FeedBurner buys BlogBeat, expanding blog analysis
FeedBurner.com, which syndicates Web postings for 200,000 publishers, said it has acquired blog analytics company BlogBeat.net for undisclosed terms.
FeedBurner manages managing headline syndication services and operates a growing Web site advertising network. The deal will allow the company to provide publishers with tools to better understand what headline feeds blog site visitors are reading.
Chicago-based FeedBurner, founded three years ago, said it has acquired the assets of BlogBeat, based in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. BlogBeat founder Jeff Turner has joined FeedBurner as its lead engineer for Web analytics.
FeedBurner has around 25 employees. It manages 346,000 syndicated feeds of blog posts, news stories, podcasts and other regularly updated Web information for 212,000 publishers, both large and small.
Steve Olechowski, FeedBurner's co-founder and chief operating officer, said in a phone interview the deal will provide publishers the most comprehensive picture of how their content is being distributed and consumed online.
FeedBurner, which runs online news feeds for commercial publishers including Gannett, Hearst and Reuters and publications such as Crain's, Newsweek and Wired, will combine BlogBeat's blog analytic services with FeedBurner's existing free feed management services, he said.
The combination of the two services is set to be completed by fourth quarter. Existing BlogBeat customers will receive refunds from FeedBurner, the company said. Fee-based enhanced services are planned to be launched in 2007.
The company counts more than 19 million subscribers from around 190 countries to headline feeds it syndicates on behalf of its customers. Two thirds of FeedBurner's audience also see advertising supplied through its ad network.
FeedBurner has received $10 million in funding to date from venture capital investor Portage Venture Partners, SutterHill, Union Square, Mobius and Draper Fisher Jurvetson.
Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.
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