Playboy Struggling Mightily

Playboy is struggling to turn a profit, disproving the notion that sex is one of the only things unaffected by the downturn in the economy.

Last week, Playboy Enterprises reported that it lost money in the first quarter of 2008. Many have pointed out that the company's struggles mirror the struggles of what is called "new media" versus "old media." Meaning, as Playboy has said, their magazine is struggling because of the lack of advertising dollars that have left for television and the Internet.

The other problem with the magazine is the easy manner in which one can access nude women on the Internet. But Playboy has tried to diversify itself in the hope to become more recession-proof, opening casinos and introducing a men's perfume. The company also has plans to up its online content, and will even start the Playboy Audience Network, which will upload videos, much like YouTube.

Only time will tell if Playboy can diversify itself to the point where the losses of the magazine can be made up for.