Microsoft seen as winner as big media circles Yahoo

Yahoo may have played its top two cards by pulling out possible deals with AOL and Google, but it does not seem to have changed Wall Street's view that Microsoft will eventually win the takeover battle. Yahoo announced on Wednesday a test to outsource Web search advertising to Google. Sources say the test is part of a planned three-way alliance to combine Yahoo with Time Warner Inc's AOL instead of Microsoft Corp. But hours later, the world's largest software company appeared to trump Yahoo's announcement as the New York Times reported that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp was in talks to join Microsoft's $42.3 billion bid for the Web pioneer. The LA Times writes, "The five largest draws for the Internet audience are now virtually certain to shrink to four -- maybe even three."
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0942900520080410

* Microsoft Remains Favorite In Crowded Battle for Yahoo
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120787106613306483.html?mod=todays_us_pa...

* Microsoft still seen with a win
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080411/2b_yahoo11.art.htm

* For users, AOL-Yahoo combo likely wouldn't change much
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080411/2b_yahoo_side11.art....

* Fight over Yahoo would limit online choices
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-yahoo11apr11,1,144788...

* Microsoft’s rivals circle but Yahoo lacks options
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7b514d1a-0727-11dd-b41e-0000779fd2ac.html

* Microsoft-Yahoo: Motivated Buyer Yet?
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2008/tc20080411_113560...