Timeline: How Match.com Got Where it Is

1995 –  Match.com is launched on April 21 by parent company Electric Classifieds, Inc., a brainchild of entrepreneur Gary Kremen.  Cost of membership is $9.95 per month, or $60 a year.  

1996 –  By October, there are 100,000 registrations on Match.com.

1997 – Katherine Arce and Boyd Bullough become Match.com’s 150th couple to walk down the aisle and take the vows of matrimony.  CUC International Inc. acquires Match.com from Electric Classifieds, Inc.

1998 – Cost of membership for one month is $12.95.

1999 – Match.com acquires One & Only Network, a leading provider of online matchmaking with a 130,000-member affiliate program. Cost of a membership for one month is $16.95.

2000 – By the end of the year, there are 156,945 paying subscribers on Match.com.

2001 – Match.com partners with Internet giants AOL and MSN to bring online dating to the general public. Love@AOL and MSN Dating and Personals allowed a more diverse audience to gain access to Match.com.  Cost of membership for one month is $24.95. 

2002 – Match.com launches internationally with the acquisition of Soulmates.com, making Match.com available in 40 countries.

2003 – Match.com re-launches their site, offering an array of new features and more intuitive navigation along with broadened dating opportunities. MatchMobile is launched in February, a wireless cross-carrier dating service that allows singles to search photo profiles, flirt and connect with other eligible singles – all through their mobile phones.

2004 –  Success.match.com is launched to allow the millions of Match.com success couples a chance to share their story with other couples and singles alike.

2005 – Match.com celebrates its tenth year as the world's leading online dating and relationship company.  Match.com launches Happen Magazine, the first online magazine focused exclusively on dating and relationships.

2006 – Match.com launches the MindFindBind program created with the help of Dr. Phil McGraw giving members access to the action-oriented, plain-talk dating and relationship insights of Dr. Phil. Chemistry.com is launched as a premium brand to Match.com.

2007 – Match debuted their “It’s OK to Look Campaign,” featuring real Match.com members. Chemistry.com launches the award-winning “Come as you are” campaign outing eHarmony’s rejection policies.

2008 – Despite the stock market crash, Match.com experienced their largest membership growth over the last seven years in November.

2009 – Match.com announces the sale of their European operations to Meetic and acquires People Media, a leading operator of targeted dating sites, from American Capital Ltd.. Match.com launches mobile application for iPhone and iPhone touch and Palm Pre.

2010 – In April 2010, Match.com will celebrate its 15-year anniversary as world’s largest relationship company. Cost of a membership for one month is $34.99.

Source: Match.com