Here we go again… It seems that Yahoo’s new board has given the thumbs up to a new round of talks about Time Warner’s AOL, according to a report in the Financial Times

The newspaper says that the board’s move potentially reignites “negotiations for a combination of the two internet businesses that stalled earlier this year.”

According to one person familiar with the company’s thinking, the Yahoo board approved a new round of discussions with AOL, though active deal negotiations are not underway at this stage.

Recall, just last week that Time Warner honcho Jeff Bewkes said that there would be some plan for AOL “fairly soon” — even as he acknowledged that the industry still hadn’t come to a conclusion on what sort of business model worked best.

As Silicon Alley Insider points out, it’s hard to imagine AOL hasn’t been sniffing around before now.

If that’s really all that got discussed, then we have to say that Carl (Icahn) is right: It really isn’t worth getting on a plane to attend these things. Because AOL has already been talking to Yahoo and Microsoft (and anyone else it can think) about a deal.

Keep an eye on:

• Ford is running an ad featuring a short film that won an online competition, promoting Ford’s new 2010 Mustang (Reuters)
• New York’s financial journalists are already gearing up for books on Wall Street’s financial crisis (The New York Observer)
• PepsiCo is offering $1 million to anyone who can create a Super Bowl commercial for its Doritos tortilla chip brand that trumps all other ads in viewer rankings (WSJ.com)
• Discovery Communications will create nine branded channels on the YouTube video website, featuring clips from the cable programmer’s top TV shows, its chief executive said (Reuters)

(Photo: Reuters)

NBC’s sports department is having quite a year. We all know about the Olympics, but now it appears they are raking in money for the 2009 Super Bowl.

The broadcaster said yesterday that it has sold 85 percent of its commercial time for the game — and a dozen spots have gone for $3 million.

It’s worth remembering that there was some snickering when word spread that NBC wanted to sell time for $3 million. I mean, come on! $3 million? In this economy?

As everyone is pointing out this morning, NBC’s Super Bowl success is a reminder that advertisers really want to be involved in the biggest events, where they can reach mass audiences.

But how far will they go? After all, $3 million for 30 seconds? What does that get you on local radio these days — a year of advertising time? And there’s no question that advertisers are facing a tough economic environment, particularly those in the auto and financial services sectors (both huge advertising industries). Let’s not forget that GM recently decided not to buy any advertising time during the Oscars or the Emmys.

Clearly, NBC is doing just fine with the Super Bowl. But where is the breaking point?

Keep an eye on:

• Film studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp is in a deal with Zed Group to co-develop mobile entertainment projects, based on Lions Gate films, TV shows and music (Reuters)
• Doubts about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s future could sideline potential new endorsement deals,  some sports marketing experts say (USA Today)
• Amazon has hired a senior Microsoft executive to lead its national ad sales (NY Post)

(Photo: Reuters)