This deal is about expanding the interactive advertising economy–one to one marketing, data collection, the prominent availability of video from deep-pocked interests, and an endless platform that can commercially target every taste. While a smart business move (since Google now also represents Rupert Murdoch’s MySpace/Fox, the other leading Web 2.0 site), we are concerned about the total commercialization and commodification of the Internet/digital media. We have consolidation in both old and new media with increased cross-ownership of both. There are no network neutrality rules to ensure digital lanes can operate fairly for those non-Google pocketed content providers. And they are paving cyberspace with the mentality of Madison Avenue.
We will be back with more analysis.