TimeWarner announced yesterday an AOL makeover ot make more money with less subscribers. The profit hinged on $1 billion in cost cuts mainly coming from, “the company’s extensive marketing effort to attract new customers and retain old ones,” NYT reports.

“The company estimates that it will lose more than six million paying subscribers over the next year. “

People might like to think that it was the exposure given Vincent Ferrari’s call that jump started the retention center flush. That may be too rosy a view. Maybe there’s a certain point where there’s simply too many people trying to cancel, too eagerly and it’s more cost-effective to quickly process them than tourniquet the attrition.

Like the wise willow, AOL bent to the farts of change.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.