Visiting the on-line sites can be frustrating and time-consuming, as I recently learned.

The value-added concept has been embraced by many on-line sites.

But if advertisers are going to set up their own on-line sites, what effect will that have on magazines?

First, don't discount print as a place to promote these on-line sites for advertisers.

But counting the number of people who view these on-line sites is a tricky business.

The on-line sites' offerings can change with news events.

Nor did the on-line site offer a prospectus detailing key corporate information.

If an on-line site is an audience-builder, it has bargaining power these days.

It has also invested in other on-line sites, like Drugstore.com.

And many on-line sites have struck deals with specific carriers.