Tim...
If MSFT no longer cared about MSN, why do they continue to build out infastructure, hire new content creators from CSRV, and issue press releases about xyz?? To waste more money? No, because they are in direct competition with AOL, and AOL currently has the competitive edge. You are correct in saying that AOL shows membership growth, in fact it is one of the few that do. Membership growth does equal profits. Here is the correlation. More members equals more audience. More audience equals more advertisers. More advertisers equals more revenue.
As for MSN letting AOL "air" content, how very nice of them to do so. On the same token, it must be suis generous for AOL to get paid by MSFT to let Slate be an anchor tenant. Guess this fantastic e-zine doesn't have enough viewers just yet, especially to charge 19.95. MSFT can keep striving to reach the masses with WebTV also. Good luck. WebTV Networks has yet to sell more than 100,000 of its consumer devices since they were launched last year. Only 100,000? AOL's growth is measured in millions...
I personally enjoy the attack on my reading comprehension skills. Thank you. To all other AOL bulls, there will be a reading comprehension thread started here on SI under miscellaneous hosted by Tim. Please, join us! 8^)
Seriously Tim, you are inclined to your opinions as I am to mine. If you believe that WebTV is the savior of MSFT/MSN, so be it. It will all play out in the days, months and years to come.
S. |
