News Corp 'in secret Yahoo talks'

The Wall Street Journal said that News Corp was eyeing a move that would see MySpace and other of Murdoch's web interests merge with Yahoo.
Yahoo would give News Corp 20% of its shares under the alleged deal, allowing it to remain independent.
Microsoft has offered to buy Yahoo for more than $40bn (£20.5bn).

NEWS CORP
Market value: $60.2bn
Annual profit: $4.45bn
Online interests: MySpace, various newspaper and TV websites
However Yahoo has dismissed the move as undervaluing its brand, audience, investments in advertising platforms and future growth prospects, free cash flow and earnings potential.
However Yahoo has dismissed the move as undervaluing its brand, audience, investments in advertising platforms and future growth prospects, free cash flow and earnings potential.

Google challenge
In a letter outlining why it had spurned the offer, Yahoo chief executive Jerry Yang said that the firm was in a position to take advantage of "a huge market opportunity".
YAHOO
Market value: $39.9bn
Annual profit: $695m
Online interests: Yahoo search engine, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Messenger, Flickr
"Today, Yahoo is a faster-moving, better-organized, more nimble company than it was just a few months ago," Mr Yang said

We have redeployed our resources to drive Yahoo's key strategic priorities taking important steps to streamline our organisation and close down or scale back businesses that don't support these critical growth initiatives."
Microsoft wants to merge with Yahoo to increase its online presence and enable it to better compete with industry leader Google.

MICROSOFT
Market value: $270.7bn
Annual profit: $22bn
Online interests: Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, Hotmail, Aquantive (digital marketing firm), Windows Live
News Corp's media interests include Dow Jones - which publishes the Wall Street Journal - Fox News, The Sun and The Times as well as MySpace and a 39% stake in BSkyB