commbasics

OK, so we had the news on EE Times mini-layoffs and PC Mag dropping the print publication after the first of the year.  Now Bloomberg breaks the news that the bidding for Reed Business (the company that owns both Variety and EDN) has dropped to $1 Billion, about half of what was expected. The story goes on to say that they will either pull the sale offer or sit down with talks to the highest bidder. What does all that mean?  I haven't a clue.  Reed could decide to hold on to it and do another consolidation, which doesn't bode well for EDN unless someone wants to pick them up (Hello, Advantage Media?) or a new buyer ... would do pretty much the same. Oh, and back to EE Times for a sec.  They plan on having four special sections next year.  The subjects are  Test & Measurement; Avionics and Defense Electronics; Automotive; and Smart Sensors, Sensor Networks & Medical Electronics.  No EDA.  No semiconductors.  All embedd...

To put all this stuff in perspective, a few days ago, Techinsights announced that their circulation for EE Times was now at 70,000 in Europe.  That's a 40 percent increase.  Lots of people read EE Times, both online and in print.  Lots of companies all around the world want to get their news in that magazine.  But no one wants to pay for the advertising that supports that news. The parent company of Techinsights, United Business Media, is doing well.  Interim results showed a 10 percent increase in revenue and the profit margin is well over 20 percent.  That's good news in today's economy.  But it is not good enough to continue to subsidize the marketing programs of individual companies.  Business decisions have to be made. It's a sad fact of life, but there it is.

Just got an email from Loring Wirbel.  He was laid off at EE Times.  I'm speechless.