Google has bought DoubleClick for a breathtaking $3.1 billion in a transaction that is expected to find regulatory approval after a hard slog.
With DoubleClick’s huge display ad serving business, it made sense for mighty Google to swing for the fences in that Google’s display business is almost non-existent. The DART ad serving system will be a jewel for Google that is to be envied by other players such as Yahoo! and Microsoft.
In addition, DoubleClick’s new advertising exchange business will likely provide a platform upon which Google can leverage its existing AdSense/AdWords network and move toward the next generation of online advertising. It is believed that the acquisition price bloomed as the advertising exchange became seen as a “must-have” at Google.
Some agree with Google’s blog post about the acquisition that DoubleClick gives Google important agency relationships. This appears true – though Google’s still going to have a lot of hands to hold once this transaction is complete.
DART is used by just about every agency – the same agencies that control the majority of big ad dollars, especially brand dollars – and could be the keys to the online advertising kingdom.
Whether brand dollars are ready to come the online advertising exchange platform, we shall see.
