MediaMorphosis: A Multimedia Leadership Retreat

* March 10-12, 2004, at the Four Seasons Newport Beach, CA
* Join the leaders and thinkers shaping the digital future at this international, inter-industry brainshare on media, technology and society. 
* More information

Main Stories
o AOL Remains Upbeat Despite Losing Subscribers, Revenue
o TiVo Acquires Home Networking Developer Strangeberry
o Twice-Acquitted "DVD Jon" Sues Norwegian Govt. for $21,800 in Legal Fees
o Mobile Multiplayer Gaming Firm Kayak Interactive Raises $11.8 Million  
o Report: Text-Message, Java Wireless Games to Bring $9.7 Billion by 2008
o Digital Video Firm Focus Acquires Visual Concepts, COMO for $10.7 Million
o XM Satellite Radio, Shareholders Raise $530 Million in Offering

o Briefly Noted: MusicMatch - Coca-Cola, Atari - "DRIV3R" launch delay, Napster, The Thrills - KFOG - iTunes Store, MusicRebellion.com, USA Today - TiVo viewer data, TVN Entertainment - Cablevision, XM Satellite Radio - MSNBC, Sony Online Entertainment - "Champions of Norrath," Acclaim - "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II," WireJack, Booble

Dulles, Va. -- America Online on Wednesday revealed the results for another in a series of difficult quarters. The Internet unit of media giant Time Warner said that its revenue declined 7% for the quarter, as it lost another 399,000 subscribers to cheaper dial-up providers and higher-end broadband services. The unit reported an operating profit of $109 million, up from a loss of $33.4 billion a year ago, though income excluding charges fell 14%. Revenue was $2.16 billion, down from $2.32 billion, with advertising revenue dropping 36%. AOL, which had 24.3 million subscribers at the end of the quarter -- down 2.2 million from a year earlier -- said that it expects earnings to increase this quarter due in part to stronger ad sales.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040128/285311_1.html
_____________________________________________

o TiVo Acquires Home Networking Developer Strangeberry

San Jose, Calif. -- TiVo, a developer of digital video recorder equipment and services, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Palo Alto, Calif.-based Strangeberry, a developer of home networking technology. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. TiVo said the acquisition will aid in its goal to expand TiVo functionality beyond recording television programming, and that Strangeberry's technology will enable the development of new broadband-based content delivery services.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040127/sftu072_1.html
http://www.strangeberry.com
http://www.tivo.com
_____________________________________________

o Twice-Acquitted "DVD Jon" Sues Norwegian Govt. for $21,800 in Legal Fees

Oslo, Norway -- "DVD Jon," the Norwegian teenager who has been twice cleared of any legal wrongdoing for writing code that can crack the encryption security on DVD movies, is now suing the Norwegian government to cover the economic losses he suffered as a result of the litigation, the Associated Press reported. Johansen's lawyer, Halvor Manshaus, told AP the suit seeks about $21,800 to cover his legal fees and other losses. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) urged the Norwegian government to prosecute Johansen under the country's data break-in laws, but two Norwegian court rulings acquitted the programmer on all charges.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52442-2004Jan27.html
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5148882.html
____________________________________________

o Mobile Multiplayer Gaming Firm Kayak Interactive Raises $11.8 Million

Princeton, N.J. -- Kayak Interactive, a developer of mobile multiplayer video game technology, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $11.8 million in its first round of venture capital financing. VantagePoint Venture Partners led the investment round; TL Ventures and EnerTech Capital also participated. New Jersey-based Kayak Interactive's technology enables developers and publishers to design and distribute advanced mobile multiplayer games across wireless networks that are capable of supporting tournaments and leagues.
http://www.kayakinteractive.com
____________________________________________

o Report: Text-Message, Java Wireless Games to Bring $9.7 Billion by 2008

Basingstoke, England -- Text-message based and Java-based games for cell phones will generate an estimated $9.7 billion in revenues by 2008, according to projections from U.K.-based analyst firm Juniper Research. The firm said SMS-based text-message game downloads accounted for $1.5 billion in revenue during 2003, with 68% of these selling in Europe. However, rich-media games that require advanced handsets with color screens and Java or BREW capabilities are expected to account for 65% of the $9.7 billion market projected for 2008. "Games are an ideal add on service to the mobile platform and current SMS technology, which is in nearly every mobile phone user's pocket and is well understood, is already making mobile gaming a popular and money generating service," said Juniper's Paul Skeldon.
http://www.juniperresearch.com
____________________________________________

o Digital Video Firm Focus Acquires Visual Concepts, COMO for $10.7 Million

Campbell, Calif. -- Focus Enhancements, a developer of digital video chips and video production equipment, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Minnesota-based networked digital video systems maker Visual Circuits Corporation for $8.9 million, and also signed a letter of intent to acquire German video content management firm COMO Computer & Motion for $1.8 million. "These complementary acquisitions expand our ability to provide a much wider range of the digital media workflow -- from capture, conversion and creation to content management, storage and presentation," said Focus president and CEO Brett Moyer. "The acquisitions also improve our ability to support and broaden the European market, as well as extend our customer base to include large private video network deployments in retail, healthcare and entertainment markets."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040128/285353_1.html 
http://www.visualcircuits.com 
http://www.como.com 
http://www.focusinfo.com
____________________________________________

o XM Satellite Radio, Shareholders Raise $530 Million in Offering

Washington, DC -- Giving itself a sizable cash cushion, XM Satellite Radio, the front-running provider of satellite radio in the U.S., said on Wednesday that it has closed its $530 million public offering. The company, itself, raised $185.5 million, selling 7 million shares at $26.50 each. Current shareholders sold the remainder.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/dcw041_1.html 
http://www.xmradio.com

Top

Top

> Complete Information for Department of Homeland Security

Small businesses wanting to do business with the government face unique challenges when entering the federal marketplace. The 2003- 2004 Directory of Homeland Security includes a detailed list of procurement information and small business government contacts for the various federal departments and agencies. Contact names, titles, phone and fax numbers and descriptions are included in the listings. The Department of Homeland Security portion of the directory has entire section titled, "Doing Business with the Department of Homeland Security." To order the 2003-2004 edition, go to: http://www.tech-directories.com/dmw.htm
 

Top

(San Diego) MusicMatch, a provider of digital jukebox software and online music services, announced on Wednesday a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company. Details of the partnership, which will promote MusicMatch with the Sprite soft drink brand, will be announced later this year. San Diego-based MusicMatch also announced that it now counts 45 million users of its jukebox software, a 25% increase over 2002, and that it is now selling one million song downloads per month through its online store.
http://www.musicmatch.com

(New York) Video game publisher Atari announced late Tuesday that it will postpone the release of its anticipated "DRIV3R" title from the end of March until June 1, 2004. The delay of the game, the third installment in a 12 million unit-selling franchise, caused the company's shares to plunge over 20% on Wednesday. Atari CEO Bruno Bonnell said the delay was not due to development issues, but will create time to provide for an expanded marketing campaign for the game.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040127/275746_1.html 
http://www.driv3r.com

(Los Angeles) Napster on Wednesday added several new features to its digital music store and service, including support for a wider range of portable devices and the sale of bulk tracks to Premium members for as little as $0.80. Owners of portable players including Creative's Nomad Zen line, the Dell Digital Jukebox and Rio's Cali and Nitrus can now drag-and-drop tracks from Napster directly to their portable device without leaving the Napster application. Additionally, subscribers to Napster's $9.95-per-month premium service can now purchase packs of 15, 25 or 50 tracks for $13.95, $21.95 and $39.95, respectively.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/law015_1.html 
http://www.napster.com

(New York) Virgin Records artists The Thrills on Wednesday released a digital EP, "From KFOG to iPod," exclusively for sale through Apple's iTunes Store. The live tracks on the EP were recorded by the band at San Francisco radio station KFOG-FM's Emerging Artist Concert less than 48 hours previous, on Sunday, Jan. 25. "Digital distribution is allowing us to get live shows out into the market quickly and respond to emerging events," said Virgin Records director of new media marketing, Lars Murray.
http://www.thethrills.com 
http://www.kfog.com

(Indianapolis, In.) Online music retailer MusicRebellion.com on Wednesday launched its dynamic pricing structure for song downloads, offering 300 tracks for $0.05 and the rest of its catalog for $0.30. Following initial phases, tracks will rise and fall in cost based on their popularity on the service. Indiana-based MusicRebellion.com's pricing system was designed by Digonex Technologies.
http://www.digonex.com 
http://www.musicrebellion.com

(McLean, Va.) USA Today announced on Wednesday that it will add a monthly list of the Top 10 most-watched and recorded programs by TiVo owners to the television ratings data found in its Life section. The ratings will be based on an analysis of second-by-second viewing preferences of an anonymous aggregate sample of 20,000 TiVo households, covering programs that air in prime time on the six major networks.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/dcw018_1.html 
http://www.tivo.com 
http://www.usatoday.com

(Burbank, Calif.) TVN Entertainment, a provider of video-on-demand programming and delivery technology to cable TV operators, said on Wednesday that it will provide Cablevision with new release and library films, adult, cable network and specialty content including Mag Rack for its video-on-demand offering. Cablevision currently serves about 900,000 digital subscribers in the New York metropolitan area.
http://www.cablevision.com 
http://www.tvn.com

(Washington) XM Satellite Radio, a provider of satellite-delivered digital radio programming, on Wednesday added a number of talk radio programs from MSNBC and other syndicated hosts to its programming lineup. In addition to MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews and "Countdown" with Keith Olberman, XM subscribers will also be able to hear Dennis Miller's new talk program on CNBC, as well as shows hosted by Michael Savage, Matt Drudge, Laura Ingraham and Ed Schultz.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/dcw006a_1.html 
http://www.xmradio.com

(San Diego) Sony Online Entertainment announced on Wednesday that its "Champions of Norrath" title for PlayStation 2, based on its popular "EverQuest" online title, has gone gold and will ship to retailers on Feb. 11. The game features a multiplayer component for up to four players available for free to owners of a Network Adaptor for PlayStation 2.
http://championsofnorrath.station.sony.com

(Glen Cove, N.Y.) Video game publisher Acclaim Entertainment on Wednesday announced a distribution with Avalon Interactive to distribute "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II" in the U.K., France, Benelux and Germany. The "Dungeons and Dragons"-based game, whose predecessor sold over one million units worldwide, was developed by Black Isle Studios under license from The Hasbro Properties Group. The title will be released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox on Feb. 6.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040128/nyw011b_1.html 
http://www.acclaim.com 
http://bgda2.blackisle.com

(Manhattan Beach, Calif.) Mobile entertainment developer WireJack on Wednesday launched its "Mystic Garden" personal psychic application for Qualcomm's BREW platform for wireless devices. The service is available in both English and Spanish.
http://www.wirejack.com

(Los Angeles) The operator of a recently launched adult entertainment search engine called Booble.com said Wednesday that he has received notice from the Google Trademark Enforcement Team, stating in part, "We dispute your assertion that your website is a parody." Booble.com's anonymous owner, "Bob," a self-described "former senior executive of one of America's leading online services," believes his site, which closely resembles Google, is a parody under the First Amendment legal definition. "The entire universe gets the joke. Only a lawyer could say 'Booble' without smiling," said Bob.
http://www.booble.com/press.html

Top

Top

Copyright 2004 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.