From Deseret News archives:

Looking for love . . . now with the help of cable TV

LDSPromise has singles tape video profiles for Comcast's On Demand

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 9:11 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
LEHI — Brandon Stratford is banking on Miss Right having cable television and a computer with an Internet connection.

Stratford was among the Latter-day Saint singles who on Saturday filmed a "dating profile" that will be shown on cable provider Comcast's On Demand.

Like other LDS singles seeking dates the high-tech way — the first 10 three-minute tapings will be on air today — Stratford's spot will be given a code so that any interested gals can go to www.LDSPromise.com and find his online profile.

Stratford hopes the TV spot will "get me out there."

The 23-year-old from West Valley, who is already a seasoned user of the Web site, admitted he went into the taping cold.

"I don't know what I'm going to say," he said before he faced the camera.

To help the unprepared and the jittery, those who run LDSPromise.com put together five questions the men and women could answer while being taped.

Diana Kafer is in one of the spots, which were taped during an LDS singles dance at Thanksgiving Point. "I'm up for adventure and trying new things," she said.

Story continues below
Kafer, 25, said she likes the safety of LDSPromise, which asks the people who sign up for the service to take a personality test.

People are then matched on more than 20 areas of compatibility.

Kafer, who has been a member of LDSPromise "off and on" for about six months, has yet to have a face-to-face encounter with anyone that she "met" on the Web site.

She has, however, carried on several conversations via e-mail.

"It feels safer," she said. "You get to know a little about them beforehand."

LDSPromise was founded by A. Lynn Scoresby, a Brigham Young University psychologist. Ben Chase, chief executive officer for the online dating service, said no members have been assaulted as a result of its service.

Comcast wants to tape about 30 profiles — all free of charge — to run on its service. They will appear after they are edited, said Scott Tenney, area vice president for Comcast.

Both LDSPromise members and non-members can access the profiles. If they are not LDSPromise members they can sign up for a seven-day free trial, Chase said.

The monthly fee varies according to the package the customer buys, but can be as little as $11 a month or as much as $24.95 a month.

On Demand is a digital service for Comcast customers. It holds thousands of hours of programming customers can view. From their remote at home viewers can stop, fast-forward or reverse the programs, Tenney said. Most of the programming on the site is included in the basic monthly fee of $48, including the hardware.

The company already had its Dating On Demand site — but it had no local programming. With LDSPromise that niche is filled, he said.

The dating service has also filled at least one more niche — at least 80 marriages out of 20,000 members have come from the service in its first year, said Ray Child, public relations director.


E-mail: rodger@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Scott Johnson, LDS Promise.com

Diana Kafer says she likes the safety of LDSPromise.com.

previousnext

Latest comments

Real Champions

This could very well be the best week of my life.. IF BYU DOWNS UTAH THIS...

Reagon's stock will continue to go down as time moves forward and history...

Congrats RSL!! With being new to the area, can anyone tell me if there will...

'Now, will someone give me an example of how gay marriage will affect...

Real Champions

RIMANDO SAVES!! Great job by nick Rimando and everyone else who stepped up...

Sorry, Fred, Waldfogel is out to lunch. He claims that a gift is wasteful...

'Churches, leaders have right to speak out on public policy debates' I...

Reagan much-beloved in Utah

Ronald Reagan was the greatest President of the 20th Century. If you care to...

JR, in this very paper it was pointed out that organized Christianity led to...

Letters: Scrap Utah's flat tax

Fred Ash, you know something, your 100% right, Utah's state Legislature...

Advertisements