6 posts and columns on Daily Candy

News Byte

Upscale Nerd Newsletter GeekChicDaily Raises $2 Million

in Media on January 25, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

Yep, you can still raise money for email newsletters in 2011. GeekChicDaily, aimed at the fanboy contingent that spends heavily on movies, action figures and the like, has raised $2 million in a round led by Hollywood producer Joe Roth and Microsoft veteran Mike Slade. Also on board: Clear Channel/Pilot Group’s Bob Pittman, a newsletter kingpin (Daily Candy, Thrillist, etc.) who helped the company raise $1.5 million last year.

Exclusive: Comcast's Top Digital Exec Amy Banse to Open New Silicon Valley Equity Fund for Cable Giant and NBC

in News on November 15, 2010 at 12:09 am PT

Amy Banse, currently the president of Comcast Interactive Media, is shifting into a job as head of a new Silicon Valley-based equity fund aimed at making digital investments for the television cable giant, as well as its new NBC Universal unit, according to sources with knowledge of the plans. As part of the shift, sources said, Banse will be charged with combining two existing corporate investment funds: NBC U’s Peacock Equity and Comcast Interactive Capital.

Exclusive: Comcast Reshuffles Its Digital Deck Before NBC Comes Aboard

in Media on September 21, 2010 at 11:32 am PT

Comcast hasn’t finished acquiring NBC Universal yet. But it is already shuffling some of its digital leadership ahead of the deal’s close. Current digital boss Amy Banse will end up with a new gig, and her lieutenant Matt Strauss gets a promotion.

More Local Heat: MSNBC.com Buys EveryBlock for Several Million Dollars

in News on August 17, 2009 at 9:00 am PT

It looks like the local market is heating up even more, with MSNBC.com announcing the acquisition of Chicago-based EveryBlock. Sources said MSNBC.com–a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal–paid several million dollars for the “hyper-local” information site, which is up and running in 15 cities, including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Boston. In June, Time Warner online unit AOL paid about $10 million to buy Patch Media, a platform that does deeply localized coverage of communities on a range of topics.
everyblock_logo

Comcast’s Digital Deal Guy: “We’re Ready For Pitches”*

in Media on March 24, 2009 at 8:15 am PT

In today’s deal-parched climate, “$50 million today is like $300 million two years ago.” Here’s someone who can take advantage of the new math: Sam Schwartz, who oversees strategy and M&A for Comcast’s digital group. Schwartz has already guided the cable giant through a shopping spree during the past few years, and while he’s too cautious to say it with force, he’s clearly interested in bulking up some more. And unlike some of his peers, he has the green light to do so: “We’re ready for pitches” he says.
sam-schwartz-photo