NBC News tells TMZ ... it did not offer Casey Anthony any money for an interview with her.
An NBC rep tells us, "NBC News has not and will not be in a bidding war for a Casey Anthony interview. No money has or will be offered, no licensing or other arrangements. If we were to conduct an interview it would be under our standards."
The rep confirms ... NBC did indeed foot the bill for Jose Baez' suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City last week. As we reported, Baez met with famed celeb lawyer Mark Geragos last Thursday in the hotel bar, discussing negotiating strategy and talking about the "big price tag" for the interview.
And sources connected with ABC insist there was indeed a bidding war between the networks.
ABC now says it will no longer pay for photos and videos connected with interviews.
The network bidding war over key interviews in the Casey Anthony case has gone into the stratosphere ... because TMZ has learned a syndicated talk show was laughed at with a bid of $250,000 for Casey's PARENTS!!!
The bidding has gone crazy ... we're hearing the bidding for a Casey interview was over $1.5 million.
Now ABC News has just released a statement, saying it will no longer pay for photos and video in exchange for interviews.
The announcement comes days after TMZ published a story ... that Casey's lawyer, Jose Baez, was holed up in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, taking bids from NBC, ABC and CBS. As we reported, Baez was in the Hotel bar Thursday night, discussing strategy with famed lawyer Mark Geragos.
Our sources say all three networks were offering the same deal -- they would pay a fortune to license photos and video from Casey. Short story -- it's a dishonest way of saying they don't pay for interviews.
We're told NBC -- which paid for Baez' hotel room -- was leading the pack in the Casey bidding war, even though the Network denied it was offering any money for an interview -- which is technically correct.
In its statement, ABC says, "We can book just about anyone based on the strength of our journalism."
Sure they can.
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Jose Baez -- Casey Anthony's lawyer -- is holed up at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, holding court with all of the major networks -- to determine who will score the first interview with Casey -- and big bucks are involved.
Sources tell TMZ ... NBC, ABC and CBS are all competing for the first interview. Sources connected with the negotiations tell TMZ there is a "big price tag" for the interview. We're told the networks -- which say they don't pay for interviews -- are offering to license photos and other material and pay big bucks ... that's S.O.P. in the network game.
We're told NBC looks like the frontrunner so far, but ABC is in the game. We're told CBS "is a distant third." We're told NBC is paying for Baez' hotel room.
Baez spent part of the night Thursday in the Mandarin Oriental bar with famed lawyer Mark Geragos (right) -- who knows a thing or two about high-profile cases. We're told Geragos gave Baez pointers on negotiating the deal.
Conan O'Brien' isn't making a single cent off his upcoming 30 city comedy tour -- sources tell TMZ that Coco is doing the whole thing so he can employ his former "Tonight Show" staff.
We're told roughly 40 people have been hired to work on the production -- many of whom are "Tonight Show" alums.
The move is no sweat off Conan's back -- dude scored a $32.5 million severance deal from NBC before they kicked him to the curb.
And more good news for the crew -- tickets to "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" are selling out so fast, more shows have already been added.
Andy Richter says he's still an employee of NBC -- but that's not stopping him from dissing the network and Jay Leno for pulling the plug on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."
Richter was on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" today, where ripped into NBC by saying, "Everybody said they were going to do something and they didn't" -- adding that the network was mired by bad planning.
As for Jay, Richter joked "You know how multimillionaires are always being forced to do things they don't want to do ... I've calmed down about it."
Richter also teased a stage tour could happen -- calling it a "distinct possibility."
Conan O'Brien's face on a mug is no longer available for purchase ... at least from his former network -- because all memorabilia relating to the former "Tonight Show" host has been banished from NBC.com.
But here's the funny part -- it appears NBC was all too anxious to get rid of their CoCo stash ... because the Jay Leno swag they used to replace it still says "The Jay Leno Show" ... which was canceled nearly three weeks ago.
Jay Leno returned as the host of "The Tonight Show" on Monday night.
Conan O'Brien is using his newfound free time (and $32.5 million NBC settlement money) to take his family to Hawaii this weekend.
Now if only he would use some of that scratch to buy a razor.
Jay Leno just permanently turned off the lights to his primetime NBC talk show -- but not before Donald Trump stepped in to officially fire his ass.
TMZ infiltrated the taping of the final "Jay Leno Show" -- where just moments ago, Jay was doing a satellite bit with Donald Trump. At the end of the bit, His Hairness sent Jay on his way the only way he knows how -- "You're Fired!"
We're told everyone laughed -- including Jay.
Wonder what Conan thinks?
Conan O'Brien is shelling out his own cash to some ex-staffers who didn't get jack from that $7.5 million separation deal from NBC.
According to sources close to production, Conan's stagehands from "The Tonight Show" were not covered by the NBC severance plan. But we're told Conan is stepping up -- promising to pay his nearly 50 person crew at least six weeks severance out of his own pocket.
Conan's people had no comment.
The union for his former crew -- IATSE Local 33 -- says all the members who worked with Conan are "very happy" with the way he handled the whole mess.
Jay Leno's set is only four months old, but it will undergo a facelift that would raise Heidi Montag's eyebrows -- if that's even possible.
We've learned Leno will stay put in the Burbank facility where he did "The Tonight Show" for 17 years, and "The Jay Leno Show" for 17 minutes. And, sources say, the set will be redone during the Olympics and rolled out for the re-premiere of "The Tonight Show."
As for Conan O'Brien's $50 million studio ... we're told there are no plans yet ... there's a buzz NBC may use the set to shoot TV pilots.
Jay Leno doesn't think what happened to Conan O'Brien was "fair" -- but he also says he's not to blame.
Jay was on "Oprah" this morning, where he said Conan's ratings are the real reason he's gone, citing a 49% drop as proof. Leno added he's glad to have his "dream job" back -- regretting "it wasn't handled better."
FYI -- Jay also said he'd have Conan on as a guest any time. Good luck with that.
