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NFL balks at Web site bid
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March 5, 2001: 8:06 a.m. ET
NFL rejects $250M bid from ESPN to produce Web site for 5 years
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The National Football League has balked at an offer of $250 million from ESPN.com to continue to produce its Web site, according to a report Monday.
 ESPN.com, a unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group (DIG: Research, Estimates), has produced the NFL's site for the past three years, but its contract expires Apr. 23, the Wall Street Journal said, at which time other sports Web sites are expected to compete for the job. According to the terms of its existing contract, ESPN.com can match rival offers, the report said.
ESPN.com, in negotiating a new contract, is offering about $250 million over five years, including $50 million paid up front, the paper said. ESPN.com would not comment, according to the report.
Other companies that could compete for the NFL's business include CBS' Sportsline.com, CNNfn parent AOL Time Warner (AOL: Research, Estimates) and Yahoo! (YHOO: Research, Estimates), the report said.
ESPN.com previously has produced sites for the National Basketball League and the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (Nascar), but it also lost those contracts, the report said.
In addition to ESPN.com, Disney Internet includes properties such as Disney.com, ABC.com and Mr. Showbiz. The tracking stock will be absorbed by Walt Disney Co. (DIS: Research, Estimates) on March 20, when Disney plans to convert each share of Disney Internet into 0.19 share of Disney stock.
Disney Internet Group shares closed Friday at $5.75, while Disney shares closed at $29.99. 
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