Though SportsLine.com "ended a high-profile" e-commerce
relationship with MVP.com (see THE DAILY, 11/20), MVP.com
"apparently isn't ready to give up on the relationship,"
according to Patrick Danner of the MIAMI HERALD, who writes
that as of last night, the MVP.com link "remained on the
SportsLine.com website, though it was unclear for how long."
Raymond James analyst Phil Leigh said that he "expects"
SportsLine.com to find a new e-commerce partner, "perhaps a
company that has a strong brick-and-mortar presence," and
floated The Sports Authority as a potential candidate.
Meanwhile, shares of SportsLine.com dropped 18% yesterday to
close at $6.94, setting a new 52-week low of $6.63 during
the day (MIAMI HERALD, 11/21). The WALL STREET JOURNAL
ONLINE's Stephanie Miles wrote that MVP.com "says it decided
to re-examine the marketing relationship." MVP.com
spokesperson Paula Davis: "We had been attempting to
renegotiate the structure of the agreement. The issues have
not been successfully resolved." Davis added that MVP.com
"still maintains e-commerce operations for SportsLine
properties." Davis also "rejected SportsLine's assessment
of its business outlook, and said the negotiations to
continue the relationship aren't necessarily over." Davis
also said that the "majority" of MVP.com's business "is
generated by its own site, not from its partnerships with
third parties" (WSJ ONLINE, 11/20). Davis, on MVP.com: "We
actually are doing well, sales have been steadily increasing
since the summer" (InternetNews.com, 11/20).
