Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (26618)	7/19/1999 12:41:00 AM
From: RTev	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

MSFT selling Sidewalk to Ticketmaster So it looks like the rumors were true after all. [How could I ever doubt Teflon's sources, eh?] As a user of Sidewalk, I'm disappointed, but the article points out the strategic advantages to Microsoft in getting rid of the properties -- including the stake in Ticketmaster. Notice that this article puts a positive pro-MSN spin on the sale. That's a sign that the MS PR department has been at work to create the right "story" for this sale. One thing that isn't mentioned in the article is that Sidewalk currently leases downtown office space in the cities it serves. Although the offices are in artsy neighborhoods away from the A-class financial centers, they're still expensive for a suburban outfit like Microsoft. I'd expect Ticketmaster to shut down the local presence and turn the sites into a higher-cost, lower-service operation. In the past week, I've bought two sets of tickets from the site without paying exhorbitant Ticketmaster fees. That'll be gone now. But even under Microsoft's guidance, the sites have been steadily dwindling in usefulness. This sale to Ticketmaster should be the straw that will finally break them as compelling sites.