Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Yahoo! Acquires Online Media Publisher Associated Content for Reported $100M


By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times


Associated Content (AC), the high output online media publisher and distributor of original content, has been acquired by the popular web portal, Yahoo! for a reported $100 million, according to multiple media reports.

The deal, set to expand the current output of media created by Yahoo!'s editors, signals a new approach to content for Yahoo, which has opted for other low-cost production content sources such as Yahoo Sports and OMG.

Associated, backed by AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, as well as VC firms Canaan Partners and Softbank Capital had raised $21 million in venture funding, is in the business of generating content media stories such as how-to guides, news, product reviews and video how-to articles, which are created by freelance writers and featured contributors. The writers earn money based upon a per-view system.

Yahoo, which expects to complete this acquisition in the third quarter of 2010, reported shares down 0.06%, or $0.01, to $16.02 during the after-hours trading, but Yahoo, which reported revenues of $1.59 billion for the quarter ending Mar. 31, doesn't seem to be worried. Yahoo's reported income of $310.2 million is up from $117.6 million from the same period last year.

PRESS RELEASE
Yahoo! To Acquire Associated Content Extending leadership in content with the addition of 380,000 contributors

May 18, 2010 Yahoo! Inc. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Associated Content Inc. This strategic move extends Yahoo's ability to provide high quality, personally relevant content for the benefit of more than 600 million users as well as tens of thousands of advertisers.

As Yahoo! enhances its social, mobile, local, and media offerings, the acquisition of Associated Content reinforces the company's longstanding promise to offer the best of the Web by combining Associated Content's approximately 380,000 contributors who provide rich and varied content on a broad array of passion points, with Yahoo's leadership in partnering with established content brands and the award-winning team of editors and experts from Yahoo!.

"Combining our world-class editorial team with Associated Content's makes this a game-changer," said Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo! Inc. "Together, we'll create more content around what we know our users care about, and open up new and creative avenues for advertisers to engage with consumers across our network. These are important aspects of building engaging consumer experiences on Yahoo!, and one of the reasons why we're one of the most visited destinations online."

"The Associated Content team and our 380,000 contributors are looking forward to joining Yahoo! and to the opportunities that being part of a global Internet brand presents," said Luke Beatty, Associated Content founder and president.

"Combining our crowd sourced content with Yahoo!s distribution, world class editorial team and online marketing leadership will accelerate our growth as we continue to leverage our best-of-breed platform to deliver high quality compelling content on more than 60,000 topics."
For advertisers, this deal will expand Yahoo! into more topic areas and real-time content generation.

The combination promises to offer advertisers even more opportunities to engage groups of passionate consumers in ways they will find uniquely appealing to their interests and tastes.
Having insight into user intent through its leading search products enables Yahoo! to identify topics important to advertisers and users.

Yahoo! plans to use Associated Content to create content around those topics and leverage Associated Content to contribute content to existing media properties.
Associated Content also provides more opportunities for Yahoo! to partner and collaborate with publishers who can help the company shape the tremendous variety of content coming in, into something bespoke and even more engaging. While current Associated Content content is U.S.-centric, Yahoo! expects to scale the platform globally.

Associated Content was founded by Luke Beatty in Denver, Colorado, in 2004.
Associated Content receives more than 16 million unique users per month (comScore) and the editorial staff reviews more than 50,000 pieces of content per month, including articles, images, audio and video. Yahoo! expects to complete this acquisition in the third quarter of 2010.

Financial terms were not disclosed.
About Yahoo! Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most visited Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).

Statement from Associated Content on the Yahoo Merger:
Exciting news!: We've signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Yahoo!, the world's largest online media company with more than 600 million unique visitors a month. Yahoo! plans to leverage our content to extend its leadership and build upon their global properties to deliver personally relevant content in a scalable and efficient manner.

This is great news for our employees, contributors, partners and customers, and we are excited about the opportunities that being part of a global Internet brand presents. While in the short term business continues as usual, the possibilities for the company and our contributors are enormous.



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