Rumour: Digg Nearly Sold? by in Technology / November 9th, 2007
We normally don’t print unsubstantiated rumours on PTTBT, but this one has the air of truth to it… a source inside Digg has told us that the user-submitted news site is in final talks to be acquired by a non-tech entity for a cool $750 million. You may remember previous would-be buyers were companies like Microsoft, AOL or even Google… but no one else could meet the standards set by co-founders Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson. So who is this new mystery buyer?
Cuba. Yes, our source suggests that after realizing that his brother’s cybernetic implants really would keep him alive forever, Raoul Castro has decided to dabble in Silicon Valley. Digg’s “people powered” mantra was a natural fit for the also-ran, so he siphoned state funds into a special on-shore bank account to close the transaction. Digg’s headquarters will be relocated to Havana in the new year, so all current employees will be forced to decide if they love their code more than their country.
A Cuban official close to the deal tried to calm the fears of Digg users everywhere by saying: “We do not intend to change the content or workings of the site when we take control. Although we will be implementing a new algorithm to change all instances of ‘Ron Paul’ to ‘Great Leader Fidel’ in search results.”
When asked if a communist Digg would do more to vilify US President George W Bush, the official laughed and said: “No, they do that pretty well already.”
The purchase should be good for both parties, said Valley analyst Mercel Gerber. But he wondered how Cuba managed to convince Rose and Adelson to give up control, after they had turned down so many offers before. “Castro must have bribed them aggressively to get such a clean deal. Don’t be surprised if you see Kevin Rose strolling around San Francisco puffing on some Cuban cigars.”
A Digg spokesman scoffed at the suggestion, saying Mr Rose doesn’t smoke cigars.
“Smoking is a terrible habit, and as Governor of Mantua, His Execellency Mr Rose would never encourage it.”
November 9th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I, for one, welcome our new Cuban overlords.