IAC, (legal name: IAC/InterActiveCorp), is an internet company with over 45 consumer brands serving consumer audiences across 40 countries. IAC is operated by approximately 3,600 employees. The Chairman and CEO is Barry Diller.[1][2] [edit] History - In 1995, Barry Diller was named Chairman and CEO of Silver King Communications, Inc. - what would later become IAC. Silver King then merged with Home Shopping Network and Savoy Pictures Entertainment. The company was renamed HSN, Inc. Diller then began to build the company through a series of acquisitions and divestitures.
- In 1997, the company acquired 50% of Ticketmaster Group. In 1998, it acquired USA Networks, SCI FI and Universal domestic TV. The company was renamed USA Networks, Inc. and began trading on the Nasdaq as USAI. Also in 1998, Ticketmaster Online merged with Citysearch to form Ticketmaster Online Citysearch, Inc. (TMCS) In 1999, USAI acquired Hotel Reservations Network (later renamed Hotels.com) and TMCS acquired Match.com and the Sidewalk city guides from Microsoft.
- In 2002, USAI acquired TV Travel Group, Interval International, and a controlling interest in Expedia. In 2003, USAI acquired Entertainment Publications, Inc.; uDate.com; LendingTree; Hotwire; RealEstate.com; GetSmart; and the remainder of Ticketmaster, Expedia and Hotels.com. The company was renamed InterActiveCorp (IAC).
- In 2004, IAC acquired TripAdvisor, Inc.; ServiceMagic, Inc.; and Home Loan Center. In 2005, IAC acquired AskJeeves, Inc. and Cornerstone Brands, Inc. In August, the company completed the spin-off of its travel businesses under the name of Expedia, Inc.
- In 2006, IAC began its move from a holding company to an operating company by establishing the position of President and Chief Operating Officer and appointing LendingTree founder Doug Lebda to the position. Also in 2006, IAC Programming, a content business combining the internet with traditional programming, was formed, and Michael Jackson, former head of USA Networks, Chairman of Universal Television Group, and CEO of UK's Channel Four, was appointed President. IAC tapped its internal talent for new business ideas and, as a result, launched home-grown businesses Gifts.com, Chemistry.com, Pronto, Very Short List, and 23/6 (in beta). In March 2006, AskJeeves was relaunched as Ask.com. In December 2006, IAC launched its first major product integration, AskCity, a new product from Ask.com that integrates content from key IAC brands. In May 2007, the company launched AskMobileGPS, an application for GPS-enabled mobile phones with features from Ask.com, Citysearch, and Evite.com.
- In March 2007, IAC's New York City-based employees moved into new headquarters designed by architect Frank Gehry and Studios Architecture in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood.
- In June 2007 Ask.com introduced a new look.
- In August 2008 IAC split into five companies including the current IAC.
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