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January 26, 2005 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Publications | Subscribe

Main Stories
o Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Denies Merger Talks With Rival XM
o MPAA Files Second Wave of Lawsuits Against Alleged Movie File-Swappers
o Yahoo Opens L.A. Offices in Bid to Court Entertainment Industry
o Nintendo Profits Down 43% on Weak GameCube Sales
o Google Hires Lead Programmer of Firefox Browser
o Take-Two Acquires Rights to Firaxis Games' "Civilization" Franchise
o Game Publisher Majesco Raises $46 Million in Stock Offering

o Mobile Entertainment Developer PhoneBites Raises $3 Million
o Report: U.K. Mobile Phone Penetration Now Exceeds 100%

> DMW Announcements:
--Digital Music Forum - March 2, 2005  

> Featured Advertisement:
--Billboard Music & Money Symposium - March 3, 2005
 

o Briefly Noted: DualDisc format, RCN - home monitoring service, Atari - Jamdat, Yeahronimo Media Ventures - Commodore-branded media players, AOL - Infinity - WHFS
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> Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
--Vice President of Business Development
--Search Thousands of Executive Contacts on TVSpy.com
--Sr. Product Marketing Manager - Services
--Online Traffic Coordinator - Charlestown, MA
--Strategic Account Manager - E-business and Games
--Director - Online Panel (Research)
--Web Consulting/Business Development Manager, iapps Division
--Senior Manager of Business Development
--Public Relations Account Manager - Andover, MA
--Senior Account Executive - Technology PR
--OSDL Enterprise Linux Summit - Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 2005
--Tech Global Venture Congress 2005 - Jan. 27-28
--PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008
 


o Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Denies Merger Talks With Rival XM

New York -- Following a report in The New York Post that claimed satellite radio providers Sirius and XM had entered merger negotiations, Sirius Satellite Radio head Mel Karmazin denied the rumors on Wednesday. "I have not met with the chairman or CEO [of XM], so I have no idea where any of this came from," Karmazin told reporters on a conference call. Analysts speculated that a proposed merger between the two rival satellite radio firms would not pass regulatory muster. Karmazin also denied that Sirius was trying to buy out the remainder of shock jock Howard Stern's contract with Viacom, so that he could shift to Sirius sooner than in 2006 as planned. Sirius said on Wednesday that it experienced a wider loss during the fourth quarter of 2004, as a result of high subscriber acquisition costs and expensive licenses for sports programming. The company did raise its subscriber forecast for 2005 to 2.5 million subscribers.
http://www.nypost.com/business/38810.htm
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050126/earns_sirius_satellite_radio_6.html
http://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2005/01/26/0126autofacescan04.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050126/nyw059_1.html 
http://www.xmradio.com 
http://www.siriusradio.com 
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o MPAA Files Second Wave of Lawsuits Against Alleged Movie File-Swappers

Los Angeles -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which represents the major Hollywood movie studios, announced on Wednesday that it has filed a second round of copyright infringement lawsuits against an undisclosed number of alleged U.S. online movie file-swappers. "We cannot allow people to steal our motion pictures and other products online, and we will use all the options we have available to encourage people to obey the law," said MPAA CEO Dan Glickman. Following the example of the recording industry, which has now sued over 7,000 individuals for online piracy, the MPAA filed its first round of lawsuits against individual file-swappers in November. The group then led an international effort to go after operators of servers for file-sharing services like eDonkey and BitTorrent, leading to arrests in several European countries. The MPAA on Wednesday also released a software application, "Parent File Scan," that can be used by parents to determine if file-sharing software and copyrighted media files have been downloaded by their children. The MPAA said the software doesn't collect or report any information on users.
http://tinyurl.com/422bz 
http://www.respectcopyrights.org 
http://dtecnet.purestatic.com 
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o Yahoo Opens L.A. Offices in Bid to Court Entertainment Industry

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- In a bid to strengthen its ties to the entertainment business, web portal Yahoo will lease new facilities in Los Angeles to house a newly formed Yahoo Media Group to be headed by former ABC TV chairman Lloyd Braun. Yahoo Media Group will oversee the company's news, sports, video games, movies and music services. The Los Angeles Times called the estimated $100 million lease of offices in Santa Monica one of the largest commercial real estate deals in Los Angeles County in the last year. Yahoo will maintain its Sunnyvale, Calif. headquarters, but will aggressively hire in the Los Angeles area and relocate employees from its New York and Sunnyvale operations to staff the new facilities. Following the appointment of former Warner Bros. head Terry Semel as CEO in 2001, the company has sought to bolster the quality of its entertainment and news offerings. It has since acquired online ad purveyor Overture Services and online music services Launch and Musicmatch, and hired Wall Street Journal Online founder Neil Budde to head its online news division.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-yahoo26jan26.story 
http://tinyurl.com/6u2eh 
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o Nintendo Profits Down 43% on Weak GameCube Sales

Tokyo -- Japanese video game firm Nintendo's profits were down 43% for the last quarter, which the company attributed in part to weak GameCube sales. and prompted a cut of more than 20% for its sales forecast for the full year. Nintendo lowered its sales forecast for the full year by 20%, and also revised projected sales for the GameCube for the upcoming year downward by 12.5%, to 4 million units. The plunge in profits came in spite of strong sales for its new DS handheld, which the company said has outperformed expectations, selling 2.84 million units since launch. Nintendo increased its sales forecast for the DS to 6 million units by March, but at the same time cut its projections for DS game sales by one-third. "DS software is not selling because users are playing the pre-installed PictoChat game or Gameboy Advance games, which are compatible," a spokesman for Nintendo told Reuters. "They buy one game with their DS purchase, but they're not buying two or three."
http://tinyurl.com/3llf9 
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o Google Hires Lead Programmer of Firefox Browser

Mountain View, Calif. -- Fueling speculation that Google may be gearing up to release its own web browser to compete against Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the Internet search giant has apparently hired Ben Goodger, the lead programmer of the alternative Firefox browser. "As of January 10, 2005, my source of income changed from The Mozilla Foundation to Google, Inc. of Mountain View, California," said Goodger on his web site. "My role with Firefox and the Mozilla project will remain largely unchanged… While I will be spending more time at Google, I will work out of the Mozilla Foundation offices regularly as the need arises." His exact role at Google remains unclear. The Firefox browser, put out by Mozilla, has rapidly gained in popularity in recent months due to its numerous features and fewer occurrences of malicious attacks.
http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben 
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o Take-Two Acquires Rights to Firaxis Games' "Civilization" Franchise

New York -- Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the "Grand Theft Auto" video game franchise, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the multi-million unit-selling "Civilization" game franchise from Maryland-based Firaxis Games. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Take-Two also signed a long-term, multi-title publishing agreement with Firaxis, which is home to developer Sid Meier and has created games including "Pirates," "SimGolf" and "Alpha Centauri." The first title to be published as a result of the agreement will be "Sid Meier's Civilization IV" for PC, to be released by Take-Two's newly formed 2K Games label in late 2005.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050126/265227_1.html 
http://www.take2games.com 
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o Game Publisher Majesco Raises $46 Million in Stock Offering

Edison, N.J. -- Video game publisher Majesco, a developer of games including "BloodRayne" and "Advent Rising," announced on Wednesday that it has priced a $75 million offering of 6 million of its shares, issued by the company and its stockholders. New Jersey-based Majesco said it would receive proceeds of about $46 million from the offering. "This successful offering gives us the opportunity to further develop and prove Majesco's growth strategies and management team," said CEO Carl Yankowski. "These funds will help finance working capital, accelerate product development, fuel more marketing, and acquire new content, all of which will facilitate our diverse planned growth and leverage our unique three-pronged digital entertainment business model."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050126/265323_1.html 
http://www.majescogames.com 
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o Mobile Entertainment Developer PhoneBites Raises $3 Million

San Francisco -- PhoneBites, a mobile entertainment firm developing sound clips that callers can inject into their cell phone conversations, announced that it has raised $3 million in its first round of venture capital financing. Investors participating in the round included Garage Technology Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capital and Siemens Mobile Acceleration. Founded in 2002, San Francisco-based PhoneBites recently introduced its RAZZ technology, which lets callers insert pre-recorded sound effects and voices -- such as the "Bushisms" examples offered on its website -- into live conversations and voice mail messages. The company said it will use the funds to expand its product portfolio, add global distribution channels and increase infrastructure.
http://www.phonebites.com 
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o Report: U.K. Mobile Phone Penetration Now Exceeds 100%

London -- According the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA) based on contract and pre-paid subscriptions, mobile phone penetration in the U.K. now exceeds 100%. The MDA said many U.K. customers now own more than one handset in order to separate voice and e-mail applications or business and personal communications. The 100% milestone was reached 11 years after digital mobile services were first launched in the U.K., the MDA said. With the news, the U.K. joins the likes of Italy, Iceland, Portugal, Sweden and Luxembourg, which currently boasts a 133% mobile penetration rate.
http://www.mda-mobiledata.org/mda 

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>DMW Events:

 



5th Annual Digital Music Forum
March 2, 2005 | New York City
www.digitalmusicforum.com

Digital Music Forum is the premier event for music industry decision-makers focused on business models and legal issues impacting music. The annual event brings together decision-makers from records labels, music publishers, producers and distributors, technology companies, wireless companies, rights organizations, industry bodies, radio, advertising, attorneys, artists investors and venture capitalists to examine the role of digital technologies in the future of music.

FEATURED INTERVIEW:
Shawn Fanning - Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Snocap with
Chris Anderson - Editor-in-Chief, Wired

KEYNOTES:
Terry McBride - CEO, Nettwerk Productions
David Goldberg - VP & General Manager, Music, Yahoo!
Mike Conte - General Manager, MSN Marketplaces, Microsoft

PANELISTS:

Brad Duea - President, Napster
Jeffrey Bronikowski - VP, Bus. Dev., eLabs, Universal Music Group
Ted Cohen - SVP, Digital Development & Distribution, EMI Music
Thomas Gewecke - SVP, Digital Business Group, Sony BMG
Mike Gaumond - VP & General Manager, Motorola Media Solutions
Brian Garrity - Senior Editor, Billboard
Gerd Leonhard - Co-Author, "The Future of Music" / Senior Advisor, Sony Net Services
Phil Corwin - Chief Lobbyist, Sharman Networks (owner of Kazaa)
Martin J. Elgison - Partner, Intellectual Property, Alston & Bird
Steve Marks - General Counsel, RIAA
Jonathan Potter - Executive Director, Digital Media Association
Robert Acker - VP, RealPlayer & Music Services, Real Networks
Gary Cohen - President, MusicNow
Peter Diemer - VP Sales & Marketing, Musicrypt.com
David Card - VP & Senior Analyst, Jupiter Research
John Kilcullen - President & Publisher, Billboard
Ned Sherman - CEO, Digital Media Wire
Nancy Beaton - GM, Wireless Music & Personalization, Sprint
Ralph Simon - Chairman of Americas, Mobile Entertainment Forum
Additional speakers & keynoters to be announced


PANEL TOPICS INCLUDE:

  • THE STATE OF THE DIGITAL UNION: The Outlook for Online & Mobile Music Markets
  • LAWYERS, GEEKS & MONEY: The Clash Between Technology & Copyright Law
  • THE ONLINE MUSIC MARKET: Competition, Business Models & Courting Consumers in a Crowded Market
  • THE MOBILE MUSIC MARKET: What Does the Future Hold for this Booming Market?

For more information click here
To register click here.

REGISTRATION
Pre-registration rate: $295 (until February 4th)
Registration rate: $395 (after February 4th)

Register online at http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1092

Phone registration: 323-822-0936


To submit speakers for or request information about exhibiting or sponsoring at the 2005 conferences, please contact Tinzar Than, VP, Marketing & Events, Digital Media Wire, Inc. at: tinzar@digitalmediawire.com.
 

Past Events | Sponsorship Materials | Partners & Clients


 

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> Featured Advertisement:
                                                  

>Billboard Music & Money Symposium - March 3, 2005

 

The 4th annual Music & Money Symposium will take place Thursday, March 3, at The St. Regis Hotel in the heart of midtown Manhattan. As in past years, The Symposium will attract thought leaders from the music, legal, management and Wall Street communities for a thorough examination of trends and opportunities in music and digital entertainment.

This year's Symposium will include a candid, one-on-one discussion between Loeb & Loeb co-chairman John Frankenheimer and Sony BMG Music Entertainment CEO Andrew Lack. These two giants of the biz will explore the challenge of merging Sony and BMG, while providing an aerial view of music's future. Additionally, the event will feature all-star panel discussions that will explore a host of crucial topics and networking opportunities such as a breakfast, lunch and cocktail hour.

For more information and to register online, please visit: www.billboardevents.com or contact Kelly at kpeppers@billboard.com or (646) 654-4643.

Attendees of the Digital Music Forum will receive 25% off the registration rate for the Billboard Music & Money Symposium.
 

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o Briefly Noted:

(New York) The 5.1 Entertainment Group, made of the world's major record labels, announced on Wednesday that 25 new titles will be released in February and March on the new DualDisc format, which features CD content on one side and enhanced audio and video content on the opposite DVD side of the disc. New DualDiscs will be released for artists including Jennifer Lopez, Velvet Revolver, Usher and AC/DC. The group said a Simple Plan album released on DualDisc format in October has since sold over 1 million copies. While no new equipment is needed to play a DualDisc, to take advantage of extra material consumers will need a 5.1 channel surround sound system.
http://www.dualdisc.com

(Princeton, N.J.) RCN Corporation, a provider of bundled cable TV, telephone and broadband Internet services in top U.S. markets, on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Internet-based webcam home monitoring service. RCN WebWatch, available for an extra $9.95 per month, includes a wireless camera and will allow subscribers to remotely view real-time video of their home or business through any PC with a high-speed connection.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050126/phw025_1.html
http://www.rcn.com/webwatch

(Beverly, Mass.) Video game publisher Atari said on Wednesday that it has extended a license agreement with mobile game publisher Jamdat. Under the terms, Jamdat will publish wireless versions of Atari titles based on Hasbro board games, including "Scrabble," "Yahtzee" and "Boggle." Separately, the company announced it has retained retired U.S. General Barry McCaffrey to consult on its "Act of War: Direct Action" real-time military strategy PC game. Developed by France-based Eugen Systems for an expected March release, the title features a script penned by retired U.S. Air Force captain turned New York Times bestselling author Dale Brown.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050126/265314_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050126/nyw007_1.html 
http://www.jamdat.com 
http://www.eugensystems.com

(Beverly Hills, Calif.) Yeahronimo Media Ventures, a California firm that recently acquired the rights to the 1970s and '80s Commodore home computer brand, announced on Wednesday the launch of the first two mobile devices it will release under the Commodore brand. Yeahronimo will release the $200 eVic Music Box, a 20GB digital music player, and the $139 Mpet II Data and Music Player, a flash memory-based player available in 256MB and 512MB capacities. Test marketed in Europe, the players will ship to retail in the second quarter of 2005. Yeahronimo said it will also launch a Commodoreworld website where consumers can download music tracks and games.
http://www.yeahronimo.com 
http://www.commodoreshop.com

(Washington) America Online and radio broadcaster Infinity have announced that they will provide a new online home for legendary D.C. alternative music radio station WHFS, which several weeks ago switched to a Spanish-language pop music format after helping to pioneer the "alternative" format in 1968. Radio@AOL will now offer a stream of WHFS-programmed new music, as well as archived programs and broadcasts of the station's live music festivals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4390-2005Jan12.html
http://music.channel.aol.com/internet_radio/whfs 
 
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> Classifieds -- Advertise

> Vice President Business Development

Movielink (www.movielink.com) is a joint-venture that was created by Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, MGM and Universal Studios to establish a new channel of video distribution over new digital networks. To date, Movielink has led industry efforts to create new channels of IP distribution that leverage the benefits of digital platforms through partnerships with companies such as AOL, Bell South, Charter Communications, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Real Networks, Road Runner/Time Warner Cable, SBC and Verizon. Contact: sonny.guraya@movielink.com
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> Search Thousands of Executive Contacts on TVSpy.com

Looking for a job in television? Developing sales leads? Click here to search the TVSpy Executive Directory now! Find phone numbers, faxes and even some e-mail addresses for executives and managers in cable, broadcasting, broadband, entertainment and more! Get connected. Start searching on TVSpy.com
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> Sr. Product Marketing Manager - Services

Wind River is seeking a self-motivated individual with extensive product marketing experience to drive a successful enterprise-level marketing plan for our Wind River Design Services. Require: Min. 8 years of broad software or technology marketing exp. and at least 2 yrs exp. in marketing or business development for device software or enterprise applications. Must excel in articulating complex value propositions to sophisticated business customers; demonstrated ability to open new markets and launch new products and services. Must be self sufficient. Bachelors degree required; Advanced degree desirable. Send resumes to duncan.macmurdy@windriver.com
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> Online Traffic Coordinator - Charlestown, MA

Smarter Living, Inc is an online travel publishing company located in Boston. We are seeking hardworking, motivated, and detail oriented Online Traffic Coordinator with 1-2 years of ad trafficking experience. Understanding of ad- serving technologies and knowledge of basic HTML are strongly recommended, understanding of online media (CPM, CPC, and CPA environment). Attention to detail, precision data input, often under time pressure, is essential, strong interpersonal skills, the traffic coordinator will interact extensively with many group individuals within the company, Good analytical skills, Bachelor's Degree. Send resumes to careers@smarterliving.com
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> Strategic Account Manager - E-business and Games

Boonty is an international company which develops and sells a premium service video game downloading platform to major Internet Access Providers and Portals. Your primary target: increase sales on our partner's websites. In coordination with the Sales director, you will work closely with our US partners (ISP, portals) More info here.
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> Director - Online Panel (Research)

The Director will lead a team of people who deliver many key aspects of our ZoomPanel product. ZoomPanel is a MarketTools proprietary online panel community. Require: 3-5 years Direct Marketing background. Internet marketing, consumer promotions or marketing research experience preferred. Some classical brand management experience at major packaged goods companies preferred. Creative problem solving skills a must. International business experience and foreign language skills a plus. Strong communication skills, oral and written, required. Must have the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously. Bachelors degree required, MBA strongly preferred. Please email your resume and salary history/requirements to hr@markettools.com
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> Web Consulting/Business Development Manager, iapps Division

iapps is searching for a Web Consulting/Business Development Manager for our Washington DC office. You will be responsible for sales, cultivating new client opportunities and growing our existing client base. Must be very experienced identifying clients' web challenges and developing detailed written technical specifications for pending client engagements. Strong presentation skills required. Knowledge of philanthropic/non-profit sector helpful. Send resumes to jobs@iapps.com
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> Senior Manager of Business Development

Small but growing media software company, backed by leading venture firms, seeks a business development manager to expand the company's strategic software and technology partnerships and develop new revenue opportunities. This person will identify potential customers, present solutions to senior media executives, and manage the BD process through contract negotiation. Significant travel is required. MBA and 5 years BD exp. preferred. Send resumes to jobs@lightningcast.com
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> Public Relations Account Manager - Andover, MA

PAN Communications is a full-service, independent public relations agency dedicated to increasing its clients' visibility, market share and profits. Based in Andover, MA, this mid-size firm has a nationwide client base and specializes in creating and executing public relations programs for Technology, Professional Services, Trade Show and Consumer clients. The ideal candidate will have 5 to 7 years experience in high technology public relations preferably in an agency setting and a B.S./B.A. or equivalent is required. Proven managerial experience is a must. Please send your resume to HR@pancomm.com. Visit our website at http://www.pancommunications.com
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> Senior Account Executive - Technology PR

LaunchSquad, a tech-focused PR firm in San Francisco, is seeking a high- energy, experienced media relations professional to join our team. The senior account executive will work directly with LaunchSquad's managing partners on several of the company's clients. Duties will include writing, media pitching, strategic planning, client relations, new business activities, and other general client work. Require 3 to 7 years of tech PR exp., strong written and verbal communications skills, strong media pitching skills, Analyst relations exp., Client mgmt skills. Visit http://www.launchsquad.com for more info. Please send a resume and cover letter to thesquad@launchsquad.com
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> OSDL Enterprise Linux Summit

The OSDL Enterprise Linux Summit is the source of Linux deployment information. This unique conference brings together Linux system administrators and architects, corporate developers, ISVs and vendors who want to explore practical solutions for accelerating Linux deployment and increasing Linux business across the enterprise. Jan 31- Feb 2, 2004, Hyatt Hotel, Burlingame, California http://www.osdllinuxsummit.org/btw
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> Tech Global Venture Congress 2005 - Jan. 27-28

The Technology Global Venture Congress is a two-day conference designed to address the venture capital landscape, identify current trends in innovation, learn key technologies and scientific discoveries and discover emerging Technology companies. More than 35 participating VC speakers, 8 panel discussions, VIP Cocktail reception and networking. Jan 27- 28, Madison Square Garden , NYC. Special discounted rate ($450) for Tech Wire subscribers. Register here. Send inquiries to tech@saeclub.com
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> PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008

PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008 is the leading global entertainment and media industry forecast, including in-depth global analyses and five-year growth projections for 14 industry segments covering every major global region. The complete 550-page book, is available in print or electronic format. The 50 page "Global Overview" (available in print or electronic format)or any of the 14 individual industry segment chapters (electronic format only) can be purchased separately for $95. For sample content and to order, click here.
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About Us
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is a news organization, publisher and events company serving the digital media industry since May 2000. Our daily newsletter delivers original briefings on business, legal and financial developments shaping digital media and read by over 30,000 executives and professionals.

Digital Media Wire, Inc. is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international network of publications that includes Digital Media Law Report, Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire, Tri-state Tech Wire and European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 70,000 individuals from over 70 countries each business day.

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