Gawker Media LLC, the online publisher ordered by a US judge to pay $US140 million (NZ$196.46 million) to former wrestler Hulk Hogan over the publication of a sex tape, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is planning to put itself up for sale.
The move will intensify public debate in the United States over the role of big money in media lawsuits.
Billionaire investor Peter Thiel, an early backer of Facebook and a co-founder of PayPal had bankrolled Hogan's lawsuit.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is listed as the largest creditor in Gawker's bankruptcy filing.
Media company Ziff Davis LLC has entered into an agreement to buy Gawker in a bankruptcy auction for a little less than US$100 million, according to a people familiar with the matter.
In the filing, Gawker said its assets are estimated to be worth US$50 million to US$100 million, whereas its liabilities are estimated to be between US$100 million and US$500 million.
Reuters
