Jorge, Ahhh The $64 Question...
And here's a ten-cent answer, I'm afraid. It was my understanding
that Starwave does NOT own the content... but does own the
site infrastructure and information architecture for these various
hot properties. However, MY UNDERSTANDING is far from
perfect in this and other regards
This question is interesting. I mean, if Starwave owns the
site infrastructure (i.e. database technology and other nifty
Java apps that help make these sites wonderful), but does
NOT OWN (per se) the site itself and its content, then Starwave
was serving as a vendor to DISNEY and other clients and
PROBABLY cannot command ALL (or one wonders even PART)
of advertising revenues generated by these sites. However, that
little bit doesn't square with an interview I read which featured
Naughton, Starwave's CEO, in which he said he the lion's share
of the companies revenues were coming from ad banners and,
I guess, revenue sharing.
So, have I thoroughly muddied the waters, yet? What if
THEY DO ACTUALLY OWN THESE SITES... content and all...
by virtue of having paid some sort of annual fee for content to
be provided by DIS and its subsidiaries? If that's the case THEN,
FRIENDS, SEEK WILL BE MAKING MONEY FROM ADVERTISING
ON THESE SITES... and could even find more dramatic ways
to capitalize on the perceived value of these locations...
I mean, Harmon in one of his recent articles as much as said
that SEEK now (if approved, of course) owns Starwave which owns ESPN Sports Zone... and could
spin it off as an IPO for some substantial bucks...
And I would tend to trust Harmon on this above me... in a
heartbeat... any time... safe bet... 'nuff said...
Best Regards, Jorge and True SEEKers,
c m
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