Lots of news on Bebo today, which just surpassed Myspace in UK traffic. The Financial Times is reporting that the company is in acquisition talks with Viacom, the owner of MTV and other cable stations. This is the third try for Viacom, which lost out when bidding for both Myspace and Facebook (with Facebook reportedly shunning an offer of at least $750 million).
Bebo seems to be on a roadshow of sorts through the UK, meeting with potential partners and suitors. Founder Michael Birch told the Financial Times that “he was in no hurry to sell – his company was still growing rapidly”. He also mentioned, however, that the previous rumor about BT offering £300 million for Bebo sparked a ton of interest in the company.
Michael, or his VCs, still seems to think that £300 million is way too low and are holding out for more. When asked about a sale, he said “If I sell it, I’d have to start from scratch.” Translation: “Give me a billion dollars please.” 
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has anybody checked the stats on tagworld lately….seems they are slipping big time…
do users really want or care about a web 2.0 version of myspace or bebo??
Does it really make a difference??
Who are the nutjobs who keep convincing Facebook owners that they’re worth more than $750mill+?
One thing I heard recently is much of the traffic and initial adoption of Bebo was from the transferring of accounts from Birthday Alarm. Not sure how true this but it would explain their explosive out of left field growth.
You would assume at some level the troubles of monetizing the MySpace model would negatively affect the other social networking sites.
Interesting to see what kind of deal they strucutre and if these even progresses.
I so don’t understand this phenomenon. I consider myself quite enthused about ‘Web2.0′, using technology and being connected (and all that jazz), but seriously, MySpace and Beebo make me want to throw rocks at my computer, yelling “stupid interface!! stupid functions!!”
This site at least loads quickly. Myspace is just aweful. But the point of these sites being popular is the ability to express individuality. That is what young adults and teens like.
In regards to 2.0, this makes no sense to the average user. I ask so many people about web 2.0 and they thier response is huh?
Additionally, RSS is the same way unless these sites stop links to xml feeds and start educating users it will take forever to take off. I am launching a site http://www.dsicoverchefs.com which will not use the 2.0 terminology, but will be promoted as being a simple web based tool (which I feel is the real web 2.0 meaning). I also am the project manager for for marketingpower.com and are incorprating a lot of web 2.0 principlas over the next couple of months, but plan not say we are web 2.0. Plus we will educate people on thngs like rss and not just link to an xml feed.
To Cherrie’s: “I so don’t understand this phenomenon”
Having the ability to express your individuality thru page design, vidoe clips, sound clips, photos and words is at the heart and soul of social networks.
And it’s not exclusive to youth, MySpace is quickly “ageing”, with a majority now in their 20s and 30s. Self expression goes back to cave paintings ; no this is something real and lasting.
Check out our niche community for action sports, broadbandsports.com. Ultimately, we see more focused communities as the future.
Much more interesting as a business too.
-Greg
Yeah I’m ‘youth’ and I like expressing myself. What I mean is, I don’t understand why MySpace and Bebo - they suck so much. As someone who has ‘grown up with technology’ and all that yada, these products scream cheap and tacky to me. Why is that? And why do most people (apparently) not seem to see it in the same way?
P.S. I have nothing against social networks, I think they’re cool. I just don’t like MySpace and Bebo in particular. They irritate me SO much. Go figure. =P
Seems like most comments are quiet nagative.
Which shows that all of you are def lesser financially than the hundreds of millions that these founders of SN will be worth in the near future.
Get off your asses. Stop griping about other’s success and go and create one for yourself.
It is always easier to criticize, complain and gesture than it is to actually build a successful dotcom.
Get your hands off bebo. its one of the only things not banned at college or school! I only recently discovered this and know for a fact if bebo is bought then it changes everything. The site changes will cost money and that money will be charged to all the new accounts opened up. Bebo is supposed to be a site to kick back and chat to palz so if it is sold then it will lose everything. If anyone agrees then speak up and dont let bebo go without a fight
BIG MC
It sickens me too sean
me too but what can be done????????
Dunno but plz anyone who reads this plz dont sell bebo
or if u buy it dont change it coz I for one love it
i will buy bebo for 45billion cents
i mean to say 45 billion pounds he he