The total number of deals in media, information providers, marketing and related technologies increased slightly, from 397 in the first half of 2007 to 404 in the first two quarters of this year. Deal value plummeted about two-thirds, however, from $65.8 billion to $23.2 billion during the comparable periods, reflecting the drop in multibillion dollar blockbusters.
Transactions in online media and technology and marketing and interactive services accounted for 72% of the deal volume in the sectors so far this year. Highlights included the €1.37 billion ($2.14 billion) merger of U.K.'s Taylor Nelson Sofres plc and Germany's GfK AG, Nielsen Co.'s $225 million buyout of IAG Research Inc. and the $850 million purchase of Bebo Inc. by Time Warner Inc.'s AOL division.
The online, marketing and interactive buyouts counterbalanced declining transactions in magazines, educational and professional publishing, newspapers and other areas. - Chris Nolter
See first half of 2008 M&A report from the Jordan, Edmiston Group (pdf)
See related story from Tech Confidential
See story about the merger of Taylor Nelson Sofres plc and GfK AG from TheDeal.com
See story about Nielsen Co.'s acquisition of IAG Research Inc. from TheDeal.com
See story about AOL's purchase of Bebo from Tech Confidential
The "retooling" of the media and marketing industries drove mergers and acquisitions in the sectors during the first half of 2008, Jordan, Edmiston Group Inc. said in a Tuesday report. 
