DISQUS

afrolantic · 5 months ago

Interesting! I want more details on who the buyers were and why in the market would IAC turn down an offer for company that wasn't making any money. BlackWeb20.com you've done it again breaking the story that's important to the black tech community.

What is really going on? There's more to this story.

Geebon · 5 months ago

It's only a matter of time before IAC shuts down the entire operation. I had high hopes for RushmoreDrive.com another black company bites the dust.

BlaqList · 5 months ago

I'm sure Taylor will re-group and land on his feet. It has to be hard for his team who's still working at RushmoreDrive.com. I wonder what his next move will be?

BlackSearchNerd · 5 months ago

This is great opportunity for someone to take this company and fulfill its promise of being a black search engine that gives more importance to black content or website. Not sure if there is a future for RD but if someone can get this right they have a heck of an opportunity.

Andrew · 5 months ago

On Rushmore Drive: This is not a surprise. It was only a matter of time

On Sahara Media: I'm sorry Sahara Media - Honey is a flop and a joke. I can't believe they even wanted to buy them and someone was taking them serious.

Thoughts... · 5 months ago

http://tinyurl.com/2ko7q

RD is done...

Elbert McQuiller · 5 months ago

If Rushmore is a "niche," how did IAC expect to manage it without cannibalizing parts of its audiences on other IAC properties? How could it effectively leverage its other properties and their solutions (e.g. CitySearch and now UrbanSpoon) without simply playing a shell game? Similarly, if it sells the property, what will stop competitors from leveraging the platform to steal marketshare from IAC via multiple "niche" communities? That reality may be a part of IAC's valuation--a premium must be paid to possibly weaken its core. Furthermore, Rushmore isn't a content site, it is a functionality that can be leveraged across many content sites, but content is still required.

Pleas for niche content media to remain niche owned may not just be political begging or maneuvering--it may be good economics? I suspect TheRoot.com and TheGriot.com will face similar fates notwithstanding their seemingly good intentions. Does anyone believe that long-term, high quality niche media requires a long-term commitment from niche community owners?

emcquiller@myblacknetworks.com
www.MyBlackNetworks.com

Piepiepie · 5 months ago

I think you are right -- IAC spent way too much money on RDrive, launch party? 35 employees? ridiculous.

I don't think any of these new AA-targeted sites will do well, b/c they simply aren't organically grown properties with an eye on minimizing costs.

Ian · 5 months ago

@ Afrolantic. It was smart to turn Sahara Media down. After doing some research they (Sahara Media) don't have any successful ventures. This is there website: www.honeymag.com. It gets less than 5K hits per month (not quantified and stats don't come up on quantcast.com) and is probably bringing in less that $500 (if that) in ad revenue monthly. It would have been an even dumber decision on the IAC's part to sell to them.

With Rushmore and even Sahara's property Honey (after seeing their 10 million deal that I don't believe) - they need to just cut losses and die.

afrolantic · 5 months ago

Thanks for the clarification.

Piepiepie · 5 months ago

hmmm.... RD wasn't worth 1MM -- I don't think RD had any interesting technology. Even the name was ridiculous.

Richard Black · 5 months ago

HBCUConnect.com is hiring... I know 2 people who just moved over there...