They call it Giga Omni Media for a reason. Om Malik’s blog empire just got a little bit bigger today with the acquisition TheAppleBlog. This comes a little over a month after he added mobile blog JKOnTheRun to his blog roster under the GigaOm brand (and two weeks after he joined True Ventures as a partner).
Terms were not disclosed, but it is unlikely he paid much for TheAppleBlog. It attracts much less traffic than some of the better known Apple blogs, such as AppleInsider or MacRumors. In fact, some the Apple-only blogs bring in more visitors than GigaOm (see chart above; GigaOm is in blue, TheAppleBlog is in red). If Om can help TheAppleBlog compete at the same level, it could have a huge impact on his business. Smart move.
At a time when other blogs such as Ars Technica and Paidcontent are selling themselves to larger media companies, Om is rolling up small blogs and adding them to his network. When he bought JKOnTheRun in July, Michael wrote:
I predict that this is just the beginning of the process that will accelerate over the next 12-18 months. Larger blogs lacking the stomach for competition will sell to large media corporations. The more competitive large blogs who want to see this thing through will start to acquire the smaller ones and group by topic areas. Whoever builds the network of the most interesting and prodigious voices will eventually “win.”
The blogosphere lends itself naturally to a roll-up strategy. After Om digests this one, who will he buy next?
(Disclosure: I used to work with Om at Business 2.0, and he is a personal friend).
Good blog taken over by Om..
Theappleblog needed some more attention and now he is capable of doing that very well.
Really smart move…this acquisition will also get Theappleblog a lot of buzz in blogosphere..It may beat the other two competitors in one year or so..
Just what Pigford needs, more stroking of his ego.
Interesting you say that. That’s the first I’ve ever heard someone say I have a big ego. I guess we’ve met for you to know that, though. What? You don’t know me?
I kid, I kid. Sort of.
Real question for me is what will happen to TechCrunch?
Will Arrington stay independent or sell to a larger company?
He won’t sell it….I am damn sure about it…
How much do you think TC is worth? Is it one of the most valuable blogs in the world?
40 million
As much as someone is willing to pay. But I can hardly imagine who should buy it…
any idea what they paid?
I heard it was around 50 bagillion dollars to be paid out purely in gift certificates to Panda Express.
How is he growing?
Om, Clean job!!
Well, if nobody else is going to say it, I will.
Om nom nom nom.
There.
I agree, somebody had to do it, I came straight to the comments looking for it haha.
This is good I guess. The Apple Blog is hands down one of the worst Apple blogs out there so hopefully Om will shuffle around and bring in some new talent. Their reporting is at least a few days later than everyone else and the writing is piss poor.
Thanks for the kind words Ben.
No problem. You’re still better than Apple Gazette!
Theappleblog is sooooooo boring!
This is cool. Hopefully it will enhance his expertise in more areas…
er, has OM made a major success of any of his consolidations till date? Seems the whole thing is lagging a bit behind ol’ TC here
OM NOM NOM?
Don’t worry loyal subjects, Darth Mac will never sell out.
nice buy and congratz to both parties.
I miss their old logo and cheery site design. It had character. The current one is bland and typical.
Wow, that is nice: here is the techcrunch article about one company that is smaller than random apple blogs… but he is a good friend of mine so i’m giving him this nice advert
All I can do is tell you my conflicts. You can judge from there. Blog consolidation is a legitimate story and Om owns a major blog network, whether I know him or not.
Erick, did you say “personal friend”? Is there any other kind?
Facebook friend?