• by Masha Geller , March 6, 2003

The people who started the online daypart craze with their groundbreaking web usage research are attracting followers from overseas. The Online Publishers Association (OPA) announced yesterday that ten leading European publishers have come together to form OPA Europe, an extension of the association to the European community.

"Many of the challenges for quality online content providers transcend international borders," said Michael Zimbalist, executive director of the U.S.-based Online Publishers Association. "We look forward to extending the mission of the OPA through the formation of OPA Europe."

Established in June 2001 by some of the Internet's leading content brands, the Online Publishers Association (OPA) is an industry trade organization representing high-quality online publishers throughout the U.S. Through credible research and ongoing communications, OPA seeks to establish and promote the Internet as an effective advertising medium for marketers and a sustainable media business for publishers.

Like its U.S. counterpart, OPA Europe will focus its efforts on enhancing the business climate for quality publishers by producing research into online advertising and media consumption, benchmarking, sharing key learnings and best practices with one another, and serving as the voice of quality online content providers to key constituencies throughout Europe.

Founding members of OPA Europe are: CNET Networks (Europe), Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso (Italy), Group Financial Times (Great Britain and France), IDM/La Vanguardia Digital (Spain), International Herald Tribune (Europe), Khatimerini (Greece), Le Monde interactif (France), Le Temps (Switzerland), Prismacom/el Pais (Spain) and Spiegel Online (Germany).

Martin Nisenholtz, chairman of the OPA Board in the U.S., said, "The quality of OPA Europe's founding members is a testament to the commitment of the European community to creating a unified voice and a sustainable business for quality content publishers internationally. We look forward to sharing our growing body of research with our colleagues in OPA Europe."