Lycos, amassing sites and surfers, aims higher

Article Abstract:

Waltham, MA-based Lycos Inc., an Internet portal company, captured 46.5% of Internet users in Dec. 1998 compared to 14% in Dec. 1997. CEO Robert Davis has managed to turn Lycos around through a series of smart advertising contracts, services management and acquisitions. Its main rivals, all located within CA's Silicon Valley, are Yahoo! Inc., Excite Inc. and Infoseek Corp. Lycos's acquisitions, which it runs as separate entities, include HotWired news Web site, Tripod.com and HotBot.com. Lycos shares have soared on the news that it may be the next takeover target, similar to the recent purchase of Excite by At Home Corp. Davis has employed innovative marketing strategies to publicize his company while still trailing rivals in advertising revenue. His sales team has been centralized and plans to use target-marketing strategies across all properties. The Lycos.com Web site has been simplified, made faster and will tailor its advertising to the interests of its users, based on their Web-site searching history.

Strategy & planning, Massachusetts, Company Profile, Internet/Web search services, Search engines, Internet/Web search service, Davis, Robert

---

USA Networks to merge with Lycos

Article Abstract:

USA Networks Inc. plans to merge it's Home Shopping Network with Internet portal Lycos Inc. The merger would give a growing entertainment empire a large presences on the world wide web, as Lycos Inc. is the second most popular Internet portal. USA Networks would also merge TicketMaster and Online-City Search Inc, both publicly traded companies, into the new company which will be called USA/Lycos Interactive Networks Inc. Pending shareholder approval, Lycos' shareholders will control 30% of the new company, with TicketMaster Online shareholders controlling 8.5%. Robert Davis, the CEO of Lycos, will head the new company. This deal marks the cumulation of a year in which entertainment veteran, Barry Diller, head of USA Networks Inc., has grown increasingly focused on the Internet. This merger is also the latest in which a large entertainment concern has acquired an Internet portal.

United States, Acquisitions & mergers, On-Line Information Services, Videotex & Teletext, Cable Television Systems, Cable Networks, Cable and other pay TV services, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Company acquisition/merger, Online services, Internet services, Cable television broadcasting industry, Cable television, USA Networks Inc., USAI, Cable television/data services, Online information service, Diller, Barry

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Ericsson agrees to acquire subsidiary of Newbridge Networks for $285 million. Tellabs and Ciena call off merger as both stocks fall
• Abstracts: 3 companies and 3 angles on changing small to big. US West ordered to halt marketing tie-in
• Abstracts: Women's sports magazines change game. Newspapers tap ex-Coke guru Zyman. Jones Apparel to acquire Nine West for stock, cash valued at $885 million
• Abstracts: Visa, MasterCard named in antitrust suit. Spurning Visa, Citigroup turns to MasterCard. American Express sues Chase over ads

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.