Yahoo is one of the biggest names in the web service provider category, but have you been wondering: does Verizon own Yahoo? Who is behind the behemoth in the Internet world?
Well, if you want to find out all of the details about Yahoo, including whether or not Verizon owns it, read on, as I’ll get into all of the facts behind this important question!
Does Verizon Own Yahoo In [currentyear]?
Verizon does not own Yahoo in [currentyear]. However, Verizon did purchase Yahoo in 2017 for $4.5 billion, two years after purchasing AOL. Verizon tried to turn it into Verizon Media, but it was no competition to the likes of Facebook. Verizon later sold Verizon Media, which included Yahoo for about half of what it paid for the company.
Do you want to know more about Verizon and Yahoo, including who now owns Yahoo? If so, continue reading to learn what I’ve discovered while researching this topic!
Who Owns Yahoo?
Apollo Global Management now owns Verizon Media in a $5 billion acquisition, which included both Yahoo and AOL, and that’s about half of what Verizon paid for both companies.
Furthermore, this means that Yahoo has reverted to being Yahoo, as opposed to Verizon Media Group, which was previously known as Oath.
Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Finance, and all other Yahoo properties were purchased by Verizon and then acquired by Apollo, along with AOL, RYOT, and Engadget.
However, Verizon still has a 10% stake in the new Yahoo company, so it hasn’t completely left the online advertising marketplace.
Why Did Verizon Buy Yahoo?
Verizon wanted to get into the digital advertising game and try to compete with Facebook for advertising revenue, and thought that Yahoo and AOL would be the way to do it.
Additionally, Yahoo was under immense pressure at the time to change its business model and look for ways to get more out of Yahoo’s holdings in both Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.
Therefore, the best option for Yahoo was to get rid of its core business model, including email and the advertising arm.
Verizon was looking to get into the game, so the company purchased it.
Verizon did not acquire any stakes in Yahoo Japan or Alibaba when it purchased Yahoo, but it hoped the deal would help reach more consumers and compete with Facebook and Google.
Also, Facebook and Google were dominating the online video and mobile video market for digital advertising, so it made sense because Verizon is a giant telecommunications company.
What Brands Are Owned by Verizon?
Throughout the years, Verizon has acquired several different brands, including acquiring Tracfone and the Tracfone family of brands.
While the Yahoo deal didn’t work out as intended for Verizon, it still owns a lot of brands and acquired several others such as:
- Family Mobile
- Tracfone
- Net10
- Straight Talk Wireless
- Total Wireless
- SafeLink
- Simple Mobile
- GTE
- Alltel
- Quest Wireless Spectrum
- Verizon Avenue
- Volicon
- Complex
- EdgeCast Networks
- Cloud Switch
- UpLynk
- Interceptor Incorporated
- XO Communications
- Straight Path Communications
- Vessel
- LDQ WiFi
- FleetMastics
- Terremark Worldwide and more!
Will Verizon Try to Purchase Yahoo in the Future?
It appears unlikely that Verizon will try to rebuy Yahoo in the future, as Verizon has since figured out that the digital advertising world is not where the company is best suited.
For example, Verizon only keeping a 10% stake in Verizon Media Group with Apollo Management indicates that Verizon does not think it’s going to go anywhere substantial.
Also, Verizon appears to be done with the media business overall, and has put its focus back on its Wireless and Fios networks, which is where the company has had huge success.
While we can never tell what the future holds for Verizon, and the digital advertising and media world is changing constantly, we would be surprised if Verizon tries to repurchase Yahoo.
Additionally, Yahoo has gone through several changes and struggles over the last decade, from changing leadership to security breaches, so it’s likely not worth Verizon’s time.
Would It Be a Good Idea for Verizon to Buy Yahoo?
At this time, it’s likely not a good idea for Verizon to try to buy or acquire Yahoo, as the company is doing alright with Apollo Global Management at the helm.
Verizon should continue to focus on building out its 5G technology and making Fios available for more customers throughout the United States, as that’s where the company is succeeding.
Furthermore, Verizon was right to get out of the digital advertising game once the company realized it couldn’t compete with either Google or Facebook in the digital media world.
Verizon, or any other company for that matter, is unlikely to ever match Google or Facebook in advertising online, and it would almost be a waste of time, money, and resources to try.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not Verizon owns Xfinity, if Verizon owns T-Mobile, and if Verizon owns Comcast.
Conclusion
Verizon no longer owns Yahoo, as it sold Verizon Media, which encompassed Yahoo and AOL among others, to Apollo Global Management for about half the price Verizon paid for it.
However, Verizon still has a 10% stake in Verizon Media, but the company has realized that it’s unable to compete with Google and Facebook in the digital advertising online media market.
