Newscasts - Bids for TikTok pile up, with Amazon and OnlyFans founder in the race

Blender Bites

03/04/2025 09:51

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Source: 'Reuters - Business videos'

Description: As the weekend deadline for TikTok to find a buyer approaches, bidders for the short-video social media site are piling up, with Amazon and, separately, a consortium led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely the latest to throw their hats into the ring. Julian Satterthwaite reports.

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Video Transcript:

As a weekend deadline to find a buyer for TikTok approaches, bids for the short-video site are piling up. Among the latest to throw their hats into the ring are Amazon and a group led by Tim Stokely, founder of adult content site OnlyFans. Two Reuters sources say he's partnered with a cryptocurrency foundation to submit a late offer. US President Donald Trump has set an April 5 deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer. Otherwise, it could face a ban in the US over concerns it's a risk to national security due to its ties to China. TikTok and Chinese-parent firm ByteDance have repeatedly rejected all such allegations. Amazon shares rose around 2% following the news of its last-minute bid. The ecommerce giant has long harbored ambitions to own an in-house social media network. That could help it sell more goods and target a younger audience. Trump has said his Administration is in touch with four groups about a deal.

We have a lot of interest in TikTok.

He didn't name them, but media reports have cited Oracle, Blackstone, and venture capital outfit Andreessen Horowitz as among interested parties.