Seems to me, and some others, too, as reflected by my research, that there is a chance of mashing up advertising with legitimate news and other reporting. But, this may be the trend of the future and will bring in tons of revenue.
There are literally billions of dollars being created and attracted to the newer tech-laden publishing platforms that cater to the latest technological devices.
Tonight's post gives insight into some of the money valuations and exploding expansions coming into play --- especially Re BuzzFeed.
Pertinent excerpt from tonight's research source: "BuzzFeed said Monday that the funding will let the company expand to Mumbai, Mexico City, Berlin and Tokyo and convert its video division into BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, which will focus on everything from animated online images to feature- length films."
This from Bloomberg news as reported in Crain's New York Business:
BuzzFeed's $850M valuation tops Tribune's
The site's $50 million cash infusion is a bet that the site can be more valuable than top traditional news media.
BuzzFeed, Inc. raised $50 million on a bet its mix of everything from animal lists to serious news is more valuable than the coverage produced by established media like the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
The investment from venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz propelled BuzzFeed's valuation beyond those traditional big-name publications to about $850 million, according to the New York Times. While that's about half the market capitalization of the Times itself, it's in line with other Web startups at about seven times annual revenue, according to Paul Sweeney, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
Andreessen Horowitz joins BuzzFeed investors Hearst Corp., SoftBank Corp. and New Enterprise Associates in wagering that the site can rank among the titans of media. BuzzFeed uses technology to help come up with ideas for articles that will attract readers, and it has connected with advertisers because it creates sponsored stories for their brands—promoting Pepsi, for example, with animated images about staying cool in the summer.
"There's a lot of potential for BuzzFeed, and it's well positioned to move into a lot of key areas," said Peter Krasilovsky, vice president of BIA Kelsey, a media research company based in Chantilly, Virginia. "They've put a lot of their money into figuring out which stories are being read. I can understand why you would want to invest in BuzzFeed."
BuzzFeed said Monday that the funding will let the company expand to Mumbai, Mexico City, Berlin and Tokyo and convert its video division into BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, which will focus on everything from animated online images to feature- length films.
'Effectively unbounded'
"We are very excited to work with everyone at BuzzFeed to help them realize their dreams of a profoundly important new media institution," Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, said on Twitter. The company's opportunity is "effectively unbounded," he said.
At the end of last year, the company had forecast revenue of as much as $120 million in 2014, people familiar with the matter said at the time. Ashley McCollum, a BuzzFeed spokeswoman, said she couldn't confirm the valuation.
The startup, which has more than 500 employees, is profitable, Chief Executive Officer Jonah Peretti said in September 2013. With the new investment, BuzzFeed has garnered almost $100 million in funding since the company debuted in 2006.
"The investment from Andreessen Horowitz really validates BuzzFeed, as a company and as an entity," said Mr. Sweeney of Bloomberg Intelligence. "BuzzFeed has really proven itself as a business."
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