The company didn't say how much it forked over for the network of more than 500 owned and affiliated sports sites when it announced the deal in late January.
But Sports Business Daily, citing industry sources it didn't identify, said the price was about $30 million -- making it "the largest independent U.S. sports Web property ever to be acquired in terms of raw traffic."
It also would be one of GCI's single-biggest business acquisitions since the company paid a reported $100 million cash in 2005 for ad services subsidiary PointRoll.
And it would follow steady increases in money spent on acquisitions and investments over the past three years, according to a review of new documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Those figures:
But GCI cautioned investors last month to not expect any big deals this year: "The company will continue to evaluate opportunistic bolt-on acquisitions similar to Fantasy Sports Ventures (owner of Big Lead Sports and related websites), but has no current plans to pursue sizable acquisitions."
And it would follow steady increases in money spent on acquisitions and investments over the past three years, according to a review of new documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Those figures:
- Last year: $42.4 million
- 2010: $26.2 million
- 2009: $19.3 million
But GCI cautioned investors last month to not expect any big deals this year: "The company will continue to evaluate opportunistic bolt-on acquisitions similar to Fantasy Sports Ventures (owner of Big Lead Sports and related websites), but has no current plans to pursue sizable acquisitions."
Look at it this way. we are paying more to get rid of Dubow.
ReplyDeleteIt was far below that number. I heard $8MM because The Big Lead ran out of money and couldn't raise more.
ReplyDeleteFirst time I've ever heard of this website. Wonder how far down in the pecking order this is in name recognition.
ReplyDeleteBeusse is doing a great job spending money, hiring friends and alienating people. Didn't Hunke already learn that lesson with Heather Frank?
ReplyDeleteMust be a an old school print person who has no clue of the digital space. Big Lead Sports/Fantasy Sports Ventures was a comscore Top 5 Sports Property which in turn took USA Today from bottom ten in terms of traffic ranking to a top 4 sports property. Got to love the old school print mentality of folks have no clue
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