Verizon Buys AOL

Verizon announced its purchase of AOL this week for a whopping $4.4 billion ($50 per share). The deal will reportedly help support the telecom giant's wireless and over-the-top video strategy, and give them control over major AOL web properties like the Huffington Post and TechCrunch. It also gives Verizon access to AOL's growing "'Platforms' group — which specializes in automated ad sales on other publishers' properties". Read more about Verizon's plans for the newly acquired AOL here.