AOL's Spending Spree
AOL has been on a shopping spree for content-driven websites. It's acquisition of Huffington Post is the latest of many similar deals.
Click ahead to see which other content sites AOL has added to its roster under Tim Armstrong's leadership.
By Jason Farkas and Maxwell Meyers
Posted 07 Feb 2011
Patch.com and Going.com
On June 11, 2009 AOL made its first acquisition under new CEO Tim Armstrong, paying less than $10 each for Patch Media and Going. Both gave AOL deeper access to local news and community content – as well as local advertisers.
MMAFighting.com
On July 15, 2009, AOL purchased mixed martial arts site MMAFighting.com, which added content to its existing sports hub FanHouse.com. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
StudioNow
On January 25, 2010, AOL closed a deal to buy StudioNow for $36.5 million. The company services mid-sized companies with online video creation, storage and distribution - a platform that was integrated into AOL’s already existing content management system, Seed.com.
Rally Up
On August 31, 2010, AOL spent an undisclosed sum on Rally Up — a mobile networking firm best known for its Apple iPhone app of the same name.
5min
On September 28, 2010 AOL bought 5min Media, the web’s largest video content syndication platform, for an undisclosed sum. 5min’s library of professionally produced “how to” clips were AOL’s latest investment in online video.
TechCrunch
On September 28, 2010 AOL added TechCrunch, a popular blog, to its suite of original tech news content (it already owned a competing blog, Engadget). CNBC reported the acquisition cost AOL $40 Million.
Thing Labs
On September 28th, AOL acquires Thing Labs in an effort to grow its social networking footprint. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Unblab
On December 1st, 2010, AOL buys email prioritization AP Unblab for an undisclosed amount.
Pictela
On December 16th, AOL picks up Pictela, a company that specializes in creating online catalogs for retailers. Though terms of the transaction weren't disclosed, the Wall Street Journal estimated the cost to be close to $20 million.
About.me
On December 21st, 2010, AOL acquires about.me, a online company that links together various social networking sites. The purchase came just four days after about.me launched to the public.
The Huffington Post
On February 7th, 2011 AOL buys the Huffington Post for $315 million. Co-founder Arianna Huffington will have editorial control as president and editor-in-chief of the newly created Huffington Post Media Group. The deal solidifies AOL's efforts to become a hub for original content distribution.
AOL's Spending Spree
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