Yahoo exploring alliance with News Corp.

[balam]

AP via Yahoo! News: Yahoo exploring alliance with News Corp. [news.yahoo.com]

Yahoo Inc. is discussing a possible partnership with News Corp. in its latest effort to repel Microsoft Corp. or prod its unsolicited suitor into raising its current takeover bid, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The specifics of the joint venture still hadn't been worked out, said the person who didn't want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

[weeks]

How is this going to help shareholder value? I don't get it.

[walkman]

just trying to buy time and show that they're doing something. MSFT isn't shaking in its boots because of this. $45 Billion is one huge bet that can bury News Corp for good.

[honestman]

The prospect of the owner of Fox Noise owning Yahoo is frightening. I would assume that this is a ploy to buy time and get Microsoft to up its offer, as has been said, but as much as I respect their applications software, MSFT has no clue about the Web and will destroy Yahoo.

[pageoneresults]

Just trying to buy time and show that they're doing something.

If they wait too long, it may come back to bite them. The employee layoffs have started. People are talking, the noise is getting louder. The longer they wait, the more the ship sinks, although I don't think it is sinking, just taking on a little bit of water at this point in time. ;)

[the_nerd]

I remember the discussions that we had in London a couple of years ago when Yahoo bought Altavista and Inktomi (not sure, was it Inktomi?) and everybody was speculating which engine they'd use in the future, and how big the combination would be and how this could bring Google down. Well, ....

Now Microsoft attempts to buy another falling angel. Maybe the downward momentum of Yahoo works against this combination of also-rans. And maybe in Redmond it would be wise to realize that very seldom the leader in an old industry will be able to lead the next industry cycle (Mainframes > Minicomputers > PC-Software > Web) And if they realize it they might come to the conclusion that buying shares of berkshire hathaway for their 40000000000$ might be the wiser decision ...

[moTi]

by the way, what was yahoo's usp again? which product do you immediately identify with yahoo?

40 billion for what? for an ordinary web portal or a poorly performing advertising network? come on..

why not let yahoo perish instead of buying them?

[goodsite]

Yahoo has to be careful about Rupert Murdoch, the cleverest business man of this planet :-).

[volatilegx]

for an ordinary web portal or a poorly performing advertising network?

why not let yahoo perish instead of buying them?

Yahoo has a brand. Microsoft's brand in this area is weak.