Time-Warner Planning AOL Split

Two years ago the word was AOL was planning a split from Time-Warner, because it was so successful. Now Time-Warner is considering a split of its own, deciding whether or not to separate the two 'halves' of the AOL pie. The split would see its 'access' ISP side made into an entity separate from its 'audience' side, consisting of portals, advertising and blogs. "[Time-Warner chief executive Jeffrey Bewkes] also said [AOL's] 84 percent ownership stake in Time Warner Cable is 'less than optimal' for both companies. He said the two companies are talking about operating improvements and changes to the ownership structure. The chief financial officer, John Martin, said it will take 'several more months' to separate the AOL businesses 'because it's fairly complicated.' The company expects AOL's advertising revenue for the first quarter of 2008 to be 'essentially flat to down slightly' versus the year-earlier quarter, he said."

Comments

AOL does NOT own Time Warner Cable

[steelfood]

Time Warner does.

And yes, it's Time Warner, not AOL Time Warner.

AOL has long been merely a division within Time Warner.

Re:funny

[hansonc]

How short people's memories are.

AOL bought Time Warner. The company name became AOL-Time Warner. Eventually the AOL portion was dropped but it doesn't change the fact that AOL bought Time Warner, not the other way around.

Re:funny

[Attila Dimedici]

The problem is that AOL (Yahoo) bought Time Warner (Microsoft), so that your thought that there is equivalence here is incorrect.