Comments on: MySpace Ditches New Playa Vista Offices http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:18:28 -0800 hourly 1 By: MySpace’s San Francisco Office Remains Open Despite Reports To The Contrary http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2806570 MySpace’s San Francisco Office Remains Open Despite Reports To The Contrary Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:18:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2806570 [...] heard that MySpace will likely close the San Francisco office eventually, but as of now everyone [...] [...] heard that MySpace will likely close the San Francisco office eventually, but as of now everyone [...]

]]> By: Massive Layoffs Coming To MySpace - 25% Or More May Be Cut http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2794754 Massive Layoffs Coming To MySpace - 25% Or More May Be Cut Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:02:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2794754 [...] FIM have undergone extensive measures to cut costs, including these personnel hits. FIM also just backed out of its plans to take over its new Playa Vista [...] [...] FIM have undergone extensive measures to cut costs, including these personnel hits. FIM also just backed out of its plans to take over its new Playa Vista [...]

]]> By: Todd http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2794532 Todd Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:24:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2794532 It wouldn't surprise me for the situation Myspace is in when they couldn't ditch out the costly managers who are wasting company money and resources and pull the company down on the back. These managers have serious issues that the execs aren't aware of yet: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/01/26/layoffs-at-fox-interactive-media/ It wouldn’t surprise me for the situation Myspace is in when they couldn’t ditch out the costly managers who are wasting company money and resources and pull the company down on the back.

These managers have serious issues that the execs aren’t aware of yet:

http://blogs.ws...eractive-media/

]]> By: Max http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2791815 Max Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:05:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2791815 I worked at MySpace for a brief stint. As few months after I joined I was looking for an exit. Senior leadership is not that smart. So sad, they really don't have a chance. It's safe to say MySpace is heading down the path of irrelevance. They picked the perfect team to lead that charge now. Ex AOL exec's will get the chance to ride this one all the way to the bottom...just like AOL... "You got FAIL!!! Good Bye" I worked at MySpace for a brief stint. As few months after I joined I was looking for an exit. Senior leadership is not that smart. So sad, they really don’t have a chance. It’s safe to say MySpace is heading down the path of irrelevance. They picked the perfect team to lead that charge now. Ex AOL exec’s will get the chance to ride this one all the way to the bottom…just like AOL… “You got FAIL!!! Good Bye”

]]> By: Patricia http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2788219 Patricia Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:50:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2788219 Being #1 won't last for most social networks....just saying. Being #1 won’t last for most social networks….just saying.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="509639495">Jim Techfrog Alden</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786911 Jim Techfrog Alden Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:40:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786911 It's a popularity contest on Myspace. All the kids that it appealed to before are now entering college and universities. Myspace didn't grow with the kids, and the chaos on some of the pages of Myspace users that over-customize make too many user pages terribly unfamiliar. Facebook evolved with great attention to detail. It's not perfect, but its close. If Myspace wants to survive this freefall, and keep subscribers, they need a fully re-vamped Myspace 3.0. From the bottom up, and they really need to do it fast. I doubt they can, they went far too long in the wrong hands, and dug themselves a massive hole. Competition waits for nobody It’s a popularity contest on Myspace. All the kids that it appealed to before are now entering college and universities. Myspace didn’t grow with the kids, and the chaos on some of the pages of Myspace users that over-customize make too many user pages terribly unfamiliar. Facebook evolved with great attention to detail. It’s not perfect, but its close. If Myspace wants to survive this freefall, and keep subscribers, they need a fully re-vamped Myspace 3.0. From the bottom up, and they really need to do it fast. I doubt they can, they went far too long in the wrong hands, and dug themselves a massive hole. Competition waits for nobody

]]> By: Ben Koo http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786738 Ben Koo Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:32:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786738 FIM also just had to pay out a $5 million lawsuit to a bunch of sports websites they skimmed money from. http://benkoo.com/2009/02/15/foxs-scoutcom-settles-lawsuit-with-former-publishers/ While I think this is big news and broke the story on my blog, Fox has gone to great lengths to squash anything on this story. At least that side of the PR team is doing their job. FIM also just had to pay out a $5 million lawsuit to a bunch of sports websites they skimmed money from.

http://benkoo.c...mer-publishers/

While I think this is big news and broke the story on my blog, Fox has gone to great lengths to squash anything on this story. At least that side of the PR team is doing their job.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="501017739">Paul Moshay</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786235 Paul Moshay Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:03:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786235 they should move to geocities.com that's where they're headed. they should move to geocities.com that’s where they’re headed.

]]> By: Don Synstelien http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786206 Don Synstelien Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:23:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786206 There are a lot of people that I really like that are still at FIM/MySpace and I don't envy them during the next few months as the new upper management realizes how big a mess they have been left with. There are a lot of people that I really like that are still at FIM/MySpace and I don’t envy them during the next few months as the new upper management realizes how big a mess they have been left with.

]]> By: MySpace/Fox Interactive Highlights Trend | Square Feet Commercial Real Estate Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786204 MySpace/Fox Interactive Highlights Trend | Square Feet Commercial Real Estate Blog Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:20:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786204 [...] is featuring an article on MySpace and their decision to abandon a highly-touted new office that was planned in Playa [...] [...] is featuring an article on MySpace and their decision to abandon a highly-touted new office that was planned in Playa [...]

]]> By: ksdfsk http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786205 ksdfsk Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:20:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786205 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/06/layoffs-to-hit-fox-interactive-updated.html http://latimesb...ve-updated.html

]]> By: ksdfsk http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786203 ksdfsk Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:20:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786203 yes...LA times reports major layoffs Fox Interactive Media, suffering from a steep drop in online advertising, is preparing to lay off a significant number of employees, according to people familiar with the situation. The number and timing are in flux, but the cuts are expected to encompass a broad array of workers at the Beverly Hills headquarters. The layoffs are part of a restructuring of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.'s digital operations and come only two month after former AOL executive Jonathan Miller was named chief digital officer, with oversight of media giant's online properties. It is not immediately known how many employees will be let go, but a year ago Fox Interactive employed more than 2,000 people. “Like any company with new leadership, Fox Interactive Media is reviewing every aspect of our operations, performance and structure,” said a Fox spokesman. “ It’s no secret that we are looking for ways to improve our products, increase the value of our digital assets, and enhance the overall financial strength of the company.” The interactive division of News Corp. includes the MySpace social network and a collection of other online businesses, including IGN Entertainment, and entertaiment movie and product review site RottenTomatoes.com. In the most recent quarter, the News Corp. said Fox Interactive's revenue was down 11% from a year ago, reflecting a precipitous 16% drop in advertising. At the same time, costs rose 7% due to expenses associated with developing new features at MySpace. MySpace's troubles have been widely publicized, culminating in the departure this spring of co-founder and chief executive Chris DeWolfe. People familiar with the restructuring plans say MySpace will bear some of the burden of the cuts, but other divisions will also be affected. The once-dominant social network has been surpassed by rival Facebook in terms of number of worldwide users. Another technological upstart, the microblogging application Twitter, generates more buzz among the technorati. The latest online traffic report from measurement firm comScore Media Metrix said Facebook and Twitter each added millions of new users, outpacing growth at Fox Interactive. One industry analyst said all social networks, including MySpace, are struggling to figure out how to make money from their audiences. Spending on Internet advertising for the first quarter of the year is also down by 5%, compared with a year ago, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. “The online networking space overall hasn’t turned out to be as lucrative as people originally thought. That’s one of the biggest problems,” said Charlene Li, founder of the Altimeter Group, a research firm specializing in social networks. In another sign of cost-cutting, Fox Interactive is also seeking to sublet new offices being built at Playa Vista development south of Marina del Rey. The group had agreed to rent 421,000 square feet of space, so it could consolidate its far-flung digital operations. -- Dawn C. Chmielewski yes…LA times reports major layoffs

Fox Interactive Media, suffering from a steep drop in online advertising, is preparing to lay off a significant number of employees, according to people familiar with the situation. The number and timing are in flux, but the cuts are expected to encompass a broad array of workers at the Beverly Hills headquarters.

The layoffs are part of a restructuring of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.’s digital operations and come only two month after former AOL executive Jonathan Miller was named chief digital officer, with oversight of media giant’s online properties. It is not immediately known how many employees will be let go, but a year ago Fox Interactive employed more than 2,000 people.

“Like any company with new leadership, Fox Interactive Media is reviewing every aspect of our operations, performance and structure,” said a Fox spokesman. “ It’s no secret that we are looking for ways to improve our products, increase the value of our digital assets, and enhance the overall financial strength of the company.”

The interactive division of News Corp. includes the MySpace social network and a collection of other online businesses, including IGN Entertainment, and entertaiment movie and product review site RottenTomatoes.com. In the most recent quarter, the News Corp. said Fox Interactive’s revenue was down 11% from a year ago, reflecting a precipitous 16% drop in advertising. At the same time, costs rose 7% due to expenses associated with developing new features at MySpace.

MySpace’s troubles have been widely publicized, culminating in the departure this spring of co-founder and chief executive Chris DeWolfe.

People familiar with the restructuring plans say MySpace will bear some of the burden of the cuts, but other divisions will also be affected.

The once-dominant social network has been surpassed by rival Facebook in terms of number of worldwide users. Another technological upstart, the microblogging application Twitter, generates more buzz among the technorati. The latest online traffic report from measurement firm comScore Media Metrix said Facebook and Twitter each added millions of new users, outpacing growth at Fox Interactive.

One industry analyst said all social networks, including MySpace, are struggling to figure out how to make money from their audiences. Spending on Internet advertising for the first quarter of the year is also down by 5%, compared with a year ago, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

“The online networking space overall hasn’t turned out to be as lucrative as people originally thought. That’s one of the biggest problems,” said Charlene Li, founder of the Altimeter Group, a research firm specializing in social networks.

In another sign of cost-cutting, Fox Interactive is also seeking to sublet new offices being built at Playa Vista development south of Marina del Rey. The group had agreed to rent 421,000 square feet of space, so it could consolidate its far-flung digital operations.

– Dawn C. Chmielewski

]]> By: Roundup: Verizon Pre not coming too soon, the fall of Vidoop, and more | VentureBeat http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2786026 Roundup: Verizon Pre not coming too soon, the fall of Vidoop, and more | VentureBeat Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:25:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2786026 [...] newborn Los Angeles offices, after all — It module meet in its existing ones, according to TechCrunch, which adds to an older gossip that the ethnic network’s San Francisco offices strength also [...] [...] newborn Los Angeles offices, after all — It module meet in its existing ones, according to TechCrunch, which adds to an older gossip that the ethnic network’s San Francisco offices strength also [...]

]]> By: Ted http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785974 Ted Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:10:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785974 No layoff news? No layoff news?

]]> By: Roundup: Verizon Pre not coming too soon, the fall of Vidoop, and more » VentureBeat http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785953 Roundup: Verizon Pre not coming too soon, the fall of Vidoop, and more » VentureBeat Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:49:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785953 [...] fancy new Los Angeles offices, after all — It will stay in its existing ones, according to TechCrunch, which adds to an old rumor that the social network’s San Francisco offices might also be [...] [...] fancy new Los Angeles offices, after all — It will stay in its existing ones, according to TechCrunch, which adds to an old rumor that the social network’s San Francisco offices might also be [...]

]]> By: Todd http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785844 Todd Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:26:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785844 Yet another schadenfreude TechCrunch post. Can't wait for that CrunchPad to launch! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant_%28disambiguation%29 Yet another schadenfreude TechCrunch post.

Can’t wait for that CrunchPad to launch!

http://en.wikip...sambiguation%29

]]> By: Mircea @ MyTestBox.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785833 Mircea @ MyTestBox.com Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:19:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785833 They were number 1...too bad it didn't last. They were number 1…too bad it didn’t last.

]]> By: Michael D http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785820 Michael D Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:14:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785820 That space is right around the street from me. EA is still at their Playa Vista location, but hasn't been a big draw for new tenants. That space is right around the street from me. EA is still at their Playa Vista location, but hasn’t been a big draw for new tenants.

]]> By: hoihiohiohhi http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/05/myspaces-ditches-new-playa-vista-offices/comment-page-1/#comment-2785782 hoihiohiohhi Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:51:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=70941#comment-2785782 they thought they were going to be #1 haha. Maybe facebook should book playa vista to shove in their face. they thought they were going to be #1 haha. Maybe facebook should book playa vista to shove in their face.

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