Who Owns What: Internet Controlled By Few Media Giants
Posted: Monday, February 18, 2008
by Asher Ricard
With the recent talk of the Yahoo and Microsoft merger, I never really grasped what a merger would mean for the Internet. Even when talks of a partnership or agreement with Google emerged, it did not occur to me the underlying reasons for grumbling. Recently all that changed when I came across a list of who owns what in media today. The Internet is becoming more and more like the corporate world in that a few major corporations is controlling the whole. Few mega giants own many little giants. At this rate, there will be once again no small owners but bigger corporations. The Internet has taken what was becoming popular in small communities now to the online community.
Well the lists are astounding. Yahoo, itself owns 25 companies or sites, as of Feb. 2008. Sites such as:
sold.com-prototype online aution site that Yahoo acquired in 2001
hotjobs.com-job site that Yahoo acquired in 2002
Inktom software for ISPs acquired in 2002
Overture-search marketing tools (2003)
Internet Assistant-browser object for Internet Explorer
Kelkoo-EU/UK shopping site
MusicMatch-digital mp3 store
WUF Networks-digital file transfer tool
Verdisoft-software development company
Flickr-parent company was Ludicorp Research
Stadeon-cross platform gaming backend
Konfabulator-early widget platform
Upcoming.org-online calendar
Whereonearth-embedded ads for maps
Del.icio.us-online social bookmarking app
SearchFox-RSS reader
Meedio-applications for PC, DVR and home
Kenet Works-online communities
Bix.com-kareoke/video service
Wretch-Taiwanese social networking
MyBlogLog-widget for blogs
Right Media-online advertising exchange
Rivals.com-college sports news site
Jumpcut-video editing service
Blo.gs-blog pinging service
As for Microsoft, their list is just as long. Since 2005, Microsoft has acquired the following:
GeoTango-3D mapping
MediaStreams-VoIP
Softricity, Inc.-virtulization and streaming
Massive, Inc.-in-game advertising
Vexcel-satellite imaging
Onfolio-Internet Search
AQuantive, Inc-global digital advertising and marketing
Screen Tonic-mobile advertising
Tellme Networks-digital voice solutions
Stratature-data management
AdECN-advertising exchange platform
Parlano-multiplatform IM service
Jellyfish.com-discount shopping site
Global Care Solutions-medical data software
Multimap.com-location-based online service
Callista Technologies-desktop virtualization
You can see what a merger or buyout of Yahoo by Microsoft could mean to the new media. Yahoo turned down the over $44 billion dollar offer and it looks like they were right in doing so.
A merger could mean so much the control of the Internet. Some say Google would become obsolete if a merger took place. I think Google has been very resourceful thus far and should never be discounted.
For a complete list of all six media giants, download a pdf at http://www.mydigimedia.com/tipsheets/WhoOwns2708.pdf
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Yes 20% of Americans own 80% of it all and that number is shrinking. Enough said! Best wisshes RTMThanks for commenting!
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