A variety of factors shaped perceptions of how NYTD was performing. In the early
years, although the budget was integrated with the corporate budget, NYTimes.com
had its own P&L. Evaluation was driven primarily by the following questions:
¾ Can we tolerate the losses we are generating?
¾ Are we having any significant operating problems?
¾ Is any damage being done to the core business or the core brand?
In 1995, the Company set an informal goal that NYTD was to be profitable within
five to six years. Over time, financial performance vs. forecasts and budgets, and the
long-term path to profitability, increased in the degree to which it influenced internal
performance perceptions.