Adult Industry Faces 818 Area Code Changes

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Public Utilities Commission has announced that effective May 2009, new telephone numbers assigned in the 818 area code will get a new area code, 747.

The 818 area code was created in 1984, when it was split from the 213 area code. The original 818 area code was divided in 1997, when the 626 area code was split. Currently, the 818 area code covers predominantly the San Fernando Valley area. The move is certain to have an impact on the adult industry because much of the business is based in the San Fernando Valley and the 818 area code.

Since announcing its intention last fall to create a new Valley area code, the commission held public meetings and solicited email comments. The commission received 741 comments, with 442 supporting an overlay, 199 favoring splitting the region into two area codes, and 100 with no preference. An estimated two million people live in the 818 area code.

Reaction from the adult industry was mixed.

Adam & Eve Pictures Vice President of Sales and Marketing Peter Reynolds was worried about confusion among callers.

"It will be extremely confusing for the world to adopt a new area code for Porn Valley. We made 818 what it is today," Reynolds told XBIZ.

Wicked Pictures publicist Heth Mares approves of the overlay plan.

"As long as they keep it to new lines to me it doesn't pose a problem," Mares said. "However, if they were to ask everyone with existing 818 numbers to switch to the new area code that would definitely inconvenience a lot of people, not to mention the extra expense it would cost to change all numbers you utilize over to the new area code — fax number, business cards, cell and business lines, etc."

Adult industry publicist Wayne Hentai looked at it as a memory problem.

"When will this government intervention into our lives stop?" Hentai asked. "I mean, how do they expect us to remember a number like 747? It's not like there's anything to associate this area code with. You know, like a jumbo jet."

Digital Playground Director of Marketing Adella looks at the change as a symptom of a bigger problem.

"I guess we can attribute this to the 30,000 - 40,000 people who move into Los Angeles county each month," Adella told XBIZ. "Expect traffic to suck even more."

The overlay plan is familiar to Black and Blue Media owner Sherry Ziegelmeyer.

"This is something that ticks me off because I've been through two of these," Ziegelmeyer said. "It makes business so much harder to do. If I need to call a new production company, I have to dial all 11 numbers to get through to somebody who's right up the block from me. It takes so much longer to communicate."

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eremote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eremote.

Rae Lil Black, Rikako Katayama Star in Latest From Vored

Rae Lil Black and Rikako Katayama star in the latest release from Hentaied.pro studio brand Vored, titled "Sinful Taste."

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Sage Hunter Makes Her Hookup Hotshot Debut

Sage Hunter has made her Hookup Hotshot (HUHS) debut alongside studio honcho Bryan Gozzling.

Gal Ritchie: From British Dominatrix to Rising L.A. Starlet

Gal Ritchie left her home in the U.K. and arrived in Los Angeles on Aug. 12, 2023. She remembers the exact date because it was such a key moment in her life.

Pre-Nominations Now Open for 2025 TEAs

The pre-nomination period for the 2025 Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs) is now open.

May Hashira Is Twistys' November 'Treat of the Month'

May Hashira is Twistys’ Treat of the Month for November and will be highlighted online throughout the month.

Lilly Bell, Eve Sweet Star in Latest From Slayed

Lilly Bell and Eve Sweet star in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint Slayed.

Byborg Invests $22.35M in PLBY Group

Luxembourg-based Byborg Enterprises SA is investing $22.35 million in Playboy parent company PLBY Group.

Ariel Demure, Maya Woulfe Star in 'Library Scavenger Hunt' From Transfixed

Ariel Demure stars with Maya Woulfe in the latest release from Transfixed, titled “Library Scavenger Hunt.”

Show More