FT.com / Companies / Media & internet – Viacom considers bid for Bebo

“Viacom, the US media group, is considering a bid for Bebo, the social networking site.
The acquisition would represent the latest attempt by Viacom to regain ground lost to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in the social networking and user-generated content realm.
Viacom lost out to its rival in a bidding war last year for MySpace, now the world’s leading social networking site, when News Corp paid $580m (£304m) for the young company. The acquisition caused News Corp’s rivals to look again at the value of sites that allow users to share their own messages, photos, music and videos.
News of Viacom’s interest in Bebo came a day after the media group announced a deal with Google to distribute its content through thousands of niche websites and blogs affiliated to the internet company.”

Juniper Networks :: Juniper Networks Announces Update Regarding Stock Option Investigation

“As previously announced by Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR), the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has been conducting an investigation into the Company’s stock option practices and has reached a preliminary conclusion that the actual measurement dates for financial accounting purposes of certain stock option grants issued in the past differ from the recorded grant dates of such awards.As previously announced by Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR), the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has been conducting an investigation into the Company’s stock option practices and has reached a preliminary conclusion that the actual measurement dates for financial accounting purposes of certain stock option grants issued in the past differ from the recorded grant dates of such awards.”

Efficient Frontier to Manage FOX Interactive Media’s Search Marketing Across Multiple Business Channels @ SYS-CON Media

“Efficient Frontier, the leading provider of search engine marketing (SEM) solutions, today announced that it will manage Fox Interactive Media’s (FIM) bid and performance management of paid search across its multiple business units, including FOXSports.com, IGN.com, MySpace.com, RottenTomatoes.com, AskMen.com, Scout.com and GameSpy.com.”

Cisco buys majority stake in Nuova for $50M: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance

“Cisco Systems Inc. said Thursday it has committed $50 million in funding to Nuova Systems Inc. San Jose-based Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO – News) said Santa Clara-based Nuova will become a majority-owned subsidiary of Cisco. Along with the funding, Cisco has committed ‘certain technology’ and the possibility of up to $42 million in additional funding in the future.
Nuova has 76 employees, and the companies did not release details of staffing or any job losses. One of the company’s co-founders was former Cisco executive Mario Mazzola.”

San Jose’s Citrix to buy Orbital Data for $50M: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance

“Citrix Systems Inc. of San Jose said this week it will buy Orbital Data Corp. for about $50 million.
San Jose-based Citrix, (NASDAQ:CTXS – News), specializes in information-technology systems and software. San Mateo-based Orbital Data, a privately-held company that offers products for wide area networks, was founded in 2002.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006.
When the deal closes, Citrix plans to reintroduce the Orbital Data product line under the Citrix WANScaler brand.
The transaction is expected to add about $2 million in revenue to the second half of 2006 and $10 to $12 million in revenue for 2007.”

Bix Launches to the Public; Unveils the First Free Online Talent Contest: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance

“Bix.com, Inc. today unveiled Bix, the first user-generated online contest system that allows anyone to easily create, view and enter a talent competition. Led by an all-star executive team from eBay, Symantec and Electronic Arts, Bix will be the first user-generated contest site to monetize consumer-generated content and has developed a business model around contests that will forever change brand marketing.”

Google Mini Finds Its Corporate Search Bearings

“Google is essentially synonymous with search when it comes to the Web, but it’s just another option when it comes to company Web sites, portals and intranets. And it’s an option that often isn’t designed specifically to meet the needs of businesses, especially when compared with competing solutions from companies such as Autonomy, Thunderstone and, yes, Microsoft. “

MTV to buy another Atom of the Web / Youth-oriented TV company is increasing its online presence

“MTV Networks Inc. said Wednesday it is buying San Francisco’s Atom Entertainment Inc., a group of online gaming and Internet video sites, for $200 million in a deal that underscores how big media companies are chasing their young consumers online”

“MTV also has gobbled up a series of online sites such as Ifilm, Xfire for gamers and Neopets, where users raise and care for virtual pets. For the college crowd, it established mtvU, which last week acquired Y2M: Youth Media & Marketing Networks, part of an interactive network of online U.S. college newspapers. And with Microsoft Corp., MTV introduced a digital music download service, Urge, earlier this year. “

Great Dreams

“Sequoia Capital invest in Great Dreams. Great Dreams is the leading animation company in China. Neil Shen represents Sequoia Capital on the Great Dreams Board of Directors. “

Alien’s Creepy IPO Ride

“But another warning sign emerged shortly after Alien Tech filed for the IPO. A few months after Eulau joined the company, Rambus disclosed that it is one of more than 80 tech companies caught up in the stock options-backdating scandal. Worse, Eulau served as Rambus’ CFO from July 2001 to March 2006, the period of time that is the focus of the investigation. “