Microsoft Ahead in AOL-Wooing Game

So says this story in NYT: Microsoft is ahead in wooing AOL, but even then reaching a deal has been harder than Time Warner may have hoped. Too much historical baggage involved, for sure…

Besides MSFT, Google and Comcast, Yahoo and News Corp. are in the wings, waiting to see if AOL will give up its insistence on retaining control.

A chief sticking point in a potential Microsoft deal is how it would be governed, and thus far Time Warner has taken the position that, barring a very rich offer, it will not cede control.

Meanwhile, Google has discussed a partnership with AOL that might not involve cash trading hands but would give AOL more involvement in the advertising relationship.

Comments have been disabled for this post