AOL (NYSE: TWX) will split in two President and CEO Jeff Bewkes, in his first earnings call, said that plans to separate AOLs audience business from access are underway, but “will take several more months because it’s fairly complicated...It’s one of our top priorities.” What he didn’t say: We’re working to separate AOL access from the growth-potential businesses, possibly setting stage for the sale of one, the other or both. No specifics on how this would be accomplished but would think an ISP sale a la UK and Europe could be possible or even some kind of merger of that business with another ISP. That would leave the advertising/audience business, which should be easier to package without the business that gave AOL its start and its power for so long. There’s no change expected in the strategy with the audience business - their portal and publishing sites. He’s bullish on the potential for video.

Nikhil adds: AOLs international operations are headquartered in India, led by Maneesh Dhir (EVP, International for AOL), and all of their business here is audience focused. Dhir, in fact, was in Australia recently, to launch AOL’s Australia portal. A separation from the access business and increased focus on audience bodes well for India, though I hope they intend to do more than just a me-too with their portals.

More on AOL at paidContent.org:
-- TWX CEO Bewkes: AOL Will Split Access From Ads, Audience; Will Make TWC Decision By End Of April
-- AOL: Q4 Advertising By The Numbers; Growth Not Expected Until Q2