archives

o AOL Time Warner Lays Off 2000 Employees
o Troma Entertainment to Offer Cult Classic Feature Over Wireless
o Virtual Reality Developer JesterDigital Raises $6.8 Million
o Broadcast Technology Provider Chyron Acquires Design Firm Interocity
o Broadband Service Provider Excite@Home Lays Off 250 Employees
o Streamedia and eSynch Announce Merger Plans
o Briefly Noted: Virage - Major League Baseball Advanced Media, Secure
Digital Music Initiative, Musicmusicmusic - CHUM Radio Network
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> Digital Media Wire Panel: "Interactive Gaming on the Internet"

Interactive gaming is a $6.5 billion market with sales rivaling those of
the motion picture box offices. Forrester Research forecasts that
interactive gaming will be a $26 billion market by 2005. Which
technologies and business models will drive this expanding market? Will
entertainment companies profit from gaming on the Internet? Digital Media
Wire will hold a dinner and panel discussion: "Interactive Gaming on the
Internet: Recent Developments and New Opportunities" on Tuesday, February
15, 2001 at the Argyle Hotel in Los Angeles. Moderator: Victor Hwang, COO,
larta. Confirmed panelists: George Alexander, VP Media & Entertainment,
CAP Gemini Ernst & Young ; Jim Charne, Attorney and former President,
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences; Brian Dearth, CEO, Hollywood
Stock Exchange; Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, The Groove Alliance.

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel1.html
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> Job Postings: VP Biz Dev/Sales, Senior Web Designer, Tech Writer, Account
Exec./Sr. Account Exec.

> Events: "Interactive Gaming on the Internet"

Full Job/Event descriptions listed below "Briefly Noted" section or at
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/postings.html

To Post a Job: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html
To Post an Event: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
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o AOL Time Warner Lays Off 2000 Employees

New York -- AOL Time Warner laid off 2000 of its employees on Tuesday, in
an effort to streamline redundant positions created by the company's
recent merger, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. The layoffs
will affect Warner Bros.' entertainment site Entertaindom -- which will
lose 100 employees and be folded into the company's WB.com website; Warner
Music Group, which will cut 600 jobs worldwide in manufacturing and
distribution; New Line Cinema, where 100 mainly creative positions have
been eliminated, and several other divisions. AOL Time Warner said that
employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance packages. The
layoffs are expected to allow the company to increase its earnings this
year by $1 billion to $11 billion.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010124/tc/aol_time_warner_cuts_3.html
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o Troma Entertainment to Offer Cult Classic Feature Over Wireless

Park City, Utah -- Independent film studio Troma Entertainment announced
on Wednesday that it has partnered with Kanakaris Wireless to offer mobile
users the first full-length feature to be streamed over a wireless
Internet connection. Troma's cult classic film "The Toxic Avenger" will be
available for owners of PocketPC handheld mobile devices to stream at
several different bandwidths. "This is one small step for mutant kind, one
giant leap for independent cinema," said Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma
Entertainment.
http://www.tromaville.com
http://www.cinemapop.com
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o Virtual Reality Developer JesterDigital Raises $6.8 Million

West Palm Beach, Fl. -- JesterDigital, a developer of virtual reality
technology, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $6.8 million in its
second round of venture capital financing. Investors in the round included
Crossbow Ventures and Wyndcrest Partners, along with JesterDigital
co-founders John Textor and feature film director Michael Bay.
Florida-based JesterDigital provides a multi-user virtual reality
environment that can be used within entertainment-based websites and for
interactive 3D advertising. The company will use the funds for research
and development as well as marketing.
http://www.jesterdigital.com
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o Broadcast Technology Provider Chyron Acquires Design Firm Interocity

Melville, N.Y. -- Chyron Corporation, a provider of broadcast technology
for interactive television and broadband Internet, announced on Wednesday
that it has acquired streaming media design firm Interocity Development
Corporation. Under the terms of the transaction, Chyron will acquire
Interocity for $5 million in cash and $1 million in stock. Rebecca
Howland, co-founder and CEO of Interocity, will be named president of
Chyron Streaming Services and be responsible for worldwide operations. New
York-based Chyron provides clients with broadcast graphics, high bandwidth
and multimedia signals, streaming media technology and content management.
These services will be combined with web design and development for
streaming media providers -- such as Barnesandnoble.com and the History
Channel -- offered by New York-city based Interocity.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010124/ny_chyron.html
http://www.chryon.com
http://www.interocity.com
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o Broadband Service Provider Excite@Home Lays Off 250 Employees

Redwood City, Calif. -- Broadband service provider Excite@Home has
announced that it will lay off 250 employees -- or about 8 percent of its
total workforce -- as a cost-cutting measure. The layoffs will mainly
affect the company's content areas, along with some corporate staff and
certain other operations. "While content services remain a compelling
element of our opportunity, it is critical that the cost structure of our
media business correlate with the changing online media world," said
George Bell, CEO of Excite@Home. Redwood City-based Excite@Home provides broadband Internet services over both cable modem and DSL connections.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010123/ca_excite_.html
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o Streamedia and eSynch Announce Merger Plans

New York -- Streamedia Communications, a streaming media services
provider, announced on Wednesday that it has signed a letter of intent to
merge with eSynch, an infrastructure provider for streaming video. Under
the agreement, eSynch will become a subsidiary of Streamedia
Communications and keep its company name and current operations. As a
result of the merger, the two companies will be able to offer clients
nationwide services that include hosting, web design, encoding,
distribution and customized site development.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010124/ca_ny_esyn.html
http://www.esynch.com
http://www.streamedia.com
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o Briefly Noted:

(San Mateo, Calif.) Searchable video stream technology provider Virage
announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with Major League Baseball
Advanced Media, to offer users the ability to watch specific instant
replays from baseball games on the Internet. San Mateo-based Virage's
software indexes video using facial recognition, lip reading, and
closed-caption text extraction.
http://www.virage.com/news/jan_2001_earningsrelease.html

(Los Angeles) The Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), a consortium of
record labels, electronics manufacturers and computer companies attempting
to come up with security features that will prevent the unauthorized
copying of digital music files, is meeting in Los Angeles this week, CNET
reported on Wednesday. The organization is receiving criticism from both
its members and the rest of the music industry for its inability to come
up with security measures since it launched in early 1999. Some members --
who are required to pay $20,000 for admission into the SDMI -- have
withdrawn from the project.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4587313.html?tag=unkn
http://www.sdmi.org

(New York) Musicmusicmusic, a music content provider, announced that it
has entered into an agreement with the CHUM Radio Network to broadcast the
BBC Worldwide's "BBC in Concert" series terrestrially to radio stations
across Canada. The two companies will share advertising revenue equally.
The radio shows feature performances by bands including Led Zeppelin,
Radiohead and R.E.M. that date back to 1971. New York-based
Musicmusicmusic provides music content to both online and off-line
companies, as well as an interactive streaming radio station.
http://www.musicmusicmusic.com
http://www.chumradio.com

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Job Postings:
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To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html

> Sonata, Director/VP Biz. Dev./Sales - Wireless Internet - New York City

Venture-backed wireless company specializing in the next generation of
location-based applications and wireless advertising seeks executive to
initiate, negotiate and close deals. Cultivation of business contacts,
structuring deals, negotiation of contracts and being part of an effective
business development team will be essential. Familiarity with advertising,
high-tech software or Internet products. Must have a passion for
emergingtechnology. Send resumes to hr@sonatainc.com
http://www.sonata.com
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> Lucid Designs, Senior Web Designer - Los Angeles

This is an opportunity to join a young, growing company with established
high-profile clients. Should have a minimum of two years design
experience, and a thorough knowledge of web standard design software such
as Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash. Experience with Dreamweaver, DHTML,
CD-ROM or print production are pluses, but not required. Position includes
benefits and generous salary. Send resumes and examples of on-line work to
jobs@luciddesigns.com
http://www.luciddesigns.com
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> Static, Tech Writer - Los Angeles

Software company that transforms the desktop into a peer-to-peer
distributed network for businesses and consumers seeks writer to document
cool software. Needs to have moderate programming/coding skills
(especially C/C++), as well as clear, concise and creative writing skills.
Experience with some sort of document layout software is needed. Send
resumes and tech-writing samples to cooljobs@static.com
http://www.static.com
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> Ruder Finn, TECHNOLOGY-Account Exec./Sr. Account Exec. - San Francisco

Global independent public relations agency seeks executives to help handle
explosive new business growth in dynamic and fast-moving office. Requires
excellent written/oral communication, organizational and problem-solving
skills, as well as a passion for client service. Sr. level positions
require strong program planning, client counseling and staff mentoring
skills. Great accounts, smart programs, competitive compensation and
benefits. Send resumes to careers@ruderfinn.com
http://www.ruderfinn.com

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Event Postings:
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To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
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