Monday, January 11, 2010

It could’ve been a lot different

The media has spent time recently recalling the disastrous AOL-Time Warner merger. Rightfully so, as history records that one as the biggest flop ever.  (So far.)  This story indicates it could’ve turned out a lot differently. As in Yahoo!-Time Warner.


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

“I still believe it was a great idea”

That is precisely what Steve Case says in the clip below.  We all know what idea he means.  Um, Steve-O?  Maybe you didn’t get the memo. It was the worst deal in the history of the galaxy.  And you, my friend, were at the epicenter.  Ground Zero for the biggest failure ever.  Not just of the last decade.  Or the last century.  Ever.  So please lose that smirk.  Check this link.  It says, “But only two months later, (after the merger,) the tech market took its first major hit and never recovered. AOL, in particular, was a serious casualty. At the end of 2003, shareholders in AOL Time Warner had lost over $200 billion in equity value.” Still think it was a good idea, Steve?  Geez, at least Gerry seems contrite.

CNBC takes a look tonight, 10pm ET.  “Marriage from Hell: The Breakup of AOL Time Warner.”


Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Gerry Levin: “Oops”

Remember Gerry Levin?  He was exactly half of the worst deal ever.  AOL-Time Warner.  Have you heard of it?  So, in some type of attempt to soothe his tortured soul, (from all the stockholder value that was lost, most likely,) he appeared on CNBC and threw himself on the mercy of the court. Key quote from that first link: “Mr. Levin seemed to admit that he had waited a long time to demonstrate the contrition he was now asking others to show. ‘Maybe you could say in my case it’s a little late,’ he said.

The other half of the Dynamic Duo, Steve Case, offers his take.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Breaking up is easy to do

After ten years of suffering through the worst deal in the history of the planet, AOL and Time Warner have formally split.  Meanwhile, on some remote desert island near Bora Bora, Gerry Levin snoozes in the sun in his hammock, sipping a cool one.  Steve Case is rumored to have entered a witness protection program.  Or something.aol-time-warner-merger