DEAL WITH LYCOS OFFERS DILLER'S TICKETMASTER NEW REACH

          USA Networks has merged its Home Shopping Network (HSN)
     and Ticketmaster business with Lycos in a deal valued at
     $22B, according to Martin Peers of DAILY VARIETY.  Under the
     deal, the companies will fall under the umbrella of
     USA/Lycos Interactive Networks and be chaired by USA Chair
     Barry Diller.  Lycos CEO Bob Davis will serve as the company
     CEO.  News of the merger sent shares in Lycos down $33 to
     $94.25, while USA's stock rose $3.68 to $41.62 (DAILY
     VARIETY, 2/10).  Hambrecht & Quist analyst Paul Noglows said
     USA/Lycos could "morph" into a more profitable company by
     offering ticket sales online (WASHINGTON POST, 2/10).  
          DILLER'S NEXT REACH? In N.Y., Jon Elsen writes that
     after its merger with Lycos, a deal between Diller's USA
     Networks and NBC is "more logical than ever."  NBC "talked
     to Diller about a merger last year," but "never quite got
     there."  But sources close to Diller say "he's less
     interested in acquiring NBC than ever" (N.Y. POST, 2/10).