher.[8] PriMedia became the first major infomercial company and launched several mainstream products including the Ginsu knives.[9] 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.[10]
James J. Cooney, who was a teenager when he first met the firm's co-founders, later joined the firm.[citation needed][a]
Notes edit
- ^ Cooney didn't co-found the company. He met Valenti and Becher after they founded the company in 1975, when he was 16 or 17.
References edit
- ^ Hevesi, Dennis (June 30, 2012). "Barry Becher, a Creator of Ginsu Knife Commercials, Dies at 71". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Valenti, Ed (2005). The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream. Career Press, Incorporated. ISBN 1564148033.
- ^ "Night of the receptive zombies". Financial Times.
- ^ Schudel, Matt (June 27, 2012). "Barry Becher, co-creator of the Ginsu knife TV commercials, dies at 71". Washington Post.
- ^ "Barry Becher, marketer who helped bring Ginsu knives to U.S. public, dies at 71". The Los Angeles Times. June 28, 2012.
- ^ "Ginsu Knife Pitch Co-Creator, Barry Becher, Dies". ABC News.
- ^ Valenti, Ed (2016). The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream. Lancet. ISBN 978-1564148032.
- ^ "Infomercial pioneer Barry Becher of Ginsu knives fame dies at 71". Cleveland. June 27, 2012.
- ^ Harry, Lou (2002). As Seen on TV - 50 Amazing Products and the Commercials that Made Them Famous. Quirk Productions, Inc. ISBN 978-1422366998.
- ^ Valenti, Edward (2005). The Wisdom of Ginsu: Carve Yourself a Piece of the American Dream. Quirk Productions, Inc Career Press (March 2005). ISBN 978-1564148032.