Napster: The final countdown?

Bertelsmann hints at a (premature?) web withdrawal

German media giant Bertelsmann is on the brink of shutting several of its key online assets, including bol.com and Napster, according to reports. The new strategy comes following web enthusiast Thomas Middelhoff's exit, and his replacement as CEO by Gunter Thielen. Thielen is thought to be focusing on a revamp of the company's core operations of television, book publishing and record labels. Bertelsmann's board has already agreed to scrap its ecommerce operations, according to the FT, almost certainly sounding the death knell - once and for all - for Napster.