Blog Buzz Valuations - from BusinessWeek

Posted by Marshall on February 20, 2006 | Link It

Just read an article on the how Small sites are fetching lofty prices as Big Media chases their young followers.

When someone like News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch sets aside $1 billion for Web buys, it’s clear that prices are destined to inflate. In July, Murdoch plunked down $580 million to buy MySpace.com, the social networking leader. Because users of sites such as MySpace are largely under 25, investors and Big Media companies see them as a direct route to a highly coveted but elusive demographic. "The risk, of course, with these sites is if they turn out to be fads" instead of something that’s sustainable, says Aryeh Bourkoff, a UBS analyst

Those thinking of starting similar sites better move fast. Buyers may find that site loyalty can be fleeting. But that isn’t likely to discourage the frenzied interest. Meanwhile, a new generation of dot-com millionaires, some not old enough to celebrate at the local bar, is being born.

Interesting; I’m guessing this is another bubble because I don’t believe most of these sites can be maintained with the same vision of their founders once they are sold - esp to the likes of Murdoch (though he probably has the resources to grow any site he buys).

 



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