Broadcast.com

Early internet audio and video streaming company, originally named AudioNet.

Streaming mediaInternetDot-com eraDallas

Acquired^{Source [2]}^{Source [5]}^{Source [7]}Last verified Oct 2, 2026

About Broadcast.com

Broadcast.com was a Dallas internet company that aggregated and broadcast live and on-demand audio and video on the web, including sports, music, radio and television stations and business events.^{Source [1]}

It began as AudioNet, which Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner used to carry Indiana University basketball broadcasts online. Corporate records show Cameron Audio Networks incorporated on May 19, 1995, bought the AudioNet name in 1996 and renamed itself broadcast.com in May 1998.^{Source [1]}^{Source [3]}^{Source [4]}

It earned money from business services, such as webcasting corporate events and hosting websites, and from advertising. Revenue rose to $22.4 million in 1998, while the company reported a net loss of $16.4 million.^{Source [1]}

Yahoo bought the company in 1999 in a stock deal valued at about $5.7 billion when announced, with Cuban and Wagner initially staying on to run it. Yahoo later discontinued the Broadcast.com services.^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}^{Source [7]}

What happened

Incorporated in Texas on May 19, 1995 as Cameron Audio Networks, it took the AudioNet name in 1996 and was renamed broadcast.com in May 1998. It went public on Nasdaq in July 1998. Yahoo agreed on April 1, 1999 to acquire it in an all-stock deal valued at about $5.7 billion when announced, and the deal closed in July 1999. Yahoo later discontinued the Broadcast.com services.^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}^{Source [3]}^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}^{Source [7]}

Timeline

1999-07Yahoo completed the acquisition.^{Source [6]}
1999-04Agreed to be acquired by Yahoo for 0.7722 Yahoo shares per share, about $5.7 billion.^{Source [5]}
1999-03Acquired Net Roadshow.^{Source [1]}
1998-11Acquired web host Simple Network Communications (SimpleNet).^{Source [1]}
1998-07Began trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol BCST.^{Source [1]}
1998-05Changed its name from AudioNet to broadcast.com.^{Source [1]}
1996Acquired the rights to the AudioNet name and reincorporated in Delaware as AudioNet, Inc.^{Source [1]}
1995-05Incorporated in Texas as Cameron Audio Networks.^{Source [1]}

Products and brands

Streaming programming: Live and on-demand audio and video of sports, music, radio and TV stations on the web.^{Source [1]}
Business services: Webcasting of corporate events such as earnings calls and investor presentations.^{Source [1]}
SimpleNet: Low-cost website hosting for consumers and small businesses, acquired in November 1998.^{Source [1]}
Net Roadshow: Online investor roadshow service, acquired in March 1999.^{Source [1]}

How it makes money: Earned revenue from business services (62.4% of 1998 revenue), mainly webcasting and web hosting for companies, and from advertising sold on its sites and streams (37.6%).^{Source [1]}

Leadership

Todd Wagner	CEO and Vice Chairman^{Source [1]}	Until 1999
Mark Cuban	Chairman of the Board and President^{Source [1]}	Until 1999

Funding and financials

Revenue: $22.4 million (1998)^{Source [1]}
Net loss: $16.4 million (1998)^{Source [1]}
IPO net proceeds: About $43.2 million (July 1998)^{Source [1]}
Acquisition value: About $5.7 billion in Yahoo stock (announced April 1999)^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}

Notable acquisitions

Simple Network Communications (SimpleNet)^{Source [1]}	1998
Net Roadshow^{Source [1]}	1999

People on Founded, and where they went next

1 person on record, connected to 4 other companies.

Person	Here	Also built
Mark Cuban	Co-founder, Chairman of the Board and President1995 to 1999	Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company2019 to nowActiveHDNet (now AXS TV)2001AcquiredDallas Mavericks2000 to nowActiveMicroSolutions1983 to 1990Acquired

Sources

broadcast.com inc. Form 10-K405 for fiscal 1998, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), 1999-03-30. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
broadcast.com inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), 1999-05-17. Accessed Sep 28, 2026.
Mark's Bio, Mark Cuban Companies. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Mark Cuban, Texas Business Hall of Fame. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Yahoo! Acquires Broadcast.com for $5.7 Billion, InternetNews, 1999-04-01. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Yahoo! completes acquisition of broadcast.com, Telecompaper. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Broadcast.com, Wikipedia. Accessed Sep 28, 2026.

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