• January 17, 2006

Yahoo! and reality TV tycoon Mark Burnett are considering resurrecting ABC's scrapped reality TV series "The Runner" as an online show, a Yahoo! spokeswoman confirmed Monday. The venture has not yet been green-lighted, the spokeswoman said. Created by LivePlanet--a production company founded in part by actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck--and backed in 2000 by Yahoo! Media Group head Lloyd Braun during his chairmanship at ABC, "The Runner" was conceived as a simulated manhunt across the United States. But the cost of insuring the real-life would-be contestants chasing the marked fugitive around the county, and other logistical uncertainties, sidelined the initial venture. Now, LivePlanet, Yahoo!, and Burnett are considering giving "The Runner" a second chance as an original online series that ties closely with Yahoo!'s consumer services, including e-mail, maps, and search. -- Gavin O'Malley