Home Shopping Net, Lycos To Merge

NEW YORK (AP) _ USA Networks Inc. is merging its Home Shopping Network and other properties with Lycos Inc., the popular World Wide Web destination, in a deal that creates a formidable new Internet company.

The merger is the latest seeking to combine the strengths of an established Internet company with a television network to entice more people to visit the World Wide Web.

The new company will advertise its Web services on USA Networks’ cable TV shows, and Lycos’ Web sites will include ads for TV. USA Networks will also merge its Ticketmaster operation with Lycos.