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Bebo Owner: ‘It’s Definitely Not Going Out Of Business’

Jan 31, 2012 10:59 AM

A major outage in service at Bebo apparently does not mean the social network has bitten the dust indefinitely, despite what its co-founder may have initially thought.

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Posted In: Companies, Bebo

Bebo Owner Leads Takeover Of UK TV Site SeeSaw, Arqiva Keeps 25 Percent

Jul 14, 2011 3:30 AM

The rumours are true - after missing out on buying MySpace (NSDQ: NWS) last month, Criterion Capital Partners is acquiring SeeSaw, the UK on-demand TV service, paidContent:UK has learned.

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Posted In: Media & Publishing, TV, VOD, Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Companies, Bebo, Kangaroo

Bebo Co-Founder Invests In The New Bebo

Dec 9, 2010 12:45 PM

Bebo co-founder Michael Birch, who made a fortune from the sale of the social network to AOL (NYSE: AOL) two and a half years ago, is once again investing in the site. AOL sold Bebo to private equity firm Criterion Capital Partners this summer; Criterion now says Birch is joining…

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Companies, AOL, Bebo, michael birch

Industry Moves
Newly AOL-Free Bebo Adds Hi5, Oodle Executives

Aug 3, 2010 3:22 PM

Shortly after buying Bebo from AOL (NYSE: AOL), Criterion Capital Partners managing partner Adam Levin told us that the social network would be “staffing up” and that’s indeed what it’s doing. Bebo has hired Akash Garg, a co-founder and former CTO of social network Hi5, as its new CTO, and…

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Posted In: Industry Moves, Companies, AOL, Bebo, akash garg, aren sandersen

New Bebo CEO: We’ll Staff Up, Innovate, Then Maybe Sell

Jul 13, 2010 1:16 PM

Bebo is getting ready to announce its first new activity since being off-loaded by AOL in the next few weeks, says Adam Levin, the managing partner at buyer Criterion Capital Partners, who has been named CEO of the social network.

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo, adam levin

AOL Will Keep Bebo’s SF Office, Staff Get Severance Package

Jun 17, 2010 9:04 AM

Bebo’s new owner said it would “retain a San Francisco-based headquarters” - but it won’t be Bebo’s existing building. AOL (NYSE: AOL), whose CEO Tim Armstrong told staff Criterion Capital Partners will buy “substantially all of the assets”, is hanging on to Bebo’s office inside the six-storey building on 795…

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo

Tweet Of The Day: Steve Case On AOL’s Bebo Sale

Jun 17, 2010 7:58 AM

AOL’s co-founder and former CEO weighs in on the off-load... {tweet_id="16331911577"}

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo, steve case

Bebo Sold: A History In Links

Jun 17, 2010 7:40 AM

After weeks of uncertainty about the fate of Bebo, AOL (NYSE: AOL) finally unloaded the social net—at a price tag that most likely isn’t anywhere near the $850 million AOL had paid for it two years ago. Here’s a quick look at the history of Bebo, beginning with AOL’s purchase,…

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo

Private Equity The Worst Sale Option For Bebo

Jun 17, 2010 7:40 AM

Selling to private equity may be the worst possible option for Bebo. The deal gives it no significant industry partner or parent with which it could hope to resurrect itself.

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Companies, AOL, Bebo

Bebo Sold To Criterion; Armstrong’s Staff Memo; Tax Gain For AOL

Jun 17, 2010 7:25 AM

Per Wednesday’s speculation, LA private equity firm Criterion Capital Partners has confirmed it’s buying social network Bebo from AOL. Criterion isn’t disclosing any deal terms or price, which has been reported at $2.5 million by PEHub or $10 million by TechCrunch, two years after AOL bought Bebo for $850 million.

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Companies, AOL, Bebo

Updated: AOL May Finally Have A Bebo Solution

Jun 16, 2010 12:15 PM

A couple of weeks after Tim Armstrong admitted there was interest in Bebo, AOL (NYSE: AOL) may well have a buyer for the social net. It’s highly unlikely the price tag will be anywhere near the steep $850 million the last regime paid for the service two years ago. Mashable…

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Social Media, Companies, AOL, Bebo

@ D8: AOL’s Armstrong: Some Interest In Buying Bebo

Jun 3, 2010 5:38 PM

The end of May is a memory and AOL (NYSE: AOL) has yet to announce the fate of Bebo, the $850 million bet made by previous management. I was told earlier this week an announcement could still be weeks away. This might be one reason: CEO Tim Armstrong just said…

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Posted In: Events, D Conference, Companies, AOL, Bebo, tim armstrong

Armstrong: All Parts of AOL Have To Beat The Internet; Bebo Struggles

May 25, 2010 10:19 AM

AOL (NYSE: AOL) CEO Tim Armstrong began his fireside chat at day two of Techcrunch’s Disrupt conference by talking about the extensive review of the company’s operations. All operations, whether it was how long the legal department would strike agreements or how long it would take to bill customers would…

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Posted In: Advertising, Marketing, Media & Publishing, Social Media, Companies, AOL, Bebo

Earnings
Bebo Accounts: Sales Fell Immediately Under AOL

Apr 15, 2010 5:22 AM

Bebo may have sold to AOL (NYSE: AOL) for $859.8 million in May 2008 - but the social network’s UK office then crashed from a £2.6 million annual profit to a £1.1 million loss (now $1.7 million). The 143 percent fall happened because Bebo UK incurred a £1.6 million tax…

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Posted In: Money, Earnings, Companies, AOL, Bebo

Sofia’s Diary Maker Campbell Ryan Takes Investment

Apr 8, 2010 4:41 AM

Multiplatform TV producer Campbell Ryan says it’s taking “a significant investment” from Portugal-based larger prodco beActive Entertainment and from the Irish government’s Enterprise Ireland agency. Campbell Ryan produced the UK version of Sofia’s Diary, the second of Bebo’s original online video drama series following KateModern, BeActive originally created the format…

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Posted In: Media & Publishing, TV, Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Venture Capital, Companies, AOL, Bebo

The Rise And Fall Of Bebo: A History In Links

Apr 6, 2010 3:35 PM

A quick look at the rise and fall of Bebo and AOL’s $850 million vision, in links: »  AOL Admits Bebo To Be Sold Or Shut Down; Memo Sets May Target For Decision »  Bebo Extends Yahoo Ad Sales Deal, But AOL Will Bring In-House »  Bebo Cuts UK Jobs…

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo

AOL Admits Bebo To Be Sold Or Shut Down; Memo Sets May Target For Decision

Apr 6, 2010 2:23 PM

AOL (NYSE: AOL) told employees today that it may sell or shut down social network Bebo this year after deciding it would take too much additional investment to make keeping it worthwhile. Here’s the memo from AOL Ventures EVP Jon Brod… “The strategy we set in May 2009 leverages our…

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Posted In: Companies, AOL, Bebo

Industry Moves
Ex Bebo President Shields Joins Facebook As Sales VP

Apr 1, 2010 4:09 AM

After former Bebo president Joanna Shields left last May ahead of the dismantling of her AOL (NYSE: AOL) People Networks division, she teamed with TV producer Shine Group CEO Elisabeth Murdoch to create a social content company. But now she’s getting back in to the social networking business proper, joining…

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Posted In: Advertising, Industry Moves, Companies, AOL, Bebo, Facebook, joanna shields

Industry Moves
Industry Moves: BBC Comms, Bauer Media Sales, VBS.tv’s Bebo Grab

Mar 23, 2010 2:10 PM

—BBC Comms: A year after joining as Auntie’s head of strategic comms, former Reuters (NYSE: TRI) Media PR Sophie Brendel is becoming the BBC’s head of digital engagement. She will plan corporate audience engagement online and social media activity in a newly-formed digital comms team. —Bauer Media sales: The mag…

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Posted In: Industry Moves, Industry Moves Roundup, Companies, AOL, BBC, Bebo

Industry Moves
AOL Europe Calls Up Another Bebo Exec; Sweeney To Run Video

Mar 10, 2010 8:09 AM

AOL (NYSE: AOL) is taking more Bebo exec talent for its own team - a precursor to what may yet be a sale of the social net? The latest: Kelly Sweeney, who- as Bebo’s head of original video productions - commissioned shows like The Gap Year and Sofia’s Diary for…

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Posted In: Industry Moves, Companies, AOL, Bebo

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