JAMES Packer's PBL group is believed to be in talks to buy independent internet advertising network Tempest Media, which sells advertising on several of the group's websites.
by Lara Sinclair
Spokeswomen from PBL Media and its online arm Ninemsn, which is a joint venture with Microsoft, refused to comment on widespread speculation that a deal was imminent.
Yesterday, they were forced to deny rumours that Ninemsn's chief executive of six months, Tony Faure, was about to leave the internet media company.
A Ninemsn spokeswoman said the rumour was "a lot of bollocks", and Mr Faure is understood to have emailed staff to say a media report he was about to resign was "complete nonsense".
Meanwhile, several internet industry sources claimed PBL planned to buy Tempest in a bid to reclaim advertising revenue that was being lost to Ninemsn.
Tempest sells advertising on a range of PBL group sites, including Carsales.com.au, Ticketek.-com.au and employment site Seek, and will handle its real estate venture, Myhome.com.au.
Tempest also represents Ebay.com.au and Coles Online, and recently signed a deal to sell advertising against Australian traffic to video website YouTube.
Tempest chief executive Monique Talbot confirmed the two companies were in talks but said no deals had been done.
"They've been talking to us," Ms Talbot said. "There's definitely interest on both sides."
Industry sources said the network was worth between $7 million and $12 million.
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