PointCast

PointCast was an early internet news network that broadcast headlines directly to a screensaver on a user's computer when it was idle.

History
PointCast was founded in 1992 and based in Cupertino, California. In 1997 PointCast CEO Christopher Hassett turned down an offer of 450 million from the. However, the company's market value later collapsed as its "push" technology was no longer considered cutting-edge.

Sale and closure
On May 11, 1999, announced that its Launchpad Technologies subsidiary had acquired PointCast. By then, the company's sale price had been reduced to $7 million and Hassett was fired. PointCast's network was finally shut down at the end of March 2000.