Web landscape uncertain

February 9, 2008, 7:43pm,  183 views

Microsoft’s proposed takeover of Yahoo has ramifications for the Australian web media environment. Microsoft is affiliated here with Channel Nine and Yahoo with Seven.

It’s anyone’s guess what will happen if the merger goes ahead. Both already lag behind Google in Australia, which doesn’t have a local affiliate.

It would not surprise if one TV network sold its internet stake to the other. The possibility of them working together would be more surprising and possibly anti-competitive.

Seven also has a significant stake in West Australian Newspapers, which some believe was procured for online strategic reasons.

The only certainty at the moment is uncertainty.