archives

o Moxi Digital Debuts Entertainment Device, Announces EchoStar Partnership
o Lawmaker Challenging "Anti-Circumvention" Clause of Digital Copyright Act
o VeriSign Acquires The .tv Corporation for $45 Million
o Sirius Satellite Radio Details Launch, Debuts Website Streaming Channels
o Cox Begins Moving @Home Subscribers to its Own Network
o Motorola Forms Joint Venture for Linux-based Interactive TV
o Interactive TV Graphics Firm Chyron Raises $2.2 Million, Reduces Staff
o Convergence Device Maker ZapMedia Raises Additional Funds
o Briefly Noted: Microsoft Mira, DataPlay - MTV - Evolution Technologies,
Sonicblue - Coca-Cola, Microsoft - DVD players, XM Satellite Radio, Zinio
Systems
_____________________________________________

o Moxi Digital Debuts Entertainment Device, Announces EchoStar Partnership

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Moxi Digital, formerly known as Rearden Steel
Technologies, announced on Monday details of its Moxi Media Center, a
digital set-top box, video and music jukebox, media server and Internet
gateway. The company also announced that digital TV provider EchoStar will
integrate the technology into advanced set-top boxes it offers to its DISH
Network subscribers. The device, in addition to receiving digital cable or
satellite TV signals, also plays CDs and DVDs, functions as a 60-hour
capacity personal video recorder and can connect to the Internet via a
broadband connection to download media. In addition, the Moxi Media Center
can wirelessly connect to up to four different televisions in the home and
simultaneously play different media or access different functions. The
device will be manufactured by cable and satellite providers such as
EchoStar, and will feature Macromedia's Flash as a "key component;"
RealNetworks' media delivery technology will be integrated as the
preferred streaming media player. Palo Alto-based Moxi Digital raised $67
million in initial funding from investors including EchoStar, AOL, Cisco,
Vulcan Ventures, Mayfield and Macromedia.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/hsm027_1.html
http://www.moxi.com/product.htm
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-8387124.html?tag=mn_hd
_____________________________________________

o Lawmaker Challenging "Anti-Circumvention" Clause of Digital Copyright Act

Washington, D.C. -- During his keynote address at the Future of Music
Policy Summit on Monday, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) said he plans to
introduce legislation that would eliminate a clause in the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that makes it a crime to circumvent
copy-protection technology on digital media, Reuters reported. The Future
of Music Coalition is hosting the D.C. event, which features an audience
of musicians, music industry executives and employees, technology firms
and some Congressmen gathered to discuss the emerging online music
business. Boucher said that his changes to section 1201 of the DMCA would
make it legal to circumvent copy-protection security for personal uses,
but would still outlaw piracy. Last week, Boucher sent a letter to
recording industry executives questioning their plans to put
copy-protection technology on commercial CD releases, arguing such
security measures violate the rights of consumers laid out in the Audio
Home Recording Act.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8396905.html?tag=mn_hd
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industry/01/06/music.reut/index.html
http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit0102/
_____________________________________________

o VeriSign Acquires The .tv Corporation for $45 Million

Mountain View, Calif. -- VeriSign, a domain name registrar and provider of
Internet authentication and payment services, announced on Monday that it
has acquired The .tv Corporation for $45 million in cash. In 2000, The .tv
Corporation licensed the island country of Tuvalu's Web domain -- .tv --
for $50 million. TV networks and providers of such services as online
video-on-demand now use the top-level domain as the suffix to their Web
addresses. "It's exciting for Tuvalu to have a respected company and
corporate citizen such as VeriSign step into the role of managing .tv,"
said Tuvalu Prime Minister Koloa Talake. The .tv Corporation will become a
subsidiary of Mountain View-based VeriSign and will continue to act as
country manager of the government of Tuvalu's .tv addresses.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/sfm111a_1.html
http://www.tv
http://www.verisign.com
_____________________________________________

o Sirius Satellite Radio Details Launch, Debuts Website Streaming Channels

New York -- Sirius Satellite Radio, provider of a satellite-delivered
digital radio service, on Monday released detailed launch plans for its
oft-delayed service, and also debuted a website that will offer live
streaming of its 60 music channels for free. The company's $12.95 monthly
subscription service will launch on Feb. 14 in Houston, Phoenix, Denver
and Jackson, Mississippi. The next phase will include the launch of
services in April and May in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Tulsa, Okla.;
Albuquerque, New Mexico and Little Rock, Ark. In June and July, the
service will launch in Miami, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Indianapolis and
Nashville; nationwide rollout is expected in the third quarter of 2002.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/nym046_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/nym050_1.html
_____________________________________________

o Cox Begins Moving @Home Subscribers to its Own Network

Atlanta -- Cable TV operator Cox Communications announced on Monday that
it has begun to transition its 550,000 subscribers from bankrupt broadband
access provider Excite@Home's network to its own new, self-managed
network. Cox has until Feb. 28 to move customers over to its own network,
at which time Excite@Home will cease operations. The company is sending
its customers conversion kits that will enable them to access the new Cox
network, which the company said it is spending $150 million to build.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020107/72364_1.html
_____________________________________________

o Motorola Forms Joint Venture for Linux-based Interactive TV

Horsham, Pa. -- Motorola Broadband Communications announced on Monday that
it has partnered with Lineo and Metrowerks to launch Triarc Content Labs,
a joint venture that will develop Linux-based software to run on
Motorola's DCT5000 family of advanced set-top boxes for interactive
television. Triarc Content Labs will focus on the development, testing and
integration of Linux-based content and applications, such as pay-per-view,
video-on-demand, games, Web browsers, program guides, personal video
recorders, home networking and streaming media. Salt Lake City-based Lineo
will provide its embedded Linux system software for set-top terminals,
while Austin-based Metrowerks, a subsidiary of Motorola, will provide its
software development tools to the venture. Triarc Content Labs is expected
to be operational in mid-2002.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/lam004_1.html
http://www.lineo.com
_____________________________________________

o Interactive TV Graphics Firm Chyron Raises $2.2 Million, Reduces Staff

Melville, N.Y. -- Chyron Corporation, a provider of computer-generated
graphics and automation systems for broadcasters and interactive TV
developers, announced on Monday that it has raised $2.2 million through a
private placement of its stock. In addition, the company secured increases
in its bank loans from its U.S. and U.K. lenders in excess of $2.5
million. New York-based Chyron also announced a restructuring of the
company, which will result in the laying off of 26 percent of its staff.
Chyron's on-screen graphics are currently used in telecasts of ABC's
Monday Night Football.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020107/72219_1.html
http://www.chyron.com
_____________________________________________

o Convergence Device Maker ZapMedia Raises Additional Funds

Atlanta -- ZapMedia, the developer of a consumer entertainment device that
connects to TVs and stereos in the home and can download media off of the
Internet, announced on Monday that it has raised a new round of funding
from previous investor Five Paces Ventures. The amount of new funds raised
was not disclosed. Atlanta-based ZapMedia will use the funds to further
enhance its existing product, the ZapStation, to continue research and
development for new products and to license its technology to consumer
electronics and PC companies interested in developing similar products.
http://www.zapmedia.com
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Interactive TV Roadshow
Jan 22nd - 26th 2002 -- NYC, Calif.

Virtual Media Partners LLC has drawn on its extensive Interactive TV
experience in the USA and Europe to design this broad based introduction
to the amazing potential of Enhanced Interactive Television - "The 4th
Dimension". A unique concept held from coast to coast on five separate
days. Contact: yaqub@virtualmediapartners.com
Info/to register:
http://www.virtualmediapartners.com/trainingevent.htm

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Las Vegas, Nev.) CNET reported on Monday that Microsoft would announce
its newest hardware device, the Mira, at the Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas. The tablet-shaped device can reportedly connect wirelessly to
either a TV or PC, and will let users see program listings, browse the Web
and shop online. The Mira will also function as a portable terminal for
the company's Xbox video game console.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-8364289.html?tag=cd_pr

(Las Vegas, Nev.) DataPlay, a developer of quarter-sized optical storage
media, announced on Monday the first digital audio device that will
feature the company's recordable discs. The device, which will be
manufactured by Evolution Technologies and co-branded with MTV, will
support DataPlay discs capable of holding up to eleven hours worth of MP3s
or up to five CD-quality albums. The device will be available in May 2002.
"Aligning ourselves with MTV helps DataPlay to gain credibility among
music consumers, and by partnering with Evolution on the device's
development, we can guarantee a top quality product for that audience,"
said Todd Oseth, senior vice president of corporate development for
Colorado-based DataPlay.
http://www.dataplay.com/jsp_files/en/news/index.jsp
http://www.nowevolution.com

(Santa Clara, Calif.) Consumer electronics manufacturer Sonicblue said on
Monday that it has partnered with Coca-Cola to design, promote and sell a
Coca-Cola and Rio co-branded line of digital audio players in the U.S. The
first such device is slated to be released in the first half of 2002.
Santa Clara-based Sonicblue also announced on Monday that it has appointed
former Intel executive David Huffman as vice president of audio product
marketing. Huffman will oversee the operations and organization of the
company's worldwide line of Rio digital audio players and manage the
company's Tigard, Ore. facilities.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020107/70056_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020107/70105_1.html
http://www.sonicblue.com

(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft announced on Monday that four DVD player
manufacturers will provide support for its Windows Media audio playback
technology in their products. Panasonic and Apex Digital today released
DVD players capable of playing discs containing WMA audio files.
Twenty-two hours of music in WMA format will fit on a CD, while up to 250
whole albums will fit on a recordable DVD. Electronics makers Toshiba and
Shinco also plan to support Windows Media in DVD players released later
this year.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/sfm099_1.html

(Washington, D.C.) XM Satellite Radio, operator of a national
satellite-based radio service, said on Monday that its user base has now
increased to 30,000. The company made the announcement at the Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20020107/tc/tech_xmsr_dc_2.html

(Brisbane, Calif.) Zinio Systems, a developer of digital magazine
technology, said on Monday that it has appointed Mike Edelhart as
president and chief operating officer. Previously, Edelhart was an
executive and editor with Ziff Davis, and also a vice president at
Softbank. Brisbane-based Zinio plans to release its digital magazine
publishing technology, which converts print magazines into an interactive
format that can be viewed on digital devices, later this quarter.
http://www.zinio.com
______________________

> Digital Media Wire Directory Launched

Digital Media Wire just launched the Digital Media Directory, an online
directory and RFP engine that facilitates the search and negotiation
process between buyers and sellers.

Register as a provider in the Digital Media Directory at
http://digitalmediawire.newmediary.com/dmw111301nl
______________________

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com

Questions or comments? Send email to:
mark@digitalmediawire.com

News tips, press releases. Send email to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com

Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire