Microsoft – Dailymotion partner?
February 25, 2014
Orange has revealed it is in talks with Microsoft over a possible tie-up with its video-sharing website Dailymotion, nearly a year after discussions with Yahoo collapsed following regulator opposition.
Orange said it would keep a majority stake in Dailymotion, the world’s 12th largest video-sharing site, but is looking for partners outside Europe to develop it internationally, Chief Executive Stephane Richard said.
“We have ongoing talks, particularly with Microsoft, which doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll come to a deal,” said Richard, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
“I think it makes a lot of sense for us, as for Microsoft, to reach an accord that would be above all a partnership,” he said, adding that Orange was also talking with other content providers, including in France.
Last year, French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg blocked a plan by US-web giant Yahoo to buy a majority stake in Dailymotion. The French state owns 28 per cent of Orange.