NY Times agrees to buy About.com for $410 million

IdahoFarmer · 02-17-2005, 04:28 PM

See Article Here

"The New York Times Co. has agreed to buy About.com from Primedia Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $410 million.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/70667-ny-times-agrees-buy-about-com.html

The company says the deal will give it the 12th-largest Internet presence and a platform for future growth on the Web. The Times Co., whose digital properties include NYTimes.com and Boston.com, has a current base of 13 million users, while About.com has 22 million monthly users.

About.com has an advertising-supported network of sites run by experts who provide advice on topics ranging from personal finance to consumer electronics. The Times Co. says it expects to operate About.com as a distinct division and expand its content.

Primedia, which is owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., bought About.com in October 2000 for $690 million in stock, but was never able to successfully integrate the property with its stable of enthusiast magazines."

IAmAllanShore · 02-17-2005, 08:06 PM

Nice little deal. A ton of searches point to about.com has front page results, so I can understand the interest.
-Allan

Mayur · 02-17-2005, 08:07 PM

Damn that is alot of money. I would have never sold it if I had it.

Fundraiser · 02-17-2005, 09:09 PM

The fact that America's most prestigious newspaper is investing that much money in acquiring search engine optimized content says a lot about the bright future of online advertising, the high value of optimized content and gives great credibility and recognition to writers who specialize in producing search engine friendly copy for the Web.

mole · 02-17-2005, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Fundraiser

The fact that America's most prestigious newspaper is investing that much money in acquiring search engine optimized content says a lot about the bright future of online advertising.

True. Thanks for the link

-db- · 02-18-2005, 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by Fundraiser

The fact that America's most prestigious newspaper is investing that much money in acquiring search engine optimized content says a lot about the bright future of online advertising, the high value of optimized content and gives great credibility and recognition to writers who specialize in producing search engine friendly copy for the Web.

That's a good point.

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=70667

Originally Posted by IdahoFarmer

"The New York Times Co. has agreed to buy About.com from Primedia Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $410 million.

Originally Posted by IdahoFarmer

Primedia, which is owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., bought About.com in October 2000 for $690 million in stock, but was never able to successfully integrate the property with its stable of enthusiast magazines."

Interesting. What they sold for -VS- what they paid for it. Though they originally paid in stock from (I'm assuming) their parent company, and this is a cash deal.

mole · 02-18-2005, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by -db-

Interesting. What they sold for -VS- what they paid for it. Though they originally paid in stock from (I'm assuming) their parent company, and this is a cash deal.

The funny money is over. As a name, about.com is seemingly non descript, it sold because of development by thousands of guides and the masive search engine links that resulted. Not because of the name, which if undeveloped per this scale, would have probably fetched $5k in a firesale on these forums. If you sold Google without the development, people would probably have laughed and offered you $500 for it.

Mayur · 02-18-2005, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by mole

The funny money is over. As a name, about.com is seemingly non descript, it sold because of development by thousands of guides and the masive search engine links that resulted. Not because of the name, which if undeveloped per this scale, would have probably fetched $5k in a firesale on these forums. If you sold Google without the development, people would probably have laughed and offered you $500 for it.

That is true. But I would still take the domain and park it on my site. It would bring soooo much traffic.

jeter4982 · 02-18-2005, 11:50 AM

This is a pretty interesting sale. I know the times is a great newspaper, but I didn't know that they were that involved in the internet. This is a pretty big purchase, and I think its just proving the point that every company is getting more and more digital.

Tom

dgridley · 02-18-2005, 11:53 AM

Nice to see they are so forward-thinking...

Originally Posted by jeter4982

This is a pretty interesting sale. I know the times is a great newspaper, but I didn't know that they were that involved in the internet. This is a pretty big purchase, and I think its just proving the point that every company is getting more and more digital.

Tom

02-17-2005, 04:28 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
IdahoFarmer mmm ... Pizza .... Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 337	NY Times agrees to buy About.com for $410 million See Article Here "The New York Times Co. has agreed to buy About.com from Primedia Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $410 million. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/70667-ny-times-agrees-buy-about-com.html The company says the deal will give it the 12th-largest Internet presence and a platform for future growth on the Web. The Times Co., whose digital properties include NYTimes.com and Boston.com, has a current base of 13 million users, while About.com has 22 million monthly users. About.com has an advertising-supported network of sites run by experts who provide advice on topics ranging from personal finance to consumer electronics. The Times Co. says it expects to operate About.com as a distinct division and expand its content. Primedia, which is owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., bought About.com in October 2000 for $690 million in stock, but was never able to successfully integrate the property with its stable of enthusiast magazines." __________________ Idaho Farmer Will someone get me a pizza please?

02-17-2005, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
IAmAllanShore NamePros Expert Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Esse quam videri Posts: 8,332	Nice little deal. A ton of searches point to about.com has front page results, so I can understand the interest. -Allan __________________ Something Witty This Way Comes...

02-17-2005, 08:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mayur Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,079	Damn that is alot of money. I would have never sold it if I had it. __________________ NewsReel.mobi \| Free News From Your Mobile Device

02-17-2005, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fundraiser Name Cartel's Mr. Blonde Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 525	The fact that America's most prestigious newspaper is investing that much money in acquiring search engine optimized content says a lot about the bright future of online advertising, the high value of optimized content and gives great credibility and recognition to writers who specialize in producing search engine friendly copy for the Web.

02-18-2005, 11:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
jeter4982 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT, USA Posts: 3,309	This is a pretty interesting sale. I know the times is a great newspaper, but I didn't know that they were that involved in the internet. This is a pretty big purchase, and I think its just proving the point that every company is getting more and more digital. Tom

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)