Africa Oilfield Share Discussion Threads

[jl202] 25/1/2003 11:54

and then e-trade goes,,

[energyi] 15/1/2003 16:20

jl,
hehe. not exactly that

[mad mac] 15/1/2003 15:49

I believe Yahoo buys in its search services from Google now.

[energyi] 15/1/2003 13:43

LOL.
I suspect that the FT is very much in favor of "brand awareness",
especially when it comes to co's using the FT to create it

[clem] 15/1/2003 11:50

Energyii. I think that AOL had a lot less advertising than you'd imagine. It often worked like this:
Q: I've got a start up in online barbeque services, can I advertise on AOL.
A: Sure give me 10% of your business and I'll give you $10m of advertising on AOL for the stock.

They also did a lot of one off huge deals when there was massive money to burn.
Like $100m for 'anchor tenancy' for long distance advertising for 5 years, with some hapless telco. $70m for EA to buy their games channel access.

Im not sure much simple CPA banner style ad selling stuff went on. Maybe they got up to speed since I last paid them any attention.

But I never found AOL to be a good media for ads. Its all to itsy bitsy, tiny graphic stuff.

In any event, their loss will be everyone elses gain on all sides. IMHO... next one to start to slide will be Yahoo. Again huge momentum, but Google will/is eating their lunch.

... now Google, that could be the " New Netscape-style IPO" !! :)

[jl202] 14/1/2003 17:26

Whatever happened to Radion ;-(

[clem] 14/1/2003 12:08

millcanned.

My reasoning is a bit long winded. I worked with AOL back in the early nineties and with other online services going back into the mid eighties. Basically as jl202 says, an online service needs a champion with a clear vision. At a certain point the organisation ossifies, normally because of some corporate political reason, begins to die and is surpassed by another entrant.

AOL has been in a dead end for some years now. It is only its 800lb Gorilla status that has kept it on top. The web, which is not AOL no matter how much they try and tell you it is, undercuts its model and erodes their 'walled garden' and broadband is the final stray. AOL is not and never will be a broadband offering. As Case told me in his own words, "AOL is email and chat, thats it."

The Web and Broadband are bound to destroy the AOL we know, it is/was just a matter of time, unless there was to be another 'Case Masterstroke' to be played.

Well there obviously isnt going to be one, nor the capital to fund it.

AOL could not live on technically inept users forever. Slowly but surely they work out there is more than AOL and disappear onto the 'real' internet.

But thats not all.

AOL preformed the ultimate 'heist' on Time Warner by merging with them. That was the ultimate example of the genius of Steve Case. But thats like stealing from the 'Mafia." ie not a good idea if oyu get caught.

AOL was a brilliant company, but not on the same planet as Time Warner when it comes to corporate politics. The AOL guys have been ground up in the corporate mincer.

Its obvious what happens next.... AOL ends up in a trench in the desert and in a year or two, AOL Time Warner gets to be just Time Warner again.

Bill Gates wins again. (Thats not to say the AOL guys havent made more dollars then you can count.)

[clem] 12/1/2003 23:52

That spells the end for AOL, most probably a protracted one, which must be good news for all the other players.
In effect that means 30m AOL subscribers are up for grabs in the US and however many in the UK for the likes of Freeserve etc. It wont be an overnight thing but it will be a fall that will pick up momentum.

[panagos] 06/4/2002 10:15

like molone will take out NTL....;)

[andreso] 06/4/2002 10:14

Ho Ho Ho I wish!

[pekingducky] 06/4/2002 02:21

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[artful watcher] 01/4/2002 12:48

Thanks Finmac, it didn't completely escape my notice. Alas I wasn't actually planning the full retirement just yet on the breaking AOL news!!

Good Luck & Good Night

Artful

[finmac] 01/4/2002 12:39

It is April the 1st (April fools day)

[artful watcher] 01/4/2002 12:32

Oh, I am a patient man, also luv the late night poker sessions on tv.

Deal me in ;)

[raven] 01/4/2002 12:27

Arful.

Wait and see ;-