Now that AOL (NYSE: AOL) CEO Tim Armstrong has said the most he’ll do with MapQuest is an operational partnership, not a sale, it looks like instant messaging service ICQ could be at the top of the sell list—and, according to multiple reports, Russia’s Digital Sky Technologies (DST) is interested.…

—Johnston Press: Currently trialling local online news paywalls, the struggling paper publisher is adding Mastercard’s global e-commerce chief as a non-exec director, as ex Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) Europe MD Martina King steps down in April, MediaWeek reports. This is a very interesting move that could suggest the publisher is serious…

By Mark Sweney and Mercedes Bunz: Bebo is cutting jobs at its UK operation and freezing commissions from its web TV production arm, which has been responsible for groundbreaking shows including KateModern.

Former AOL (NYSE: TWX) exec Joanna Shields and Shine Group Chairman and CEO Elisabeth Murdoch on are creating a content company from the ground up, AllThingsD’s Kara Swisher reported, citing unidentified sources. Shields confirmed the report to paidContent and provided some more information. The company, as yet un-named, will focus…

—Viasat: The London-based Swedish satcaster has added catch-up programming from its TV4 and SVT channels to its Viasat OnDemand platform, which already had TV3 Play, TV6 Play and TV8 Play. A mix of free and paid. Via C21. —Pirate Bay: Black Internet, the internet service which was forced offline for…

*AOL* has promoted Bebo VP and COO Stephane Panier to head the UK social net’s global operations. The official announcement should come later today. Panier will report to directly to Jon Brod, EVP of *AOL* Ventures, the new investment arm and virtual way-station for AOL (NYSE: TWX) properties that don’t…

Newly slimmed-down MySpace UK is taking a leaf out of Bebo Originals’ playbook, with a teen-focused short online video drama, Freak, made by FremantleMedia.

So much for Bebo as the social network spine of AOL (NYSE: TWX). It didn’t take new Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong long to figure out that the much-vaunted integration of Bebo with AOL’s AIM, ICQ and other elements wasn’t working—and to start unwinding the People Networks group. But Armstrong…

Patch Media CEO Jon Brod will become the head of the newly formed AOL (NYSE: TWX) Ventures, ATD’s Kara Swisher reported. Patch is the hyperlocal news network covering six New Jersey communities. It was one of a pair of local-focused sites AOL bought last month, the other being events guide…

AOL (NYSE: TWX) is “reviewing assets it could sell or divest, but will likely keep Bebo”, Reuters reports new CEO Tim Armstrong as telling it on the “sidelines” of the Sun Valley tech conflab in Idaho. Armstrong’s 100-day review of AOL is due to complete within two weeks and Bebo…

—ITN/Mail: Yet another online video contract for ITN’s prolific On multimedia division - it’s supplying showbiz, lifestyle, general and business news videos to Mail Online. Via Guardian.co.uk. —Radiohead manager: Radiohead co-manager Brian Message’s ATC, the Mama live music group and Barenaked Ladies managers Nettwerk are forming a new label, Polyphonic,…

Brendan Condon, head of overseas ops for AOL’s Platform-A (NYSE: TWX) advertising group, is leaving London after 13 months for a new role - the latest exec change as new CEO Tim Armstrong’s 100-day review nears completion. A UK spokesperson told us: “Brendan is returning to his home base of…

In a move that may hint at the outlines of a new-look AOL (NYSE: TWX), Bebo’s European VP and MD Kate Burns is moving over to head AOL’s European ad sales ops, just before new AOL CEO Tim Armstrong completes his 100-day company review. AllThingsD already reported in May Bebo…

Who knows whether new AOL (NYSE: TWX) CEO Tim Armstrong’s evolving org chart has yet filtered down to even Bebo execs themselves - but, while AOL may change around it, the social network seems set to remain in tact, one such suggests… “Bebo’s not being spun off; Time Warner is…

Bebo tells us Joanna Shields’ leaving was her own decision, but the president of the social network and the AOL (NYSE: TWX) People Networks division which is based upon would surely have known change was coming. It was only recently that AOL had restructured in to three units - Mediaglow…

—BBC Radio stats: Auntie has released some detailed stats on its latest online radio listening. They show monthly online listening of live radio rose to 22.9 million hours in April from 17.5 million a year ago. But average weekly unique users has barely changed at 3.2 million, so it seems…

—Bebo Beat: The social media site was pressing its latest “Bebo Original” video commission like crazy on Wednesday, after the exit of its president Joanna Shields. Premiering June 19 for 13 weeks and made by Endemol, Bebo Beat will be a daily show showing off musical talent from across Bebo’s…

AOL (NYSE: TWX) People Networks president Joanna Shields, who stepped up from Bebo president in the March 2008 acquisition, is leaving the company, AllThingsD reported and we have confirmed with the company. This is CEO Tim Armstrong’s second major exec change, ex-Googler Jeff Levick having replaced Greg Coleman as Platform-A…

—7Digital: iTunes rival 7Digital has launched its mp3 download store via a BlackBerry app due for release either late this month or next month. BlackBerry users will be able to browse and download the site’s thousands of DRM-free tracks from the big four major music labels and a host of…