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AOL jumps through hoops
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June 5, 2000: 3:57 p.m. ET
Internet provider to promote NBA, WNBA basketball on Web and TV
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - America Online Inc., the world's largest Internet service provider, said Monday it had entered a multi-year marketing alliance with the National Basketball Association and the Women's National Basketball Association.
Under the deal, AOL (AOL: Research, Estimates), which in January announced plans to merge with Time Warner (TWX: Research, Estimates), parent company of CNNfn, will promote the NBA and the WNBA on all its channels, including AOL Web sites and during game broadcasts on the TNT and TBS networks, officials said.
In addition, AOL retains the right to use the NBA and player names to promote a forthcoming fantasy basketball game on AOL properties, the company said.
NBA.com and WNBA.com, also will be licensed to use AOL tools such as Instant Messenger and AOL Search as well as using AOL resources to explore local club ticket sales and additional cross-promotional opportunities.
"I think it's a great relationship," Robert Pittman, AOL's president and chief operating officer, told CNNfn's "Talking Stocks" program. Pittman said being able to promote the NBA over the Turner television networks, which are owned by Time Warner, provides a lot of opportunities. [WAV 375KB] [AIF 375KB]
 Other details of the agreement include giving AOL and CompuServ members access to exclusive, specially produced nightly video highlight packages, digital photos and real-time game statistics and featured content from NBA.com and WNBA.com.
During his interview with CNNfn, Pittman also said he thought the AOL/Time Warner merger is progressing smoothly and dismissed media reports that he was at odds with Time Warner's Vice Chairman Ted Turner over what Turner allegedly perceives as a diminished role in the new company.
"I met with Ted during that same period and supposedly he was very unhappy, but he was very focused, had lots of ideas, lots of things he wanted to get done," Pittman said. "I think in this world there's some confusion about roles. There shouldn't be. Ted Turner is Ted Turner. Ted Turner is going to do what he was doing on a broader canvas, in terms of having division of this company and division of the assets he knows something about as well as contributing to the other assets...I think he's very valuable to us and every interaction I've had with Ted has been very positive."
Shares of AOL slipped 1-15/16 to 55-1/16 in trading Monday and Time Warner shares fell 1-1/4 to 81-1/2. 
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AOL
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