A quirky robot, remote control beer cooler and jewels top items in Jan 09

A new monthly index of popular online content suggests that consumers are beating the summer heat by watching DVDs of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, listening to music by Lady Gaga, or shopping online for items as diverse as remote-control beer coolers and theme park passes.

Telstra Media Group Managing Director, Justin Milne, said the BigPond Top Ten, launched today, is a glimpse into the popular content available from Australia’s premier media communications company.

“The hot summer weather and school holidays have seen huge demand for family-orientated content, with puzzle games, kids DVDs and theme park tickets proving very popular,” Mr Milne said today.

The most popular movie rented online from the BigPond Movies DVD rental service was The Dark Knight, closely followed by the Disney/Pixar family film about a loveable robot, Wall-e.

Online game downloads were also popular in January, with games involving jewels proving surprisingly popular. Bejeweled 2, Bejeweled Twist, Jewel Quest Mysteries and Jewel Quest III puzzle games were the most popular games bought from BigPond Games Shop.

Sales from BigPond Shopping indicate holiday-themed items were popular. The fourth most popular item in January, which sold out before Australia Day, was a remote control beer cooler - no doubt useful outdoors with the ninth popular item, a barbeque.

The top 10 items sold on BigPond Shopping during January:

1. Lennoxx 2.8 inch MP3/MP4 player;
2. 3 park Fun Pass;
3. Toshiba L300 Laptop;
4. Remote Control Beer Cooler;
5. Dreamworld Tickets;
6. Giant Twister Towel;
7. Kelvinator Split System Air Conditioner;
8. Kambrook 1.7ltr Stainless Steel Kettle;
9. Everdure Curva BBQ;
10. Electrolux Bagless Vacuum;

The top 10 DVD rentals from BigPond Movies during January:

1. The Dark Knight (M);
2. Wall-e (G);
3. Eagle Eye (M);
4. The Mummy - Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (M);
5. In Bruges (MA15+);
6. Wild Child (PG);
7. Step Brothers (MA15+);
8. Baby Mama (M);
9. The Bank Job (MA15+);
10. Pineapple Express (MA15+).

The top 10 games purchased from BigPond Games online (week ending 30 January):

1. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe;
2. Bejeweled Twist;
3. Reel Deal Slots Ghost Town;
4. Jewel Quest Mysteries;
5. Jewel Quest III;
6. Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe;
7. Interpol 2: Most Wanted;
8. Can You See What I See? Dream Machine;
9. Little Shop: Memories;
10. Herod’s Lost Tomb.

The top 10 music tracks purchased from BigPond Music online (week ending 30 January):

1. Poker Face (Lady Gaga);
2. Let It Rock (Kevin Rudolf);
3. Burn (Jessica Mauboy);
4. Use Somebody (Kings of Leon);
5. Single Ladies (Beyonce);
6. Circus (Britney Spears);
7. You (Wes Carr);
8. Someday Soon (Natalie Bassingthwaighte);
9. You Found Me (The Fray);
10. Gotta Be Somebody (Nickelback).

Telstra is Australia’s premier media communications company. Telstra’s media assets include: BigPond® content online and on all Telstra 3G and Telstra Next G™ mobile phones; Australia’s leading directories and advertising business, Sensis®; classifieds business, Trading Post; ownership in online jobs site, LinkMe; and a 50 per cent ownership of Australia’s number one subscription television service, FOXTEL. Internationally, Telstra has majority investments in China internet sites SouFun, Norstar Media and Autohome/PCPop.

BigPond’s diverse range of content includes news, music, movies, sport and games available both online and on Telstra Next G™ mobiles. BigPond is the online and mobile rights-holder for the Australian Football League, National Rugby League and V8 Supercars, much of it free of download charges.

BigPond’s online retail assets include BigPond Shopping, BigPond Travel, BigPond Music, BigPond Games and the BigPond Movies rental service, offering both DVD and download rentals.

Most recently, BigPond has launched BigPond Health and an online dating service.