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[Meme]

Ebay/Disney TV is looking less like a rumor and more like the real thing:

EBay considers TV show with Disney

By Russ Britt, CBS.Marke****ch.com
Last Update: 5:22 PM ET Oct 18, 2000

SAN JOSE, CALIF. (CBS.MW) - Already familiar with computer mouse users, online auctioneer EBay Inc. seeks an alliance with the entertainment world's Mouse.

EBay (EBAY: news, msgs) is in talks with Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS: news, msgs) Buena Vista Television unit to start a daytime television program, according to people close to the project.



EBay said it's developing a weekday show that it hopes will capture the site's "online trading environment."

The only question is whether other networks are part of the deal. Kevin Pursglove, EBay spokesman, said negotiations are not limited to just Disney and its ABC-TV network.

"We are indeed considering a TV show," he said. "We are talking to a number of networks."

But people close to the negotiations said they believe there are no other prospective companies involved.

Disney officials declined to comment on the prospective deal.

Pursglove said EBay is trying to further its brand with the deal. The company is looking at a daytime slot, five days a week in which it could conduct auctions similar to its online sessions.

The company is trying to avoid a show that is too much like a shopping channel or PBS' top-rated "Antiques Roadshow," Pursglove said. (My insert here...god, I can't believe they made the same juxtaposition that I did...way too funny.)

"We're aware of those programs as examples," Pursglove said. He indicated, though, that the programs would have similarities to the EBay show.

Ebay has been looking at ways to further its brand for a year, Pursglove said. The prospect of a television show was one of the first items brought under consideration, he added.

http://cbs.marke****ch.com/archive/20001018/news/current/ebay.htx?source=htx/http2_mw

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