• February 6, 2008

If AOL goes on the block, cable provider Comcast and eBay will make up a very small pool of potential suitors, according to a research note released this week by Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield.

Microsoft's $31-per-share unsolicited offer to buy Yahoo last week has sparked acquisition rumors for AOL, and put increased pressure on its CEO Jeff Bewkes to make a change. According to Greenfield, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts would love to get his hands on AOL's advertising network and Web site, though he is unlikely to lay out more than $10 billion for the Time Warner unit.

--Gavin O'Malley