Business Wars The AOL Time Warner Disaster | The Deal of the Century | 2
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Jul 30, 2025 The podcast dives into the dramatic merger between AOL and Time Warner, showcasing intense negotiations and the key figures driving the deal. With ambitions to outshine tech giants like Microsoft, the discussion highlights the hurdles of governmental scrutiny and market volatility. Tensions mount as contrasting corporate cultures clash, creating internal conflicts. Additionally, it teases intriguing hidden narratives from military operations, urging listeners to explore ethical dilemmas and the complexities behind powerful decision-making.
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Split Stock Battle Breakthrough
- Steve Case and Jerry Levin struggled over stock percentage but finally agreed on 55-45 in favor of AOL shareholders.
- This breakthrough unlocked the largest merger in U.S. history at the time.
Surprise Merger Approval
- Time Warner executives were shocked to learn about the merger only hours before announcement.
- Ted Turner publicly doubted AOL but ultimately voted for the merger, despite misgivings.
Look Beyond Surface Appearances
- Dressing like a Silicon Valley CEO doesn't translate to running a legacy media giant.
- Optics can move markets short term but won't fix deep business model mismatches.
