===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- March 3, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com
o SEC Launches Formal Investigation Into Interactive TV Firm Liberate
o Sony Announces First Blue Laser DVD Recorder On Sale Next Month
o FT: Vivendi Plans To Keep Universal Music
o USA Network Signs Deal to Promote TV Programs on Yahoo
o G4 Video Game Cable TV Network to Host New Awards Show
o Music Education Technology Firm MakeMusic Raises $3 Million
o Gigex Acquires GameDaily Video Game Trade Newsletter
> DMW Publications: February Law and Policy Report
o Briefly Noted: AOL Music Mobile Club, Texas Instruments - DLP Cinema
"2K," Singingfish - Marketleap, Ubi Soft - "Prince of Persia," Muze - Koch
- Ringo Starr, Electronic Arts - "Medal of Honor Rising Sun," Essential
Reality, Zona - "Ghosts 'N Ghouls," Midway - "Freaky Flyers," Power Beat
International - free-space optics
_____________________________________________
> Events: Games & Mobile Forum: April 28 | NYC
> Marketplace: Entertainment & Corporate Legal Services, Game Industry
Report, iTV Chronicle, Interest-Based Navigation
Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.
To post a Classified Ad:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/mainpostingpage.html
or contact Tinzar Than at tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________
o SEC Launches Formal Investigation Into Interactive TV Firm Liberate
San Carlos, Calif. -- Liberate Technologies, a provider of interactive TV
software and services, announced on Monday that the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a formal order of investigation to
determine whether there have been violations of the federal securities
laws or regulations by the company. Previously, San Carlos, Calif.-based
Liberate had been cooperating with the SEC on an investigation into its
accounting practices. The formal investigation status will enable the SEC
to subpoena individuals and entities.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030303/sfm120_1.html
http://www.liberate.com
_____________________________________________
o Sony Announces First Blue Laser DVD Recorder On Sale Next Month
Tokyo -- Sony on Monday announced plans to begin selling the world's first
DVD recorder using high-capacity blue laser technology next month, Reuters
reported. The $3,800 device will be able to record 23 gigabytes of data --
or 2 hours of high-definition content -- onto a single disc. Current red
laser DVD recorders can fit only up to 4.5 gigabytes on each disc. "The
market has already been established, and although it's still looking for
direction, there will be a growing number of users who want
high-definition recording," Sony spokeswoman Shoko Yanagisawa told
Reuters. The Sony blue laser DVD recorder will go on sale April 10 in
Japan; no U.S. release date has yet been announced.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=2316801
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200202/02-0219E/
_____________________________________________
o FT: Vivendi Plans To Keep Universal Music
New York -- Franco-American media giant Vivendi Universal plans to retain
its music business, Universal Music, the Financial Times reported on
Monday. Company directors have adopted a reorganization plan that will
enable the company to control Universal Music for another two years.
Aiming to raise 6 billion euro ($6.5 billion) this year, Vivendi will hold
a board meeting on Thursday to discuss the partial sale of some of its
entertainment assets. A report also surfaced last week that struggling AOL
Time Warner may be looking to sell its Warner Music Group to U.K. major
record label EMI.
http://shorterlink.com/?Y4JGIF
_____________________________________________
o USA Network Signs Deal to Promote TV Programs on Yahoo
Los Angeles -- USA Network, a cable TV network owned by Vivendi's
Universal Television Group, announced on Monday a promotional agreement to
run advertisements for several of its television programs on Yahoo online
properties. The deal represents USA Network's largest advertising
commitment to an Internet media company and Yahoo's first multi-program
upfront deal or advance long-term commitment with a cable advertiser. USA
will promote programs including "Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story,"
"Nashville Star," "Traffic" and "The Dead Zone" on Yahoo's front page, as
well as in the company's movies, TV, news, sports, mail and My Yahoo
sections.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35336_1.html
http://www.usanetwork.com
_____________________________________________
o G4 Video Game Cable TV Network to Host New Awards Show
Los Angeles -- G4, a video game-focused cable TV network owned by cable TV
operator Comcast, announced on Monday plans for its first "G-Phoria," a
location-based on-air event that will celebrate video games. The live
event, to be held on July 30 in Hollywood, will include the network's
first "Glow Awards," honoring video game developers and titles in
categories including "Game of the Year," "Best Cinematic" and "Hottest
Character."
http://www.g4tv.com
_____________________________________________
o Music Education Technology Firm MakeMusic Raises $3 Million
Minneapolis -- MakeMusic, a provider of music education software and
technology, announced on Monday that it has raised $3 million through a
private placement of its stock. Existing shareholder SG Asset Management
contributed $1 million of the total placement, while the balance came from
a combination of new investors, existing shareholders and company
management and directors. The company will use the funds primarily for
working capital and to grow subscriptions to SmartMusic, its music
practice system that currently serves 1,580 schools. Minneapolis-based
MakeMusic also markets the Finale family of music notation software
products.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35133_1.html
http://www.makemusic.com
_____________________________________________
o Gigex Acquires GameDaily Video Game Trade Newsletter
San Francisco -- Gigex, a provider of video game marketing and free online
video game demos, announced on Monday that it has acquired GameDaily, a
daily online newsletter covering the video game industry. Financial terms
were not disclosed. Simon Tonner, who previously worked at publishers
including Ziff Davis, IDG and CMP, has been named publisher of GameDaily,
and will oversee sales, marketing and operations. The GameDaily newsletter
currently claims 18,000 subscribers.
http://www.gigex.com
http://www.gamedaily.com
_____________________________________________
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
==========================================
DMW Publications: February Law & Policy Report
==========================================
Contact tinzar@digitalmediawire.com or call 323-464-0793 to order your
copies.
To purchase directly, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
Digital Media Law & Policy Report - New Issue
Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital
media. 35+ pages of case summaries, news and analysis, policy updates,
court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and business
leaders.
Published monthly. February issue on sale now!
**Special Reduced Rates available for a limited time**
Price: $19.00 Per Issue | $195.00 Annual Subscription
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
==================
FEATURED SECTION
==================
Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________
Briefly Noted:
(Dulles, Va.) America Online on Monday announced the launch of AOL Music
Mobile Club for AT&T Wireless mMode subscribers. For an additional $3.49
per month, mMode subscribers will get news and information on popular and
new artists, 3 free ringtones or graphic downloads per month, the ability
to listen to music samples and other features.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35370_1.html
http://www.attws.com
(Dallas) Texas Instruments announced on Monday that it will be
demonstrating a prototype of its new DLP Cinema projector that displays 2K
resolution and is capable of projecting on the largest screens in
commercial theatres. Dallas-based Texas Instruments' current DLP digital
cinema projection systems are deployed in 150 theaters worldwide. "Our 2K
resolution product is a logical outflow of the collaborative process that
has characterized the development of DLP Cinema technology -- and we are
pleased to offer another product with the incredible clarity, contrast and
brightness of our DLP Cinema technology," said TI's Doug Darrow.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030303/dam018_1.html
http://www.dlpcinema.com
(Seattle) Singingfish, a unit of consumer electronics firm Thomson that
offers an Internet search engine for audio and video streaming media
files, announced on Monday that it has added a pay-for-placement service
for its listings through an agreement with San Francisco-based Marketleap.
The paid inclusion service will guarantee that streaming media files are
indexed by Singingfish, but will not guarantee placement. Marketleap
provides similar services for search engine provider Inktomi.
http://www.singingfish.com/press/2003-03-03_paid_inclusion_launch.html
http://www.singingfish.com/paid-inclusion
http://www.marketleap.com/singingfish
(San Francisco) Video game publisher Ubi Soft Entertainment announced on
Monday that its Montreal studio is working with game developer Jordan
Mechner on a new game in the "Prince of Persia" franchise. "Prince of
Persia: The Sands of Time" is currently being developed for all platforms
for a fall 2003 release. The first three games in the Prince of Persia
franchise have sold a combined three million units.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230625433&ticker=
http://www.ubi.com
http://www.princeofpersia3d.com/main.html
(New York) Muze, a provider of streaming song samples and
entertainment-related informational databases, announced on Monday an agreement with independent
record label Koch Entertainment to distribute full-song streams of Ringo
Starr's upcoming album four weeks prior to its release date. The promotion
is part of New York-based Muze's deal with Koch to offer pre-release
streams from the label's artists. The songs will be available through
MuzeTunes, accessible from sites operated by Best Buy, MTV, VH1, Kmart.com
and Tower Records.
http://www.muze.com
http://www.kochentertainment.com
(Redwood City, Calif.) Game developer Electronic Arts said on Monday that
its EALA studio is currently developing "Medal of Honor Rising Sun" for
PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube for release in the fall of 2003. The
company said it is continuing to work with the Congressional Medal of
Honor Society "to ensure Medal of Honor Rising Sun reflects the ideals and
integrity of the prestigious Medal of Honor."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35470_1.html
(New York) Essential Reality, a developer of sensory and real-time remote
tracking devices, announced on Monday the release of its P5 software
development kit (SDK) for Sony's PlayStation 2 console to the developer
community. The P5 is a USB-based product that utilizes proprietary bend
sensor and tracking technologies that allow a full six degrees of tracking
to enable full interaction with 3-D environments.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35110_1.html
http://www.essentialreality.com
(Mountain View, Calif.) Zona, a provider of network solutions for
massively multiplayer online games, announced on Monday that game
developer Game Factory has licensed its Terazona network engine for
"Ghosts 'N Ghouls," a title it is developing for Capcom.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230625397&ticker=
http://www.capcom.com
http://www.zona.net
(Chicago) Game developer Midway on Monday said that its "Freaky Flyers"
3-D airplane cart racing-adventure game for PlayStation 2, Xbox and
GameCube is scheduled to ship in July.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030303/35443_1.html
http://www.midway.com
(San Francisco) Wired News on Monday reported on the work of New
Zealand-based Power Beat International in the field of free-space optics,
in which the visible light spectrum can be used to transmit live
broadcasts of high-quality television images. The technology works by
modulating a beam of visible light -- the part of the electromagnetic
spectrum that can be seen by humans -- to carry a digital or analog
signal. "When a video recorder is looking at something, it is reading the
voltages that are being transferred from light onto a surface of photo
cells. We take all of those voltage changes and use them to modulate our
light," Power Beat managing director Peter Witehira told Wired News.
http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,57860,00.html
http://www.powerbeat.co.nz
_____________________________________________
===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm
_____________________________________________
====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm
Digital Media Wire Presents...Games & Mobile Forum
April 2003, New York City
Focusing on games and mobile entertainment opportunities and business
models. Panel topics will include "The Battle to Control the Living Room:
Is the Game Industry Winning?", "Mobile Games: Business Models & New
Opportunities", "Legal & Policy Issues Impacting the Game Industry &
Mobile Entertainment", and "Home Networking: Technology for Modern Living
& Entertainment."
Door Tickets Price: $250. For Early Bird Specials, pre-register at:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1025
_____________________________________________
==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
Entertainment & Corporate Legal Services
Top Credentialed Attorney with 9 years of experience representing major
studios, entertainment start-ups, VCs, investment banks and other blue
chip clients provides legal and business consulting for exclusive
clientele at reasonable rates. Services include entity formation, private
equity financings, licensing (entertainment and software products),
trademark registration and disputes, copyright issues and other
transactional and contract law services. Qualified in California and
Texas. Retainer required to commence services. Tel. 323-363-3620.
_____________________________________________
Game Industry Law & Policy Report
Special industry report covering law & policy matters impacting the game
industry. The 15-page report includes case summaries, news and analysis,
feature article and an exclusive interview with Doug Lowenstein,
President, Interactive Digital Software Association. Price: $19.00
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
_____________________________________________
For those who believe in ITV - "Interactive TV: The Definitive Chronicle"
Covering the period 2000 to the present, this sourcebook presents a
complete history of the news and events that have shaped the business of
iTV since the beginning of the 21st Century. Culled from countless
sources, including the Digital Media Wire database, this 175 pages PDF (on
CD) covers all of the major players as well as the legal and financial
issues that helped shape the industry. Key research and industry
projections as well as a host of facts, figures, resources and thousands
of iTV-related links are included. Price: $ 55.00.
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
_____________________________________________
Etronica helps you "Find the Good Stuff FAST!"
Etronica's unique software toolset enables "Interest Based Navigation" of
Digital Content. The Patent Pending software tools can be incorporated
directly into content websites and portals, installed in TV settop boxes
or integrated as OEM components. The tools drive the automatic tagging,
indexing, and categorization of text. A recommendation engine suggests
highly relevant new information to users as they interact. Personalized
advertising and commerce offerings can also be automatically served.
Contact us to learn more: info@etronica.com
http://www.etronica.com
_____________________________________________
Digital Media Wire, Inc. leverages its integrated media network to provide
exceptional value to individuals and companies determined to capitalize on
the convergence of media, entertainment and technology. Digital Media
Wire, the first in a series of business-intelligence publications,
delivers original daily briefings on the business, legal and financial
developments shaping digital media.
Digital Media Wire is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international
network of publications that includes 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 62,000 individuals from
over 70 countries worldwide each business day.
Upcoming publications, events & information at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com
Questions, Comments & Suggestions to:
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
News Tips, Scoops & Press Releases to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________
Editor: Mark Hefflinger
Chief Executive Officer: Ned Sherman
VP, Marketing and Events: Tinzar Than
Copyright 2003 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
