Google in Talks to Buy YouTube

[obemon]

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http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...eek+exclusives

The Wall Street Journal has published a report that claims Google is in negotiations to buy YouTube for an undisclosed amount – some speculation has the price tag on the site at more than $1.6 billion. A source familiar with the talks also said that the current negotiations are at a “sensitive” stage and could be halted or setback at any given moment.

I love YouTube but I'm not so sure if this is such a good thing if this happens. What do you reckon guys?

[teeemoy]

could work...why not? everything becomes google video...well that's not really a bad idea...imagine youtube videos you can download...

[obemon]

Google's main concern for me I think is the fact that YouTube has a lot of questionable copyrighted material on their website. Now that their backing it up (and with their money), they would be sued like crazy by copyright owners to those many videos posted on YouTube.

But who knows, it might just work our right for both if not better.

[cooldude75ph]

http://www.google.com/press/pressrel...e_youtube.html

Google To Acquire YouTube for $1.65 Billion in Stock

Combination Will Create New Opportunities for Users and Content Owners Everywhere

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., October 9, 2006 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that it has agreed to acquire YouTube, the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos through a Web experience, for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community.

The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online video entertainment communities with Google's expertise in organizing information and creating new models for advertising on the Internet. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more comprehensive experience for users interested in uploading, watching and sharing videos, and will offer new opportunities for professional content owners to distribute their work to reach a vast new audience.

"The YouTube team has built an exciting and powerful media platform that complements Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful,” said Eric Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Google. “Our companies share similar values; we both always put our users first and are committed to innovating to improve their experience. Together, we are natural partners to offer a compelling media entertainment service to users, content owners and advertisers.”

“Our community has played a vital role in changing the way that people consume media, creating a new clip culture. By joining forces with Google, we can benefit from its global reach and technology leadership to deliver a more comprehensive entertainment experience for our users and to create new opportunities for our partners,” said Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube. “I’m confident that with this partnership we’ll have the flexibility and resources needed to pursue our goal of building the next-generation platform for serving media worldwide.”

When the acquisition is complete, YouTube will retain its distinct brand identity, strengthening and complementing Google’s own fast-growing video business. YouTube will continue to be based in San Bruno, CA, and all YouTube employees will remain with the company. With Google’s technology, advertiser relationships and global reach, YouTube will continue to build on its success as one of the world's most popular services for video entertainment.

The number of Google shares to be issued in the transaction will be determined based on the 30-day average closing price two trading days prior to the completion of the acquisition. Both companies have approved the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call and webcast at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) today to discuss the acquisition. To access the conference call, please dial 800-289-0572 domestic and 913-981-5543 internationally. A replay of the call will be available until midnight Monday, October 16 at 888-203-1112 domestically and 719-457-0820 internationally. Confirmation code for the replay is 2260624.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at http://investor.google.com/webcast.html.

[flashfreak]

$1.65 billion.... o_O i'd like a taste of that.

[chitgoks]

lucky youtube, when in fact it doesnt generate that much revenue. unya 65 ra sila ka tao sa company porteng hayahaya..!!

[obemon]

Definitely not a bad payout considering Youtube only started early last year.

[franzrebs]

Hangol maning Google oi

[realjarley]

And now youtube is more successful after being acquired by google.

[salbahis]

And now youtube is more successful after being acquired by google.

if we look at the original idea of youtube, i might say they are not the youtube anymore ever since google started monetizing youtube

if we look into google's perpective... its one of their successful venture...