BuzzFeed’s News Headache

Last summer, executives from NBCUniversal had a conversation with BuzzFeed about buying control of the media company, according to people familiar with the talks. At least some investors in BuzzFeed were keen for a deal to happen, so they could exit the high profile but unprofitable business.

At the time, BuzzFeed was expecting to finish the year well short of its aggressive revenue growth targets for 2017. And its 250-person newsroom was weighing down its profit and loss statement.