[ASIA] NBC Internet, Inc. (Nasdaq:NBCI) and Asiacontent.com (Nasdaq:IASIA) on
December 30, 2000, announced the dissolution of their joint venture and related agreements to
jointly establish local Asian versions of NBC Internet’s (NBCi’s) various community portals.
Confirmation of the split follows Asiacontent.com’s sale of its joint venture interest in CNET Asia
sites to CNET Networks, Inc., in December, 2000. Both CNET Networks and NBC Internet
are investors in Asiacontent.com. The joint statement issued by the two companies made no
mention of whether or not the dissolution of the JV would affect NBC Internet’s relationship with
Asiacontent as an investor.
Originally intended to import NBC Internet’s consumer portal model to Asia, the venture was
ultimately stillborn following the Nasdaq downturn in the spring of 2000. Sources confirmed that
Asiacontent.com’s joint venture with NBC rival CBS’s Marketwatch.com site was not seen as a
conflict of interest and did not play a role in the partnership’s dissolution. An Asian version of
Marketwatch has yet to debut.
