Daily Mail
July 16, 2012
Microsoft is pulling out of the joint venture that owned MSNBC.com, freeing the world’s largest software maker to build its own online news service.
One of the factors behind the split was apparently Microsoft’s fears that the website was being seen as too left-wing, and the software giant’s desire to present ‘multiple perspectives’ in its news coverage.
The breakup announced late on Sunday dissolves the final shreds of a 16-year marriage between Microsoft Corp. and NBC News, which is now owned by Comcast Corp. The relationship began to unwind in 2005 when Microsoft sold its stake in MSNBC’s cable TV channel to NBC.
NBC is buying Microsoft’s 50 per cent interest in the MSNBC website for an undisclosed amount. The New York Times puts the figure at about $300million
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