February 07, 2011
— Purple Avenger Come for the crazy, stay for the Viagra email spam.
...effort to reshape a fallen Internet icon... [can you reshape a corpse?]Chernobyl is still on the map. So is the Titanic now that its final resting place has been definitively ascertained. I'm just saying......AOL will be adding Huffington Post co-founder and media star Arianna Huffington to its management team as part of the deal... [She was the 2nd choice, the Obama turned them down]
...Huffington will be put in charge of AOL's growing array of content... [I can't wait, can you?]
...The price that AOL is paying is "really just the hiring fee to get Arianna,"... [Translation: she found some greater fools]
...makes a lot of sense. This could put AOL back on the map."
Pic of Tim Armstrong, AOL CEO, surveying his investment strategy below the fold. Last year AOL only lost $782M. Armstrong said "2011 is the year we stop working on the turnaround and start working on the comeback." AOL doesn't need a turnaround specialist, it needs Jack Kevorkian.
...When you are buying something like the HuffPo you are not only buying the structure and the “writers” so to speak, you are also buying the commentators...Indeed. Indeed. What's the going rate for an asylum full of crazies there days anyway?
Posted by: Purple Avenger at
01:27 AM
| Comments (121)
Post contains 227 words, total size 2 kb.
Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at February 07, 2011 01:35 AM (b0BN0)
Yes, zee Black Eyed Peas are overpaid and talentless. It's almost like zay are famous for being famous.
Posted by: Arriana at February 07, 2011 01:39 AM (ENRGu)
Posted by: DriveBy at February 07, 2011 01:44 AM (5Vlcy)
Posted by: KayInMaine at February 07, 2011 01:57 AM (60jZM)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 02:02 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: Greene Bard at February 07, 2011 02:07 AM (m3U21)
Posted by: Zsa Zsa Gabor at February 07, 2011 02:11 AM (e9JZd)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 02:13 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: Arriana at February 07, 2011 02:15 AM (ENRGu)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 02:30 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 02:33 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 02:36 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: Zsa Zsa Gabor at February 07, 2011 02:36 AM (e9JZd)
AOL must have money to burn. They must have some real idiots over there.
BTW, I am ready to sell my blog now and I will let it go for only 1% of what they paid Arianna.
Posted by: Harry at February 07, 2011 02:37 AM (uPEnP)
Posted by: 4rc at February 07, 2011 02:45 AM (7ZOXf)
Posted by: 4rc at February 07, 2011 02:46 AM (7ZOXf)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 02:47 AM (LGDei)
Posted by: 4rc at February 07, 2011 02:49 AM (7ZOXf)
I'd bet some Time-Warner bean counters are asking that same question. Maybe the TW boardroom gave Armstrong enough rope to hang himself so they'd have a convenient excuse to pull the plug.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 02:52 AM (LGDei)
Dude. Dude...
I hate the MBM (make believe media) with a passion. And I love that Newsweek was sold for a dollar.
And I'd love to see blogs making some real cash. I know ace makes enough cash off this blog to survive, but I'd like to see him and other bloggers prosper.
But $315 million? That's bat shit crazy to me. I couldn't see paying that for Michelle Malkin, HotAir, Ace of Spades, and InstaPundit combined. Hell, even if you threw in Drudge I couldn't see that being paid. Maybe $50 million.
Seriously, is this crazy or what?
Or maybe I'm totally ignorant of blog cash values. Michelle Malkin recently sold HotAir to the owners of TownHall. Does anyone have any idea of how much she sold it for?
I mean, if HotAir was sold for (hypothetically) $1 million and HuffPo was sold for $315 million, either HotAir was grossly under valued, or HuffPo was grossly over valued.
How much could Ace of Spades be sold for? Or how much money is it bringing in via advertisements?
Posted by: ed at February 07, 2011 02:52 AM (emG8W)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 02:54 AM (LGDei)
Bat shit crazy is the new normal.
Posted by: Purple Avengerat February 07, 2011 06:54 AM (LGDei)
I hear you brother... Man oh man.
Do you have any other insight to my other questions?
Posted by: ed at February 07, 2011 03:00 AM (emG8W)
It depends on one's analysis of the situation. Personally, I see huffingtopost going banrkupt and taking aol down with it.
Posted by: alwyr at February 07, 2011 03:05 AM (w2++y)
Posted by: Air America at February 07, 2011 03:06 AM (0ba8c)
Posted by: Case at February 07, 2011 03:08 AM (0K+Kw)
Posted by: KayInMaine at February 07, 2011 03:09 AM (60jZM)
I have no idea what AoS might sell for or even if Ace is interested. Ace seems to have a measure of ummm...lets call it "artistic integrity" not always present in other more commercially oriented bloggers.
Obviously, what makes AoS what it is, is the relatively freewheeling nature, and relative tolerance in the comments sections compared to some other blogs *cough* LGF *cough*.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 03:14 AM (LGDei)
Posted by: nickless the still-banned (99.174.64.43) at February 07, 2011 03:15 AM (qdtoY)
Posted by: Microsoft at February 07, 2011 03:18 AM (qdtoY)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 03:19 AM (LGDei)
Posted by: nickless the still-banned (99.174.64.43) at February 07, 2011 03:21 AM (qdtoY)
In fact, I know of no internet news services that are not liberal as hell.
Posted by: Vic at February 07, 2011 03:23 AM (M9Ie6)
I have no idea what AoS might sell for or even if Ace is interested. Ace seems to have a measure of ummm...lets call it "artistic integrity" not always present in other more commercially oriented bloggers.
Obviously, what makes AoS what it is, is the relatively freewheeling nature, and relative tolerance in the comments sections compared to some other blogs *cough*LGF *cough*.
Posted by: Purple Avengerat February 07, 2011 07:14 AM (LGDei)
That's too bad. Because I am fantastically wealthy, and was willing to pay $15 million dollars for ownership of Ace of Spades.
Or as ace would call it, "Sweet crazy blog money."
None the less, I accept your refusal of my offer as a duly authorized agent of ace.
Tender my regrets to him.
Perhaps Protein Wisdom might be more receptive to negotiations...
Posted by: ed at February 07, 2011 03:24 AM (emG8W)
Posted by: tarpon at February 07, 2011 03:25 AM (g0QB8)
Posted by: nickless the still-banned (99.174.64.43) at February 07, 2011 03:28 AM (qdtoY)
If its not counterfeit, I'm betting you'd own the joint for that kind of jack. For that kinda money, I'll kidnap Ace and torture him until he signs the contract...all in his own best interest of course.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 03:34 AM (LGDei)
By "unique views" I am guessing they mean that if they same person views the website 30 times, it only counts as one? If this is not the case, the numbers are even worse.
Posted by: Bill Mitchell at February 07, 2011 03:36 AM (x3Anv)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 03:43 AM (LGDei)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 03:45 AM (LGDei)
Posted by: bigred NO NICKLESS, NO PEACE at February 07, 2011 03:47 AM (cX9pO)
Anybody know what an AOL is? Anybody care?
Posted by: tarpon at February 07, 2011 07:25 AM (g0QB
The company that tried mightily, but failed to sink Time-Warner. HuffPo will do them in, without a doubt.
Posted by: ya2daup at February 07, 2011 03:47 AM (yRrAd)
I think he means "commenters." Not the same thing. Krauthammer is a "commentator."
Posted by: jeannie at February 07, 2011 03:59 AM (J36sJ)
Posted by: bigred NO NICKLESS, NO PEACE at February 07, 2011 04:03 AM (cX9pO)
Posted by: Zilla at February 07, 2011 04:13 AM (T8pPt)
I expect the tax payers will have something to do with this deal, at some point. In the form of a pro-Democrat crony bailout.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at February 07, 2011 04:17 AM (0fzsA)
Posted by: nickless the still-banned (99.174.64.43) at February 07, 2011 04:21 AM (qdtoY)
Posted by: SGT Dan at February 07, 2011 04:31 AM (HBTr7)
AOL negotiates the way Obama negotiates the SALT treaty. Huffington keeeps the Huffington Post operating as a separate site.
Posted by: davod at February 07, 2011 04:33 AM (GUZAT)
1. AOL lost $782 million in 2010.
2. AOL now pays $300 million cash (and $15 million in stock) for HuffPo.
You've seen this story before: Gambler loses $500 at the blackjack table, then goes to the ATM, gets another $500 and decides to try his hand at roulette. At some point, he'll go to the parking lot, scrounging coins out of the console of his car to go play the nickel slots. Then when that's all gone, he'll pawn his watch.
He'll be lucky if he doesn't end up hustling blow jobs.
Posted by: Robert Stacy McCain at February 07, 2011 04:40 AM (oYNtj)
Posted by: Kemp at February 07, 2011 04:41 AM (JpFM9)
Posted by: kelley in virginia at February 07, 2011 04:44 AM (OTOGg)
I keep running into this problem here. It is not possible for me to reduce my AOL/ABC/NYT consumption below zero where it has been for over a decade.
Posted by: Follower of Cthulhu at February 07, 2011 04:48 AM (F/4zf)
Actually this is true. HuffPo has 6000 writers that work for free. Considering the traffic HuffPo gets and that, the deal is still overpriced but probably only by 3-1 maybe. A top ten internet news site is worth 100 million easy. The problem with the free bloggers and this deal is the free bloggers, with any talent, will now expect to be paid or will move on. Before they were working for a cause, now it's a business. In the end this will be a bad deal for AOL. Expect HuffPo to be replaced by a new more pure true blue believer site within a few years.
Posted by: Rocks at February 07, 2011 04:51 AM (RuL8J)
This will collapse, as mentioned above, they have thousands of unpaid writers, those writers are going to want to get paid if the site was bought for 300 mllion
Posted by: Ben at February 07, 2011 04:52 AM (wuv1c)
De knowledge dat dey are linink my pocket vill be enof fur dem, dahlink.
Posted by: Arianna Gabor at February 07, 2011 04:55 AM (qdtoY)
I'm sure most parents wouldn't know what religion their minor children are.
Posted by: An Observation at February 07, 2011 05:05 AM (ylhEn)
Posted by: Hoinky Boinky Man at February 07, 2011 05:18 AM (RDC2X)
I've had AOL e-mail for about 15 years and have kept it simply because many, many business contacts have that address, and because I've found it easy to use. I'm far from computer savvy.
May have to make the switch. Once the lefties worm their way into something, everything becomes political - advancing the NARRATIVE. Not that AOL news wasn't liberal before, as per Vic, but I was able to ignore most of it. Now, that may not be possible.
Posted by: RM at February 07, 2011 05:19 AM (1kwr2)
Interesting, isn't it that nowhere in the AP story was it mentioned that HuffPo has, shall we say, very liberal leanings? Not a word, crickets. Played as a straight media deal.
OK, I guess. But what if say, AOS (crazy I know), or even perhaps Drudge, was in the place of HuffPo. Anyone have any doubts that the main storyline would be about wingnuts taking over the previously neutral AOL?
Posted by: RM at February 07, 2011 05:26 AM (1kwr2)
I expect this to end badly, with heartache and popcorn aplenty.
Posted by: AoSHQ's worst commenter, DarkLord© at February 07, 2011 05:26 AM (GBXon)
Posted by: Pat in Michigan at February 07, 2011 05:35 AM (JxKrx)
Posted by: Walsingham at February 07, 2011 05:38 AM (gFYz6)
Posted by: George W. Bush at February 07, 2011 05:39 AM (/joDP)
Posted by: Boots at February 07, 2011 05:41 AM (neKzn)
Kind of a shame. Back in the day, AOL used to be a hoot, browsing the political chat rooms. We would beat the crap out of the left there, and they were as deranged and vicious then as they are now. One of the cottage industries there was exposing aol screen berets--the posers who claimed military service--for whatever reason.
I'm sure there are some here who can attest to the fun had?
Posted by: irongrampa at February 07, 2011 05:43 AM (ud5dN)
Posted by: FlaviusJulius FREE NICKLESS and LOGPROF at February 07, 2011 06:04 AM (SJ6/3)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 07, 2011 07:43 AM (LGDei)
No problem. I'll get the IRS right on that!
Posted by: Barack Hussein, Preznit at February 07, 2011 06:04 AM (/izg2)
Posted by: FlaviusJulius FREE NICKLESS and LOGPROF at February 07, 2011 06:06 AM (SJ6/3)
Posted by: FlaviusJulius FREE NICKLESS and LOGPROF at February 07, 2011 06:11 AM (SJ6/3)
isn't aol that company that sells dial up internet service?
Posted by: Marie at February 07, 2011 06:13 AM (GuTKr)
One also has to wonder if any of those "journalists" doing free labor for their Media Goddess Arianna will see any of the loot AOL is supposedly paying.
One thing you can depend on with liberals: "share the wealth" applies only to your money. When they score big, it's a far different story.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at February 07, 2011 06:17 AM (Ulu3i)
Posted by: Minnie Rodent at February 07, 2011 06:26 AM (iNfj/)
Posted by: Chicago Jedi at February 07, 2011 06:36 AM (6ftzF)
Posted by: pj at February 07, 2011 06:38 AM (QdxaI)
Well shut my mouth and slap grandma....this is the sartest move since Custer went to the Little Big Horn.
Now please excuse me while I roll around on the floor and laugh my ass off.
Posted by: Old Hippie Vet at February 07, 2011 06:39 AM (OefT/)
Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at February 07, 2011 06:41 AM (tvs2p)
Posted by: Rocks at February 07, 2011 06:44 AM (Q1lie)
Posted by: Old Hippie Vet at February 07, 2011 06:44 AM (OefT/)
My suggestion would be to get a new financial officer.
With these, shall we say -- optimistic -- numbers (40% yoy growth) AOL just paid 20 times profit for Huffpo. The rule of thumb I've seen in acquisitions is paying 10x yearly profit for an established company is a good deal, 12x is a wash, and anything higher is a bad deal.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2011 06:47 AM (L8y7Q)
Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at February 07, 2011 06:49 AM (Pzf4N)
Huffington Post's 70-person paid staff is augmented by content from news outlets and 6,000 bloggers who write for free.
Liberal serfdom.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2011 06:49 AM (L8y7Q)
Posted by: SurferDoc at February 07, 2011 06:55 AM (o3bYL)
Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at February 07, 2011 06:58 AM (Pzf4N)
So, together, the top two people at AOL are/were paid as much as the entire Huffpo empire is expected to generate over the same year.
http://people.forbes.com/profile/tim-armstrong/137151
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2011 07:02 AM (L8y7Q)
Posted by: George W. Bush at February 07, 2011 07:04 AM (/joDP)
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2011 07:05 AM (L8y7Q)
Posted by: DaveK at February 07, 2011 07:08 AM (boNGU)
And this is what they get for running a company that is pissing away money....
Back in the days when business was, well, businesslike, they would have been broomed.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at February 07, 2011 07:10 AM (Ulu3i)
Arianna Huffington announced today that she was purchasing the Huffington Post and related properties from the creditors of the bankrupt AOL. Final terms were not announced but the purchase price was expected to be in the neighborhood of $2.5M.
Posted by: JEM at February 07, 2011 07:13 AM (o+SC1)
Posted by: t-bird at February 07, 2011 07:14 AM (FcR7P)
Anyway, the real news in this story is that AOL still exists. I think they bought HuffPo just to let people know they were still around. A zombie, but still around.
Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 07, 2011 07:20 AM (N49h9)
You've seen this story before: Gambler loses $500 at the blackjack table, then goes to the ATM, gets another $500 and decides to try his hand at roulette. At some point, he'll go to the parking lot, scrounging coins out of the console of his car to go play the nickel slots. Then when that's all gone, he'll pawn his watch.
He'll be lucky if he doesn't end up hustling blow jobs.
Posted by: Robert Stacy McCain at February 07, 2011 08:40 AM (oYNtj)
Thankfully the casino comps my drinks to wash the taste out of my mouth..
Posted by: Charlie Sheen at February 07, 2011 07:23 AM (CkUXe)
Shit Shit Shit Shit.
I've been an AOL customer since I got ahold of a Beta disk a long time ago and subseqently tossed Compuserve.
Their "news" has always sucked but I could ignore it, now it's going to get worse and double-ignored. The service is super-easy to use (No f'n IP addresses or any of that shit to deal with) and my computer illiterate wife loves it.
I'm screwed.
Posted by: Max Entropy at February 07, 2011 07:43 AM (lH6z9)
Posted by: toby928™: Free nickless the still-banned (99.174.64.43) at February 07, 2011 08:48 AM (GTbGH)
Y'all DO know that KayInMaine is a sockpuppet troll of another Moron, right? It just has perfect pitch and delivery.
#95, you obviously need to move.
Posted by: SGT Dan at February 07, 2011 08:49 AM (GgXZc)
Congrats, AOL. Welcome to hell.
Posted by: Texas Rangers at February 07, 2011 09:12 AM (swuwV)
yep, I smell a government bailout coming. AOL is just too big to fail. (Especially now that one of the left's darlings is on staff).
Two words: Völkischer Beobachter
Posted by: Stillwater at February 07, 2011 09:13 AM (0GpN4)
Posted by: BarbaraS at February 07, 2011 09:54 AM (GwJMa)
With their purchase of Huff'n'Puff Post, they truly are now, "Assholes On Line".
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at February 07, 2011 11:49 AM (nD3Pg)
Posted by: naturalfake at February 07, 2011 11:57 AM (+kzvp)
Posted by: 4rc at February 07, 2011 12:08 PM (7ZOXf)
Posted by: 4rc at February 07, 2011 12:15 PM (7ZOXf)
Posted by: Mad Capn Bob at February 07, 2011 01:31 PM (LZ/lZ)
Posted by: ktgreat at February 07, 2011 02:01 PM (7cvwd)
Posted by: sexypig at February 07, 2011 03:21 PM (UmEOs)
Posted by: yankee at February 07, 2011 08:31 PM (loM0R)
Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.
Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Posted by: Soothsayer Obama at February 08, 2011 11:28 AM (uFokq)
Posted by: LILY at July 01, 2011 10:47 PM (ymE3k)
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Posted by: Arriana at February 07, 2011 01:32 AM (ENRGu)