This paper considers the documented history of the commercial online industry and the flurry of recent mergers and acquisitions with reference to the companies trading as Questel-Orbit, Ovid Technologies, LEXIS/NEXIS and Knight-Ridder Information in 1995. It outlines the commercial reasons for, and consequences of, merger and acquisition activities. Fears regarding these transactions, based on commentaries in the online press and the results of a pilot survey carried out in Spring 1995 are given. Initial findings indicate that there are concerns being voiced by the consumer, particularly regarding the closure of databases post-acquisition/merger and dominance of the industry by the large hosts. Hopes and fears for the future of commercially available electronic sources are discussed in the context of continuing merger and acquisition activity.