MANHASSET, N.Y., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- CMP Channel Group's CRN is celebrating 25 years in the market by enhancing its award-winning product line with major investments to expand coverage in both its print and online offerings and serve readers' growing dependence on information about products, technology, vendors and the market.

The enhancements, which will be effective on January 1, 2007, include a redesign of CRN which includes a move to a magazine format as well as the launching of CRN Tech, a new monthly publication and on-line offering designed to provide Solution Providers with detailed coverage of technologies they can wrap services around to drive more solution sales.

CRN will focus on market, technology and news analysis in print and will continue to provide up to the minute breaking news on-line via CRN.com.

"CMP Technology through the Channel Group's flagship CRN is the only publisher in print and on-line that has the history and long-term dedication to the Solution Provider community to continually invest major resources to expand and ensure it has the correct information products in the correct form and frequency to serve its needs," said Robert Faletra, CMP Channel Group President.

CRN print products will deliver a unique focus and format weekly. Three times each month CRN magazine will provide market, technology and news analysis to help Solution Providers drive product and solution sales. This unique approach includes one issue per month, which will be dedicated to the "CRN Perspectives series" -- a deep dive into the major issues affecting the IT Channel. Rounding out the month, CRN is launching CRN Tech, a monthly magazine to help IT Solution Providers select products and technology that will drive growth in their services sales.

CMP's Channel Group research on media consumption habits of its audience reinforces CRN's strategy to shift its award-winning, breaking news coverage online.

The brand's website, http://www.crn.com/, inherits the mission of providing up-to-the-minute channel and technology news, reviews, and research for IT Solution Providers. "Our market research on Solution Providers' information sources confirms that readers want more breaking news available at the speed that only CRN.com can provide," noted VP/Editor Heather Clancy.

Weekly Magazines Will Cover Unique Content and Emerging Technologies

CRN magazine will provide in-depth analysis of current events in the IT channel, assess key markets for Solution Provider growth and analyze new revenue-generating technologies. Additionally, once each month, CRN magazine will devote an entire "Perspectives" issue to a key topic affecting the IT channel, in line with its mission to drive profitable revenue.

CRN Tech, a monthly magazine covering emerging technologies and related services sales opportunities, launches at the start of CRN's 25th anniversary year. It will provide reviews on recently released products and emerging technologies with information on driving services revenue from those technologies. CRN Tech will have its own website and will produce live events around the country at which vendors can demonstrate new technology offerings.

CRN VP/Publisher Dan Dignam reports positive feedback from the hundreds of readers and advertisers who were consulted as part of the ongoing strategic review to further capitalize on the brand's strengths. "The vendors are applauding the focus of our new products and are particularly high on CRN Tech. They appreciate that solution providers use different media to find diverse types of information, and that we've responded to market conditions by optimizing all available media platforms so that they can better target their messages. There is an unprecedented amount of investment taking place throughout the CRN portfolio," Dignam added.

As part of the investment in expanding CRN's reach, a number of website enhancements are in the works for 2007, including a new CRN TV streaming video program and an important lead-generation interface that will allow solution providers to access CMP Technology's end-user database to generate qualified sales leads, meeting the number-one need of today's channel. CRN's highly successful NetSeminars continue to evolve and now reach an international audience, driving vendor sales in a global Solution Provider market.

CRN events are also expanding in response to the channel's demand for highly effective, face-to-face networking opportunities, with the introduction of the CRN Fast Growth 100 Executive Summit. The event, which debuted in October, joins the successful CRN Channel Champions and the CRN Hall of Fame Conference events.

About CRN

CRN provides solution providers and technology integrators with the crucial information and analysis they need to drive their company's sales. As an advocate for and voice of the IT channel, solution providers turn to CRN first for immediate information. With nearly 25 years of experience, CRN is the most trusted source for channel professionals. CRN can be found on the web at http://www.crn.com/.

About CMP Channel Group (http://www.cmpchannelgroup.com/)

CMP Channel Group is the one stop shop customers turn to in order to meet their global sales channel objectives from access to execution. Through use of its print products, which include CRN and VARBusiness, their accompanying websites, the broader ChannelWeb network, the Group's XChange worldwide face-to-face conferences and the Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED), vendors are able to accelerate sales through the channel. CMP Channel Group provides a worldwide answer to advertising, branding and marketing services, lead generation, market intelligence, branded and custom events, education of solution providers and best practices for vendors.

About CMP Technology (http://www.cmp.com/)

CMP Technology is a marketing-solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

Contact: Gordon Plutsky CMP Channel Group (516) 562-7766

CONTACT: Gordon Plutsky, CMP Channel Group, +1-516-562-7766

Web site: http://www.crn.com/
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