Google Buys DoubleClick, Spoils the Deal for Microsoft
Google announced on April 13, 2007, that it purchased the online advertising company DoubleClick for $3.1 billion. Google hopes to use DoubleClick's ad management technology services for media buyers and sellers together with its own advertising system to create ways to post advertisements that are less intrusive than its current methods. This partnership will boost Google's ability to bring in revenue from its already lucrative advertising platform. Although Google's announcement appears to be a move to increase its own revenue, there is speculation that the real reason for the partnership was to spoil Microsoft's plans to purchase DoubleClick for itself. Microsoft's CEO had been engaged in negotiations to buy DoubleClick, but Google reportedly offered more than $1 billion more than Microsoft was prepared to pay. Many say that this was Google's attempt to keep Microsoft out of the search advertising business, eliminating potential competition.
AOL and Time Warner to Air TV Programming Online
Time Warner announced this month that it will be producing several TV shows that will air on AOL later this year. This announcement follows those of other media companies exploring online entertainment. AOL will be airing five new TV shows, including cable game shows and the Ellen DeGeneres show. Although the new programs will be based on or tie-ins of already successful cable and network programming, AOL hopes that this new project will be more attractive to viewers because it will be airing only original content. This could potentially put AOL and Time Warner ahead of their competition, including Microsoft, which recently partnered with CBS to air TV shows that are already in syndication.
Yahoo Partners with PayPal for "Express Checkout"
During its announcement of revenue for this quarter ($1.67 billion), Yahoo unveiled a new initiative in which it partnered with PayPal to launch an "express checkout" for Internet shoppers. Yahoo's hope is that this relationship will further strengthen its relationship with eBay and improve online shopping for its users. The "express checkout" option will be featured on Yahoo-sponsored search results, with a blue shopping cart icon on the page linking to businesses that accept PayPal Express Checkout. Yahoo predicts this initiative will improve the purchasing experience for millions of PayPal customers.