Seth Gilbert, 01-23-2008
With markets in panic mode, the “R” word being used at the water coolers and the Fed pulling the ripcord on an emergency parachute, it was a bad day for any company to release earnings. It was an especially bad day to share any comments that were cautionary, ambiguous, or anything but outrageously optimistic. Apple shareholders paid the short term price.
Not five minutes into Apple’s earnings conference call After Hours traders, seizing on cautious, conservative lowered guidance, drove the stock down another ten percent. The unfortunate thing is, the response is extreme, more a consequence of the economic climate than the actual news.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-22-2008
With acquisitions and a good sense of timing Getty Images grew from a small photo licensing business in 1995 to the world’s largest supplier of stock photos and videos. Monday, the company confirmed it is now for sale in an auction to close at the end of the month. Fueled initially by the digital world’s growing appetite for images, Getty Images has become a casualty of the same technological advancements and efficiencies that fueled its growth.
When Getty started out, it was the early days of the Internet boom. Click to Read More
Seth Gilbert, 01-21-2008
New years seem to start with a tempered excitement. As a symbolic beginning, we’re prone to look ahead anxious of the unknown. As a symbolic end, we’re drawn to look back and take inventory of what has passed. Where have we been? What have we done? And, most of all, where are we going?
In the mix, the glass is neither half full nor half empty. In the beginning of a new year, it is just there with some liquid in it open to all voices to call it what they will. Looking back is a means of measuring where momentum is taking us. Corporate earnings, personal achievements (or faults), annualized statistics: all numbers and quantities to set benchmarks and goals.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-11-2008
Patience is a virtue, especially in private equity. Since November 2006, Bain Capital and Thomas Lee Partners have been trying to buy and privatize outdoor advertiser and radio station operator Clear Channel. The $19.5b leveraged buyout offered was approved by shareholders ($39.20/a share) but it’s been stuck in regulatory limbo.
Recently, there’s been an increase in speculation the deal was close to falling apart. The skepticism has hurt the stock price. The stock is trading near $35, a significant discount to the $39.20 buyout price. Now there may be a positive shift.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-10-2008
San Francisco based Outspark, a publisher of online community driven games announced the closing of sizable $11m Series B Financing Thursday. China’s largest Internet portal and instant messaging operator Tencent Holdings led the round. Series A investors DCM (formerly Doll Capital Management) and Altos Ventures also participated. DCM has invested in other gaming co’s recently, including Trion World Network.
Outspark was founded in 2006 by CEO Susan Choe. Choe was formerly COO of NHN USA and also International Director of Yahoo Games. Outspark’s studio services are run by Nick Foster, former CTO of Starz Media and former head of global FX at DreamWorks Animation.
Outspark is purely a publisher and game operator. They do not develop games themselves. Their model is centered on licensing launched games from international markets (currently China and Korea) and localizing them for redistribution in western markets.
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Seth Gilbert, 01-9-2008
It’s an election year, so it comes as no surprise that political issues large and small are getting extra attention. Tuesday, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin used a CES panel discussion as an opportunity to address the regulatory commission’s stance on the bandwidth throttling complaints that put the nation’s second largest broadband provider, Comcast, into a boiling cauldron of bad PR in October and November.
In no uncertain terms, Martin told the audience, “Sure, we’re going to investigate and make sure that no consumer is going to be blocked.”
At issue is a debate over the policy concept: Network Neutrality. The issues date back to the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Click to Read More
Seth Gilbert, 01-7-2008
News from Microsoft was expected Sunday night. It was the moment of Bill Gates eleventh, and final, keynote address to open the Consumer Electronics Show. The stage was set. It was the Super Bowl of Entertainment and Technology convergence. A time for news. A time for Bill.
CES has been for Bill Gates what Macworld has been for Steve Jobs. In past efforts – the CES keynote has been a night for him to climb on stage and issue a “State of the Union,” a chance to sing Microsoft’s praises, to plug their products, a chance to predict the future. It’s always a night of a little humor, of celebrity appearances and geek idols – a moment in the spotlight with all the glitz, multimedia and professional production a corporate event can withstand. Sunday, all expected points were covered.
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