Nikki Finke's site acquired *

Deadline Hollywood Daily was bought by Mail.com Media Corporation (MMC), which operates Mail.com, HollywoodLife.com, MovieLine.com and OnCars.com. From the company's announcement on her site:

MMC also begins a long-term partnership with former Newsweek and Los Angeles Times and New York Magazine writer/reporter Nikki Finke, the founder and writer of DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com and one of the foremost entertainment business journalists in the world.....

“We're thrilled to be working with Nikki. As a world-class journalist, she is unequivocally recognized by the entertainment and business community as a unique voice and leading authority on news coverage of major media, especially Hollywood. With this acquisition and partnership now complete, her DeadlineHollyoodDaily.com can continue to extend its reach and influence and finally have the web platform it deserves,” said Jay Penske, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of MMC. "Ever since the first scoop of Nikki’s that I read, I quickly realized that she has raised the bar on – if not changed the game of – entertainment journalism; and her work perfectly embodies our mission at MMC: to provide the most original and most authoritative content on the web.”

"I was fortunate to have had much interest and many offers from major corporations and media companies to consider over the past 18 months,” said Nikki Finke, whose title will now become General Manager, Editor in Chief, and Founder of DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com. "First, I had to ensure that my DeadlineHollywood Daily.com would continue to be an independent editorial voice – and I would retain complete control over everything reported on the website -- so that DHD’s credibility with its readers could remain intact. Second, I needed to make certain that an advanced infrastructure and capable team were in place, to bring DHD to the next level. FinaIly, I wanted to join a major Internet player that was ambitious, up-and-coming, and far-sighted. Jay Penske and MMC gave me all those assurances and more. This deal was worth waiting for.”

DHD and Finke had been part of the LA Weekly and Village Voice Media.

* Updates:The Wrap says Finke got "a stunning $14 million" and plans to hire a New York reporter. Sharon Waxman and Finke had what reads like a testy conversation, and Finke posts at DHD: "know this: I did not sell out."