 Likewise, internal dissent over the best ways to merge AOL's distribution channels with Time Warner's more traditional media content plagued the online unit.Against this backdrop, AOL was struggling with declining advertising sales due to an economic downturn as well as a leveling out of its still dial-up driven subscriber growth.The unit took a further hit when its parent was forced to restate its earnings forecast in January 2002, in part due to the slowdown in AOL's business.