Wikia, Inc.'s FANDOM Announces Investment

[Poetlister]

Wikia, Inc.'s FANDOM announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement for an investment from TPG-backed media and technology veteran, Jon Miller. The transaction is expected to close in March and is subject to customary closing conditions. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The investment will provide Wikia, Inc. with industry-leading resources and significant operating and growth capital for the market-leading FANDOM brand. As part of the investment, Miller will join Wikia, Inc. as Co-chairman with current Chairman and Founder Jimmy Wales. Miller brings a history of leadership at media and technology companies such as IAC, AOL, Viacom, and News Corporation and Fox Inc., where he most recently served as Chief Digital Officer and Chairman and CEO, Digital Media Group of News Corporation. Wales is also founder of Wikipedia and founder, Chair Emeritus and Board Member of The Wikimedia Foundation.

PRNewswire

[Kumioko]

If I were Jimbo I would be worried that he was going to take my job and, if he is even 1/100th the businessman that Jimbo is, he will. Jimbo has brought his failing leadership style to Wikia and is the biggest reason it has had such limited profitability. Wikia could be a money maker, but as long as Jimbo is in charge it never will. Maybe this new guy can turn things around and do something about that horrible Wikia skin and the large number of losers and incompetent clowns that work at Wikia.

[Johnny Au]

If I were Jimbo I would be worried that he was going to take my job and, if he is even 1/100th the businessman that Jimbo is, he will. Jimbo has brought his failing leadership style to Wikia and is the biggest reason it has had such limited profitability. Wikia could be a money maker, but as long as Jimbo is in charge it never will. Maybe this new guy can turn things around and do something about that horrible Wikia skin and the large number of losers and incompetent clowns that work at Wikia.

Don't forget that the Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance (NIWA) (containing such wikis as MarioWiki, Bulbapedia, WiKirby, etc.) was created as a response to Wikia's incompetence.

[Renée Bagslint]

If I were Jimbo I would be worried that he was going to take my job and, if he is even 1/100th the businessman that Jimbo is, he will. Jimbo has brought his failing leadership style to Wikia and is the biggest reason it has had such limited profitability. Wikia could be a money maker, but as long as Jimbo is in charge it never will. Maybe this new guy can turn things around and do something about that horrible Wikia skin and the large number of losers and incompetent clowns that work at Wikia.

I presume that this is indeed a preliminary step to Jimmy Wales stepping down as Chair, and that this is him putting his exit strategy into operation. I gather that he is, or was until this change, a major shareholder.

[Poetlister]

if he is even 1/100th the businessman that Jimbo is

Is it conceivable that he isn't?

[Kingsindian]

Don't forget that the Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance (NIWA) (containing such wikis as MarioWiki, Bulbapedia, WiKirby, etc.) was created as a response to Wikia's incompetence.

I am not aware of the history. Any elaboration?

[Anroth]

Don't forget that the Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance (NIWA) (containing such wikis as MarioWiki, Bulbapedia, WiKirby, etc.) was created as a response to Wikia's incompetence.

I am not aware of the history. Any elaboration?

Money as usual. I know at least a couple who also had problems with Wikia's monetization resulting in inappropriate ads being targeted. There were technical issues with some as well, Wikia and the WMF had something in common that they like to insist on forcing in technical upgrades that dont. Server issues - wikia was running (at the time) on not fantastic hardware for high-traffic wiki's. Then there were basic UI issues. Wikia likes to make its wiki's use terrible skins. Or it used to.

But you would probably need to speak to an insider at Bulbapedia - they really do not like Wikia. See here for some personal animosity

[Kumioko]

if he is even 1/100th the businessman that Jimbo is

Is it conceivable that he isn't?

I really should have said that better. What I was trying to say is that Jimbo has a very long record of being absolutely lousy at business. I would argue that Wikipedia succeeded because he left, not because of his actions supporting it. Literally every business venture he has laid his hands on from Bomis to the current day has crashed and burned. I mean any idiot (except Jimbo it seems) can make money from porn on the internet. How he failed is beyond me!

[Renée Bagslint]

... I would argue that Wikipedia succeeded because he left, not because of his actions supporting it...

I would argue that Wikipedia is not a success, at least, not on the terms on which it presents itself, although as a MMORPG in which the players pretend to be writing an encylopaedia, it beats its rivals hands down. The Foundation is a huge success of course, at leaching money off donors on the pretence that it benefits Wikipedia, and Jimmy Wales is a moderate success at getting lucrative speaking engagements and trips to Davos.

[Kumioko]

Good point, it is probably the best of the Wiki's in terms of size and coverage of information but I agree the editing environment, incompetent WMF employees, articles ownership issues, admins who are only interested in control, etc. really make it a good example of what a business should not be.

I would like to point out that in both cases, the WMF projects and Wikia/Fandom, the overwhelming majority of people supporting it are volunteers. In both cases the volunteers get almost no respect for the paid employees and are not included on any decision making or strategic planning. The paid employees, who largely do not edit and don't have a vested interest in the success of the projects outside their paychecks, get to decide what will be allowed, how it will be supported, how it will be paid for, etc. with virtually no discussion with the volunteer communities and when there is, the paid employees just do what they want anyway.