America Online used to be the glittering crown jewel of AOL Time Warner's media empire. It now appears destined to be just another small jewel among many.
AOL's CEO Richard Parsons hinted as much in London earlier this month. During a Sept. 12 talk at the Royal Television Society, Parsons discussed the need to revamp AOL and suggested the online unit's survival is at stake.
"If (AOL) is going to live, and I think it is, it will be somewhat like HBO," Parsons said during a question-and-answer session.
Parsons seemed to be saying the Internet unit will be another cog in AOL's machine rather than the growth engine it was intended to be.
Some critics go further. They say America Online may have to be spun off as a separate firm to avoid sinking the entire parent company.
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