myspace has almost 80m users!!

< The success of MySpace is pretty familiar to all of you, but let me remind you of its side ways, we are now approaching 80 million registered users, we average more than 30 billion pages used last month and we are showing significant growth in revenues and the introduction of new features, including a video section and a comedy section.>

http://mediastockblog.com/article/10438

There is a lot of conjecture over what SEARCH ENGINE Rupert Murdoch will buy to capitalise on his many properties, including phenominom, myspace.com.

Iv view of Looksmart's almost "letting the cat out of the bag" somewhat, with an ever so gentle advice in it's recent conferance call, that "FOX TV Sites are now partners, of Looksmart', I'm still plumping for a Newscorp "buy-in", into Looksmart. The advantages are obvious and some evidence already posted, really is almost compelling ....

Over at Bambi's blog, (link provided) much discussion is being had on just what will or, will not be suitable for 'capitalising' on any advertising prospects to the ever growing numbers, myspace.com continue to churn out.

http://bambi.blogs.com/bambi_francisco/2006/05/myspaceengine.html

Of course, I took the opportunity to post some more thoughts (as follows) on this subject, too......

As a Looksmart shareholder, I'm very 'keen' on the prospects of a NWS 'hook-up' with Looksmart. In a previous post (Meat-market cleanup), the comment was made:

Most, (or, a lot) who frequent these “social” sites, (myspace.com, etc) also study full time. They “can” then get the opportunity to mix some leisure & pleasure and get to prepare a report (or, an assignment), at the same time that they are "interacting". Looksmart have, both the expertise and “tools” to ensure a long lasting success of any “venture” of this type and with Furl installed on myspace.com it then allows the near on 80 Million “users” to “save & share” what is relevant to that site’s (myspace's) own “group culture” and at the same time, they also get to “share” their ‘finds’, with other myspace users all over the world, indicating to each other what's "hot" & what's "not", so to speak by the number of times a particular article or, page is "saved".

I've been looking at search results (from Yahoo/Overture), that is currently installed on myspace.com and cannot see how any such results can be of more 'value' to NWS, than the principles of 'sharing' both content & users with it's (other) worldwide fellow publishers and media Co's & their sites. (Yes, I admit, I'm 'hot' for a "content consortium" being formed, centered around Looksmart & it's Vertical sites).

http://www.myspace.com/

And I liked this poster's thoughts here, (fox) apart from his referance to the lack of a "brand", maybe? ....(although, I do see some definate sense,in doing so ..... not overpowering?)

"... Social Networking companies won’t have an initial search brand, but they will be able to monetize it just by being the default. Has anyone noticed the top of the page at MySpace? The search button is larger than the MySpace.com text and by default it searches the web first"! ....He/she says.

http://internetstockblog.com/article/1569

So, a "controlling stake" interest in Looksmart from FOX (FIM) will see exactly the same (Furl & search) arrangements on all partner sites, as is currently installed on the Viacom, CBS Local sites, I feel.

http://cbs4boston.com/

And I can see plenty of area there (on the top RHS) as is also the case in myspace to enlarge the search "options", that will probably then be 'uniform', on all network partner sites. (should be?).

Now, back to myspace.com and it's current search facility, with Yahoo. Check these two results & make up your mind as to which will prove more financially beneficial to NewsCorp (FIM), when you then take into mind the number of additional 'users' that can be introduced from "partner site to partners" site, under the potential of a content consortium network, eventuality. (Search myspace.com for "tomato" - You'll get a 'set' of Yahoo 'whitelabelled' results)

http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=ush-messageboards&p=tomato

or,

http://search.cbs4boston.com/?__LOGIC=1611§ion=The+Web&SearchString=FindArticles+on+Tomato
(use search term ..."FindArticles on Tomato" in CBS4 link, above)

So, say Rupert now has a 60% interest in those (above) CBS4 'results'(and assuming these same results, have also become 'universal' to all other publisher/media Co stakeholders) these then take a 'user' from any partner site, back to a Rupert (owned) Vertical (that has, in time, 'localised' contextuals installed on that Vertical results page, with more revenues for FIM & Looksmart) and then the "user" may make two or, more (visit) 'explores', (from this juncture), onto any of the/ those "other" partner (content supplier) sites.

The number of partner sites 'visited' is only dependent on the number of articles of interest or, the popularity of those articles that the Looksmart Vertical results page does display, that are then subsequently 'clicked' on. And Furl will help index popularity, in time, accordingly.

Does anyone see much fault in those "web search" results provided by Looksmart, to all CBS Local Sites, as exampled in the CBS4 link, above?

Incidentally, FOX already partner Viacom in other type "content sharing" arrangements.

Current myspace 'users' grow older like the rest of us do, but a chance, or, the opportunity now, to 'create' or, 'shape' new & long lasting (user) search "habits" may seem irresistable for FIM, in aquainting them early to all their other "news & sport" properties.

Just another thought to consider.

:)

LC