EBay and AOL Expand Partnership

Aug 14 2001

NEW YORK - EBay Inc. <EBAY.O> and America Online said on Tuesday they have expanded their partnership to advertise the online auction site on AOL print and television properties, rather than just the online services associated with America Online.

The companies, which have had a close partnership since 1997, said the three-year alliance will promote eBay across a range of AOL's range of print and television properties, including its magazines "People," "Fortune" and "Time," Turner broadcast channels TNT and the TBS Superstation, as well as online networks CNN.com and People.com.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

AOL said it will continue to serve as eBay's exclusive third-party advertising force.

EBay, which has more than 34 million registered users, in 1999 agreed to pay $75 million to promote its auction site to America Online users.

"Our relationship over the years with America Online has been a huge success," said eBay President and Chief Executive Meg Whitman. "Working across AOL Time Warner's tremendous assortment of media properties will allow us to bring eBay to more consumers than ever before," she added.

Shares of San Jose, California-based eBay closed at $60.73 on Monday on Nasdaq. Stock of Dulles, Virginia-based AOL Time Warner closed at $42.99 on the New York Stock Exchange.