local Internet portal www.di-ve.com has continued to dominate local Website usage, according to the latest independent survey by The Media Warehouse conducted by Informa Consultants.

Replying to the question "Which local Website do you visit most often?" respondents for the fourth year running confirmed www.di-ve.com as Malta's most popular Website with 54.1 per cent, an increase of 13.4 per cent compared to last October's survey. The site www.searchmalta.com - a search directory also operated by di-ve Ltd follows with 16.4 per cent also registering an increase of 1.9 per cent. Other Websites fell below the 10 per cent mark.

This is the seventh issue of the in-depth analysis of all local media which is issued twice a year. Informa Consultants said that the objective of this research programme was to survey the type of listeners, viewers and readers together with other related factors, which are considered to be of help to all parties concerned within the media industry.

Di-ve brand executive Jes Camilleri said, "Once again the results of the survey confirm the www.di-ve.com position as market leader as far as local Websites are concerned. We are also pleased to note the increase in popularity of our search directory www.searchmalta.com, normally attracting a more international audience.

"Thanks to the untiring efforts of our editorial and technical teams, di-ve.com has become synonymous with local breaking news and multimedia content providing local businesses with a strong and innovative marketing tool to reach a mass market."

www.di-ve.com is operated by Terranet Ltd., a subsidiary of the Maltacom group.