The Independent in talks to take control of BuzzFeed, HuffPost in UK - FT (updated)

BuzzFeed

15/02/2024 16:46

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       Feb 15 (Reuters) - British media group The Independent
is in talks to take control of BuzzFeed  BZFD.O  and Huffington
Post's operations in the UK and Ireland, the Financial Times
reported on Thursday.
    The Independent will assume all editorial and commercial
control of BuzzFeed in the UK under a licensing deal for its
various brands, the FT said, citing people familiar with the
talks.
    Buzzfeed and The Independent did not immediately respond to
Reuters' requests for comment.
    BuzzFeed said last year that it would shutter its news
division, which had gained renown for its irreverent and probing
coverage, and focus on the quirky lists and cooking videos that
are its bread and butter.
        The company, which produces news, videos and online
quizzes, was founded by Jonah Peretti and John Johnson in 2006,
and went public in 2021 through a blank-check merger. 
  
        Shares of BuzzFeed soared about 70% to 29 cents. They
have lost 93% of their value since the debut.
  

 (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh, Akash Sriram and Samrhitha
Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
 ((Jaspreet.Singh@thomsonreuters.com; https://twitter.com/i_jass;))