Thursday, February 19, 2009

Buzznet Puts Focus On Celebrities

Los Angeles-based Buzznet, the venture-backed operator of a network of entertainment-focused social media sites, is making the rounds with a new feature on its Celebuzz celebrity web site this week. The firm rolled out a "zoom" feature that allows users on the site to magnify celebrity photos on the site. According to the site, the new feature will allow its members to see closeups of things like their designer handbags--and "wardrobe malfunctions." The feature is available on the firm's more recent celebrity photos. Celebuzz is one of a number of sites owned by Buzznet, which is venture backed by Sutter Hill, Universal Music Group, Anthem Ventures, NEA, and Redpoint Ventures. The firm has been on an acquisition roll lately, having acquired music blog Idolator from Gawker, Stereogum, punk music site Absolute Punk, celebrity site The Superficial, heavy metal site The Gauntlet, and a number of other vertical web sites all in the last year.