iWorld
Verizon acquires AOL for $4.4 billion
MUMBAI: Taking another significant step in building digital and video platforms to drive future growth, Verizon Communications Inc. has acquired AOL Inc. for an estimated total value of approximately $4.4 billion.
AOL chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong will continue to lead AOL operations after closing.
Verizon’s acquisition further drives its LTE wireless video and OTT (over-the-top video) strategy. The agreement will also support and connect to Verizon’s IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, creating a growth platform from wireless to IoT for consumers and businesses.
The combination of Verizon and AOL creates a scaled, mobile-first platform offering directly targeted at what eMarketer estimates is a nearly $600 billion global advertising industry. AOL’s key assets include its subscription business; its premium portfolio of global content brands, including The Huffington Post, Tech Crunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com, as well as its millennial-focused OTT, Emmy-nominated original video content; and its programmatic advertising platforms.
Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam said, “Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform. This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.”
“AOL has once again become a digital trailblazer, and we are excited at the prospect of charting a new course together in the digitally connected world. At Verizon, we’ve been strategically investing in emerging technology, including Verizon Digital Media Services and OTT, that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising. AOL’s advertising model aligns with this approach, and the advertising platform provides a key tool for us to develop future revenue streams,” he added.
Armstrong said, “Verizon is a leader in mobile and OTT connected platforms, and the combination of Verizon and AOL creates a unique and scaled mobile and OTT media platform for creators, consumers and advertisers. The visions of Verizon and AOL are shared; the companies have existing successful partnerships, and we are excited to work with the team at Verizon to create the next generation of media through mobile and video.”
The transaction will take the form of a tender offer followed by a merger, with AOL becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon upon completion.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close this summer.
Verizon expects to fund the transaction from cash on hand and commercial paper. The company also continues to expect to return to pre-Vodafone transaction credit ratings in the 2018-2019 timeframe.
Transaction advisers for Verizon were Lion Tree Advisors; Guggenheim Partners; and Weil, Gotshal&Manges. AOL advisers were Allen & Company LLC and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
iWorld
JioHotstar and OpenAI partner to bring ChatGPT-powered personalised content to 500m Indian viewers
Fireside chat at AI Impact Summit 2026 highlights AI-driven content discovery and personalised storytelling
DELHI: At the AI Impact Summit 2026, a defining conversation unfolded between Uday Shankar, vice-chairman, JioStar, and Sam Altman, ceo and co-founder, OpenAI, spotlighting how AI is transforming creation, distribution and consumption of content.
The discussion coincided with Jiostar’s landmark announcement: a partnership between JioHotstar and OpenAI that will embed ChatGPT-powered conversational search and discovery into the platform. The move aims to deliver seamless, multilingual, deeply personalised experiences for India’s 500 million-plus viewers, fundamentally redefining how content is discovered and consumed.
“There’s a lot of noise about content overload. We see a different reality. In a country as diverse as India, there isn’t enough content that truly reflects its cultural and regional nuance. That’s the opportunity,” said Shankar. “Across content, commerce and consumer experience, this partnership lets us rethink the ecosystem. Technology now allows storytelling to move from static and broad to dynamic and deeply personalised, aligned to the unique tastes of every consumer. The future isn’t more content. It’s more relevant content.”
Altman added perspective on India’s AI momentum: “What feels different here is the energy. There is a clear sense of going all in on AI, not just as individual companies, but as a country. Safety has to be taken seriously. Ensuring that benefits are widely distributed has to be taken seriously. But above all, the focus is on creating real value for companies and for people through the services we build. That is the balance driving this moment.”
The partnership signals a shared commitment to responsibly scale AI-powered experiences that deliver tangible business value while making a meaningful impact on consumers. By combining India-specific content nuance with OpenAI’s generative intelligence, Jiostar is betting on a future where discovery, engagement and relevance replace sheer volume—setting the stage for a new era in personalised entertainment.
