archives

o Enron, Blockbuster Terminate 20-Year Partnership for Video On-Demand
o Forrester: Digital Cinema, VOD Will Take Over Movie Distribution
o RIAA Sends Napster 135,000 Songs to Block From its Service
o Wireless Video Developer PacketVideo Raises $100 Million
o EA, Nintendo Drop Suits Against Yahoo, Will Work Together Against Piracy
o IBM to Develop Chip for Sony's PlayStation 3
o Film Site MediaTrip.com Lays Off Half of Staff
> Digital Media Wire: NYC & DC Interactive Games Panels
> Tonight: Digital Media Wire Networkin' Hoedown - SXSW, Austin, Texas
o Briefly Noted: BMG Entertainment - DataPlay, ETC Music - Djangos,
Rightscenter.com - Hungry Minds, EMusic.com, PowerGig.com, AT&T Wireless -
Real Cities Network, Interactive Objects
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> Job Postings: Account Executive, Asst. Marketing Mgr./Internet, Music Titler

> Events/Services: "Artesia Digital Asset Management Seminar"

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 Enron, Blockbuster Terminate 20-Year Partnership for Video On-Demand

Dallas -- Blockbuster Entertainment and Enron Broadband have announced the
termination of their joint effort to develop a consumer video on-demand
(VOD) service, initially slated to be a twenty-year relationship. Both
companies said they will individually continue to develop VOD services.
The companies said that their current consumer trial of the service in
cities including Seattle, Portland and New York City will still be
completed. Enron cited Blockbuster's failure to establish relationships
with the studios to provide movie content as its reason for terminating
the relationship; to this point Blockbuster has only secured distribution
with Universal, MGM, Artisan, Trimark and Lion's Gate. "The exclusive
relationship has not yielded the quantity and quality of movies needed to
drive demand for this exciting new on-demand service," said Enron
Broadband CEO Kenneth D. Rice. Enron plans to engage the studios on its
own. Blockbuster stated its desire to offer its service on multiple
technology platforms as reason for the termination. "We continue to
believe VOD will eventually become a commercial reality and that
Blockbuster will have a formidable presence in this arena," said
Blockbuster CEO John Antioco. "However, we also believe there will be
multiple technologies that make this service available in the home, [and
we will] remain technology agnostic and open to all sorts of alliances."
Video on-demand services offer consumers the ability to order movies to
their TVs over a high-speed network connection, with VCR-like features
such as pause, rewind, and fast-forward.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010309/daf018.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010309/daf035.html
http://www.blockbuster.com
http://www.enron.net
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o Forrester: Digital Cinema, VOD Will Take Over Movie Distribution

Cambridge, Mass. -- Forrester Research predicts that digital projection in
theaters and video on-demand (VOD) to consumer televisions will eventually
take over movie distribution, according to a research report the analyst
firm published on Monday. "The Internet will never be an important venue
for the distribution of mainstream feature films," said Forrester analyst
Eric Scheirer. The report predicts that technology vendors will step
forward and help struggling theater chains to implement digital projection
in theaters, and that one-third of the nation's screens will be digital by
2006. "The transition to digital cinema is in its early stages, but by
2004 it will be on a fast track to long-term commercial viability," said
Scheirer. The report also predicts that by 2006, when 25 percent of U.S.
homes will be VOD-capable through their cable television service, the
technology will cause a drastic decrease in video and DVD rentals and
erode home video's market share from 65 to 40 percent. "Although
Internet-based movies and their production companies enjoy the limelight
now, movie fans prefer watching films on TVs -- not on PCs," said
Scheirer. "Cable TV will win the race to bring VOD services to the
mass-market home viewer, beating out the competition from DSL and digital
broadcast satellite (DBS) providers." The report surveyed studios,
independent distributors, TV and cable networks, and video rental chains
to find out how they think technology will change movie distribution.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010312/2487.html
http://www.forrester.com/ER/Press/Release/0,1769,522,00.html
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o RIAA Sends Napster 135,000 Songs to Block From its Service

Washington -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sent a
list of 135,000 songs to Napster late Friday, for the purpose of having
them blocked from file-trading on the Napster service. The information was
sent via email to Napster's Redwood City, Calif. offices. A modified
injunction levied against Napster on March 5 calls for the company to
comply with recording industry requests to remove copyrighted songs from
the service. Napster now has until Wednesday to implement the songs into
its recently launched filename-blocking system.
http://www.riaa.org
http://www.napster.com
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o Wireless Video Developer PacketVideo Raises $100 Million

San Diego -- PacketVideo, a developer of technology for wireless streaming
video, announced on Monday that it has raised $100 million in its fifth
round of venture capital financing. Investors in the round included BFD
First Global Partners, GE Equity, Intel Capital, Kyocera, Mobile Internet
Capital, Motorola, MTI, Nexus Group, Qualcomm, SAIC Venture Capital,
Siemens’ Mustang Ventures, Softbank Technology Group, Sun Microsystems,
Texas Instruments, and Wheatley Partners. "Our ability to 'beat the odds'
by raising significant funds during poor market conditions is a testament
to the quality of our technology, our people, our partners, and the
tremendous market opportunity we face," said PacketVideo CEO James Carol.
The funds will be used for working capital, research and development, and
to expand engineering, sales and marketing departments. San Diego-based
PacketVideo has developed MPEG-4 technology that allows for streaming
video to be delivered to cell phones and other wireless devices.
http://www.packetvideo.com/press/view.asp?id=88
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o EA, Nintendo Drop Suits Against Yahoo, Will Work Together Against Piracy

Redwood City, Calif. -- Video game developers Electronic Arts and Nintendo
of America announced on Monday that they will end litigation against Yahoo
for trademark and copyright infringement related to pirated games that
were being sold on Yahoo Auctions and Classifieds. The companies said that
they will now work together to prevent pirated software sales. Yahoo said
that it will implement a "proprietary blocking technology" to help prevent
the sale of pirated games on its services. "Software piracy is theft of
intellectual property," said EA General Counsel Ruth Kennedy. "Beyond the
lost revenue suffered by publishers, this unlawful activity harms the
artists, designers, and engineers who create interactive entertainment. We
are pleased to enter into this agreement with Yahoo." In their suit, the
companies claimed that Yahoo profited from the sale of pirated software
through charges to auctioneers and advertising on the auction and
classified pages.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010312/0119.html
http://www.ea.com
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o IBM to Develop Chip for Sony's Playstation 3

Tokyo -- Sony Computer Entertainment announced on Monday that it will work
with IBM and Toshiba to develop a semiconductor specialized for broadband
that will be used in consumer electronics devices, and is expected to
serve as the heart of Sony's Playstation 3 console. The companies will
invest $400 million over five years to develop the "Cell" chip, which IBM
says will give consumer electronics devices more computing power than its
"Big Blue" supercomputer. Under the agreement, the three companies will
establish a joint development center with 300 workers inside an
established IBM facility in Austin, Texas.
http://www.ibm.com/Press/prnews.nsf/jan/FFBB4B222F4DBFE585256A0D0056C7AC
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o Film Site MediaTrip.com Lays Off Half of Staff

Los Angeles -- Online film site MediaTrip.com has laid off half of its
staff and is now down to seven employees, including CEO Austin Harrison,
Inside.com reported. The site is the online partner for Joe Roth's
Revolution Studios, which will now completely take over operations of the
website. Los Angeles-based MediaTrip.com streams several feature-length
films and shorts, including "George Lucas in Love," which received
distribution on DVD. The site also produces original programming, such as
an animated series featuring Frasier star Kelsey Grammer and the website
TomGreen.com.
http://www.inside.com/jcs/InsideDope?pod_id=12
http://www.mediatrip.com
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> Digital Media Wire: NYC & DC Interactive Games Panels

New York City -- "Interactive Games on the Internet"
MODERATOR:
-Billy Pidgeon, Analyst, Jupiter Research

FEATURED SPEAKERS:
-Greg Costikyan, Founder & Chief Design Officer, Unplugged Games
-Frank Lantz, Sr. Game Designer, gameLab
-Joseph Varet, VP BizDev & Strategy, The Groove Alliance
*Additional panelists TBA.

Date: Wednesday, March 28th, 2001
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/NYCgames.html

------------

Washington, D.C. -- "Interactive Games on the Internet"
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
-Phillip Campbell, Chief Creative Director, Quantic Dream
-Larry Cotter, CEO, Sandbox.com
-David Levine, CEO, Butterfly.net
-Doug Lowenstein, President, Interactive Digital Software Association
*Additional panelists TBA.

Date: Thursday, April 5th, 2001
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/DCgames.html
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> Digital Media Wire Networkin' Hoedown, Mar. 12 - SXSW, Austin, Texas

If you're a South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival badgeholder, stop by the
landmark Stubb's BBQ to network and hear live music from The Damnations
TX. Free pint glass (with beer inside!) for the first lucky 500 thru the
door.
Sponsored by: Microsoft Technology Center/Austin.
For more information: michael@digitalmediawire.com
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/dmw_event1.html
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o Briefly Noted:

(Boulder, Colo.) DataPlay, a developer of recordable storage discs for
digital media, announced on Monday that BMG Entertainment will make its
new releases available on pre-recorded DataPlay discs. Universal and EMI
have also said they will release albums in DataPlay format. Boulder-based
DataPlay’s quarter-sized discs come in 250MB or 500MB capacities, with the
larger disc able to hold five pre-recorded albums.
http://www.dataplay.com
http://www.bmgentertainment.com

(Orlando, Fla.) ETC Music, a developer of in-store kiosks that let
consumers download digital music directly to portable devices, said on
Monday that it has signed an agreement with new and used music retailer
Djangos to provide its Musicteller kiosks to the chain's west coast
locations. Djangos will use the kiosks to promote sales of digital music
players through free digital music promotions. The Musicteller kiosk
currently only supports Rio and Nike digital audio players.
http://www.etcmusic.com/sitev2/media/press_0301djangos.html
http://www.djangos.com/home.asp

(Palo Alto, Calif.) Digital rights management provider Rightscenter.com
said on Monday that publisher Hungry Minds will use its technology. New
York-based Hungry Minds will post approximately 50 front list titles as
well as its entire backlist through the Rightscenter. Palo Alto-based
Rightscenter.com's service will allow Hungry Minds' employees to share the
works across multiple domestic and overseas departments.
http://www.rightscenter.com
http://www.hungryminds.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Downloadable music retailer EMusic.com announced a
free MP3 album giveaway on Monday, in an effort to promote its paid
service to Napster users. The Redwood City-based company is offering 15
free MP3s to users with no additional commitment required.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010312/sfm089.html
http://www.emusic.com

(Des Moines, Iowa) PowerGig, an online booking system for performing
artists, managers, booking agents and talent buyers, on Monday announced
the launch of its service. Des Moines-based PowerGig lets musicians and
music industry professionals find and book gigs online, and allows venues
and performers to create online profiles. Gigs can be negotiated online
between musicians and venues, and the site lets them rate one another’s
professionalism.
http://www.powergig.com

(San Jose, Calif.) AT&T Wireless said on Monday that San Jose-based Real
Cities Network will provide local news, sports and entertainment channels
to AT&T's PocketNet Web-enabled cell phone service. The agreement will
provide content from sites such as NYDailyNews.com and online versions of
The San Jose Mercury News, Seattle Times, Miami Herald and Charlotte
Observer.
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/010312/0101024327.html
http://www.realcities.com

(Bellevue, Wash.) Digital audio technology developer Interactive Objects
said on Monday that it will manufacture home and car consumer electronics
devices based on its own operating system software for digital audio.
Washington-based Interactive Objects said that a digital audio receiver
will be available in the second quarter, and a home stereo digital jukebox
and digital car stereo are expected later in the year. The company did not
announce pricing for any of the products.
http://www.iobjects.com/news/articles/pr2001_03_12.htm

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

> World Wrestling Federation, Account Executive - New York City

Internet advertising sales candidates will possess strong entrepreneurial
work habits, at least two plus years media sales experience (including at
least one year selling ".com" advertising), and have established
advertising contacts at both the advertiser direct and agency level. Send
resumes to:
resume@wwfent.com
http://www.wwf.com
______________________

> Forbes Magazine, Asst. Marketing Mgr./Internet - New York City

Opportunity to work on Forbes Magazine¹s Internet subscription programs.
You'll have reporting & analysis responsibilities and assist in creating
internet promotions. Proficiency in Excel required. Strong analytical,
organizational and planning skills, plus 6+ months consumer marketing
preferred. Send resumes to:
jobs@forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com
______________________

> BuzzHits, Inc., Music Titler - San Francisco

BuzzHits is a technology & services provider that delivers mobile impulse
response solutions for advertising purposes. Quickly & accurately identify
title and artist of songs played on Country or R&B/Oldies format. Ability
to "Name the Tune" in 5 notes or less - 100% accuracy. 2 years radio, DJ
and/or music background preferred. Send resumes to jobs@buzzhits.com
http://www.buzzhits.com

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

> Artesia, Digital Asset Management Seminar -- SF, LA, Atlanta, NY, DC

Did you know that the average ROI for an enterprise Digital Asset
Management solution is between 9 and 18 months? Artesia Technologies
invites you to a free seminar on digital asset management. Our discussion
will include up-to-the-minute analysis presented for the first time and
speakers from The GartnerGroup, analyst Frank Gilbane and PwC. San Fran
on 3/8, LA on 3/9, Atlanta on 3/13, New York City on 3/14, and DC on 3/16.
Send inquiries to personalseminar@artesia.com
To register go to http://www.artesia.com/seminar/index1.html
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