Diller May Buy Rest of Ticketmaster Online

USA Networks Inc. Chief Executive Barry Diller said he may buy the rest of Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch Inc. and sell shares of his media company’s information and services business to the public. USA Networks, whose revenue increased eightfold to more than $4 billion in the past five years, would reorganize into three separate units for entertainment, electronic retailing and information and services, Diller said. The shares of USA Networks, which is 43%-owned by Seagram Co., have risen more than 20% since June 14, on news of Seagram’s talks to be bought by France’s Vivendi. New ownership could free USA Networks to make larger purchases, since Diller currently needs Seagram’s approval for purchases larger than 10% of the company’s value. USA Information and Services would have No. 1 ticketing company Ticketmaster and will be majority owner of Pasadena-based Ticketmaster Online. USA Entertainment would include USA films, a movie producer, and USA Electronic Retailing would include Home Shopping Network. USA Networks rose 31 cents to close at $23.31, while Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch rose 19 cents to close at $16.69, both on Nasdaq.