TC has remained mostly independent after that point as well: http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/24/aol-to-restructure-media-group-around-huffington-post-heres-the-i

TC has remained mostly independent after that point as well: http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/24/aol-to-restructure-media-group-around-huffington-post-heres-the-internal-email/ http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/24/aol-to-restructure-media-gr... Of-course none of that will matter if the TC writers decide to leave an create a rival blog. It comes down to if AOL can now pay them enough to stay.