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NBC in 'Net venture talks?
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January 26, 1999: 1:39 p.m. ET
Network reportedly looking to link with high-profile Internet company
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - NBC is working to strike a joint venture with a high-profile Internet company, including a possible deal with high-speed Internet access provider Road Runner, according to published reports Tuesday.
NBC, a unit of General Electric Co. (GE), is looking to strike a deal with America Online Inc. (AOL), Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) or Lycos Inc. (LCOS), according to a report originally published in Electronic Media, a television industry trade publication.
Spokeswomen for Yahoo! and Lycos declined comment. AOL and NBC officials were not available for immediate comment.
The network also is said to be considering a spin-off of its $2 billion worth of Web holdings this spring. In June, NBC purchased a 5-percent stake in Snap.com, CNET Inc. 's (CNET) Web portal. The network also recently acquired a 5-percent stake in iVillage, the No. 1 women's online network.
NBC also is said to be in talks with Road Runner, a joint venture of Time Warner Inc. (TWX), MediaOne Group (UMG), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Compaq Computer Corp. (CPQ) and Advance/Newhouse. (Time Warner is the parent company of CNN and CNNfn.)
@Home Corp. (ATHM) last week raised the stakes in the high-speed Internet market when it acquired Web portal Excite Inc. (XCIT) for $6.7 billion in stock. That deal puts more pressure on Road Runner to boost its presence in the mainstream Internet market.
Road Runner officials were not available for comment.
GE (GE) shares slipped 3/16 to 100-5/16 in midday trade. Time Warner shares were up 7/8 at 63-3/4. 
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