Ok, this one is just a rumor but I am doing some follow-ups based on a tip from a trusted source. According to my source, ABS-CBN might split ways with Multiply real soon.
In November 2008, ABS-CBN bought into Multiply with a 5% stake of the blogging/social network site for a reported US$5 million (~Php250 Million).
ABS-CBN was already selling local ads for Multiply then and this was strengthened by adding more Multiply sites for every show and TV program the network giant airs. The move was to help increase over-all site traffic and market share in the Philippines.
However, looking at Google Trends for Multiply in the Philippines, it didn’t seem to end that way:
Multiply had close to 250,000 daily unique visitors from the Philippines in early 2009 but slowly went down to under 150,000 by the end of the year.
By start of 2010, traffic continued to go down to just over 100,000 in the first quarter. There was a little bump around the time of elections, but continue to slide after that.
In the last 30 days, Google Trends estimated the traffic to be hanging in the 100k daily unique visitors a day. In comparison, Sulit.com.ph has more daily Philippine traffic than all of Multiply combined.
We don’t have solid reasons behind this alleged split-up but it’s possible that the steady decline in traffic in the last 18 months has something to do with it — which could have affected ad sales. This decline might have also been aggravated by the surge of Facebook users in the country with focus on Facebook Ads as the more popular platform.
I’m not also sure how ABS-CBN will settle the 5% stake with Multiply but the latter might just buy back those shares. Again, this is just a rumor but I think it’s worth further investigation. We’ll know soon enough if it’s really true.
I knew it from the start… ABS-CBN is falling down… they’re not as liquid as they were before…
Twitter: PhilBlogger
says:
No, ABS-CBN is just looking for yet another business opportunity where they can squeeze juice from. That could be the reason why they’re breaking up with multiply…
http://PhilippineAlmanac.com/
Twitter: microwin
says:
Facebook became popular because it’s easy to link up with the other members and Multiply realizes that by changing their business model. Just recently, they supported online sellers which was prohibited before. Still, I prefer Multiply over Facebook. The good thing about the people behind Facebook is that they’re quick to move to adapt to the needs of their members.
Twitter: carloblogg
says:
@dean tracy – i think you’re referring to me.
Well of course no one can really tell when FB will go down exactly (or receive less traffic 
); that is just my opinion(and of course, as what I have said, I may be wrong 
). Yeah I think 2 years is too soon. 
)
But I will have to agree on what you’ve said that nothing on the blogosphere is permanent.
2 years of course may be too soon judging from your data, but we all know that “it” will come eventually – Facebook may soon face the “inevitable” (unless FB of course keeps on improving its platform
Twitter: january14n
says:
i agree with sir carlo, for facebook to maintain its number one spot they should seek for additional research and development that would going to increase their social appeal in the blogosphere.
Twitter: twitter.com/ddrare
says:
It’s not just about the size of the site. Multiply has captured a good niche, SMEs. They just have to focus on that and continue enhancing their features for them and the buyers.
This can prove to be longer term than just by being a social network. They just have to concentrate their efforts in making sure that the sellers get constant traffic to their shops, and buyers find what they’re looking for.
If they sustain this, it’ll be a great eco-system.
Twitter: mmontala
says:
I seldom visit and log in to multiply account because I have my own hosted sites and blogs anyway. I’m just experimenting if it will benefit me one way or the other but it seems that if I promote my page on multiply.com, I’ll be just promoting multiply.com itself and if ever multiply will vanish from cyberspace along with it is my hardwork and my website. Just thinking……why there are still many sellers build online stores on multiply.com rather than host their own site and register their own domain name?
Twitter: PhilBlogger
says:
@TheFilipinoEntrepreneur.com I totally agree with you. I am not too sure as to when multiply.com will vanish but if that happens, there would a lot of bloggers, sellers, etc who will suffer. It would always be better to host your own site. Nowadays, there are cheaper yet reliable webhosts.
Harold
http://PhilippineAlmanac.com