archives

o Nintendo Cuts Price for GameCube Console's European Launch
o Wireless Home Networking Chipmaker Magis Networks Raises $40 Million
o FCC Greenlights Low-Orbiting Satellites for Broadband Internet Service
o Canal Plus Technologies Releases Interactive TV User Stats
o Independent Record Labels Group Looking Into CD Copy-Protection
o TheGlobe.com Founder Invests in Wireless Entertainment Firm Zingy
o Online Ad Firm L90 Receives Delisting Notice from Nasdaq
> Digital Media Wire Panel: Interactive TV | April 25 | NYC
o Briefly Noted: Cox - video-on-demand, Overture - United Online, Dolby
Laboratories - GameCube, ESS Technology - Microsoft, Simon and Schuster
Interactive - "Eve Online: The Second Genesis," Showtime Networks - HDTV,
New Line Home Entertainment - "Lord of the Rings" DVD
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o Nintendo Cuts Price for GameCube Console's European Launch

Tokyo -- Video game company Nintendo announced on Monday that it has cut
the price at which it will offer its GameCube video game console in Europe
and Great Britain by 20 percent. Previously set to sell at $223 in Europe,
the GameCube will now cost $177 when it launches next week on May 3. In
Great Britain, the console will now go on sale for about $187, a 24
percent price drop. The move by Nintendo follows Microsoft's announcement
last week that it would slash the price of its Xbox video game console by
40 percent in Europe, Great Britain and Australia to combat disappointing
sales figures. Nintendo said that it plans to make 500,000 GameCube
consoles available in Europe for the first day of sales, with a total of
one million units to ship during the two-month launch period. The company
says it has already shipped more than 4 million GameCube consoles
worldwide.
http://www.cube-europe.com/news/101946212972634.html
http://www.nintendogamecube-europe.com/index2.html
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o Wireless Home Networking Chipmaker Magis Networks Raises $40 Million

San Diego -- Magis Networks, a developer of chips used in wireless home
networking technology, announced on Monday that it has raised $40 million
in its second round of funding. AOL Time Warner Ventures led the
investment round; Hitachi, Motorola, Panasonic, Sanyo, Vulcan Inc., Bay
Partners, Crescendo Ventures, WK Technology Fund and China Development
Industrial Bank also participated. San Diego-based Magis' chips are used
in devices that can transmit video and other data over 802.11a wireless
networks in the home. The chips can be used in digital cable set-top boxes
and gateways, cable modems, PCs and laptops, televisions, personal video
recorders, DVD players and video game consoles.
http://www.magisnetworks.com/news/pr_20020422.html
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o FCC Greenlights Low-Orbiting Satellites for Broadband Internet Service

Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
granted seven companies permission to launch low-orbiting nets of
satellites that will enable broadband Internet access 20 times faster than
a T1 connection, CNET reported. Among the companies to be awarded
permission were Hughes Electronics, Boeing, Teledesic and SkyBridge. A
hurdle in the process -- how to prevent the low-orbiting satellite
transmissions from interfering with signals from higher-orbiting
communications satellites -- has been recently solved to the FCC's
content. The companies will now go about raising the funds needed to
launch their nets of satellites. Maryland-based SkyBridge estimates it
will need $6 billion to build and launch its 80 satellites. "It's very
difficult," SkyBridge CEO Karl Savatiel told CNET. "Venture capital is
dried up, and capital markets just don't have cash for these projects."
Many companies planning to offer satellite broadband service will provide
it to larger DSL and cable broadband providers, to fill gaps in their
coverage.
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/2002/nrin0205.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-887397.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.skybridgesatellite.com/
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o Canal Plus Technologies Releases Interactive TV User Stats

Cupertino, Calif. -- Canal Plus Technologies, a subsidiary of French
digital TV firm Canal Plus that provides interactive television services
in North America, on Monday released a user survey for its interactive TV
viewers in France. The survey showed revenues of $133 million for
interactive TV services in 2001, and that interactive TV services such as
Mosaic Navigator, Pari mutuel horse race betting, custom portals,
t-commerce and pay-per-view events were identified as the biggest draws
for subscribers. The survey, conducted among the company's CanalSatellite
subscribers in France, showed that 21 million visitors each month access
its Mosaic Navigator screen, the gateway to its interactive services; the
survey also showed the company sold 11 million pay-per-view events in 2001
and opened 58,200 horse betting accounts. "This survey only confirms what
Canal Plus Technologies has asserted all along, that interactive TV
services in Europe translate to lucrative partnerships, and the cable TV
industry and our content rights holders should aggressively be looking to
deploy similar services in the U.S.," said Canal Plus Technologies CEO
David Moss.
http://www.canalplus-technologies.com
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o Independent Record Labels Group Looking Into CD Copy-Protection

London -- The Association of Independent Music (AIM), a U.K.-based trade
group of 650 independent record labels, announced that it is looking into
copy-protection technologies for inclusion on its member labels' CD
releases. The AIM has created a steering group that will consult with
technology providers as well as with retailers in order to develop the
best alternatives for the independent business. "CD piracy is a growing
threat to the industry at large," said Guy Holmes, of AIM member label Gut
Records. "The creation of this steering group brings some experienced
minds to bear upon this issue and we're looking forward to working
together to deliver the best available solution to the independent
sector."
http://www.musicindie.org/intro/news/press_releases/index.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/24947.html
http://www.gutrecords.com
_____________________________________________

o TheGlobe.com Founder Invests in Wireless Entertainment Firm Zingy

New York -- Stephan Paternot, founder and former co-CEO of TheGlobe.com,
announced on Monday that he has closed an investment fund specifically to
invest in New York-based Zingy, a provider of ringtones and other wireless
entertainment. Financial terms of the investment or what stake Actarus
Fund 1 or Paternot hold in the company were not disclosed. "Zingy's
customized ring tones, graphics and voice greetings follows in the
footsteps of DoCoMo's popular I-mode and is a natural extension for the
film and music industries seeking to target teens and young adults with
their mobile phones," said Paternot.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221122210&ticker=
http://www.zingy.com
http://www.theglobe.com
_____________________________________________

o Online Ad Firm L90 Receives Delisting Notice from Nasdaq

Los Angeles -- Online advertising firm L90 announced late on Friday that
it has received notice from the Nasdaq that its shares will be delisted
from the exchange, due to the company's failure to submit its annual
report for 2001 to the SEC on time. Los Angeles-based L90 said in a
statement that it intends to request a hearing before the Nasdaq, which if
granted will maintain its listing on the exchange pending the outcome of
the hearing. The company also restated that it is still conducting an
internal investigation into certain of its accounting practices, but may
not have concluded its investigation by the time of any Nasdaq hearing.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020419/laf044_1.html
http://www.l90.com
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STREAMING MEDIA WEST 2002: LA Convention Center, CA
Conference: April 23 - 26
Exhibition: April 24 - 26

***CONFERENCE OPENS TOMORROW***

Download your FREE Exhibition Pass at:
http://www.streamingmedia.com/west/registration.asp

Exhibition attendees have full access to both the Streaming Media West and
Internet World Spring Exhibition floors and Keynotes. Visit
www.streamingmedia.com/west for full information.

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VIC@ The Mayan Reunion 2002 in Association with Internet World Spring

Come and rekindle the memories of the past on Thursday, April 25 at
7:30p.m. at the VIC@ The Mayan Reunion 2002, in association with Internet
World Spring.

VIC was the professional association ('95-'01) that brought networking,
education and a sense of community to digital media professionals across
Southern California. So everyone is welcome to share the spirit of the old
VIC community gatherings during Internet World Spring this week. See
further details at:
http://www.tbdweekly.com/vicmayan.htm

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o Briefly Noted:

(Atlanta) Cox Communications, the fifth largest cable TV operator in the
U.S., announced on Monday the launch of video-on-demand services for its
digital cable subscribers in San Diego, Calif. The company partnered with
In Demand for acquisition and delivery of content; Concurrent Computer
Corporation for video servers and back office management; and N2 Broadband
for the secure delivery of video content. "While our San Diego customers
are the first to experience this innovative product, we expect
Entertainment on Demand to be available to more than 40 percent of our
homes passed by the end of the year," said Cox CEO Jim Robbins.
Atlanta-based Cox currently claims 6.2 million subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020422/222077_1.html
http://www.cox.com

(Pasadena, Calif.) Overture Services, a provider of search engine services
to businesses, announced on Monday that it has renewed its contract with
Internet access provider United Online to provide search engine services
for another two years. Pasadena-based Overture provides results based on
bids companies place to achieve higher rankings. United Online was formed
in September 2001 through the acquisition of Internet service providers
NetZero and Juno Online Services.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020422/220039_1.html
http://www.overture.com
http://www.unitedonline.net/

(San Francisco) Digital audio developer Dolby Laboratories said on Monday
that it has released a five-channel surround-sound kit to developers
working on games for Nintendo's GameCube video game console. The Surround
Pro Logic II kit will allow game developers to create GameCube games that
feature surround-sound effects for consumers who have their video game
console hooked up to their high-end home stereo or home theater systems.
The first game to utilize the Dolby technology is LucasArts'
"Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2," developed by San Rafael,
Calif.-based Factor5.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221120383&ticker=
http://www.dolby.com
http://www.factor5.com

(Fremont, Calif.) ESS Technology, a developer of chips used in digital
video and home networking devices, announced on Monday that it will add
support for Microsoft's Windows Media Audio and newly introduced Windows
Media Video format on chips it provides to DVD player manufacturers.
Fremont-based ESS Technology's chips are used in products made by
companies including Sony, Sharp, Compaq and Dell.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020422/sfm075_1.html
http://www.esstech.com

(New York) Video game publisher Simon and Schuster Interactive said on
Monday that it has obtained the North American and European rights to
publish its first massively multiplayer online roleplaying game, "Eve
Online: The Second Genesis." Developed by Reykjavic, Iceland-based Crowd
Control Productions, the game allows for up to 100,000 simultaneous
players in an environment featuring 5000 solar systems. New York-based
Simon and Schuster said it is exploring the creation of print, film, TV
and other media based on the Eve property, which will be released in game
form on CD-ROM this fall.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221122078&ticker=via|viab
http://www.simonsays.com/subs/index.cfm?areaid=58
http://www.eve-online.com

(New York) Cable TV network Showtime Networks announced on Monday that
satellite TV provider DirecTV will begin carrying its high-definition
(HDTV) channel, SHO HDTV, on April 30. In order to receive the
programming, DirecTV subscribers must have either an HDTV set with a
built-in DirecTV receiver, or else own an HDTV set and upgrade their
DirecTV receiver and satellite to models compatible with high-definition
TV signals.
http://www.sho.com
http://www.directv.com
http://www.viacom.com/announce.tin?sUnitNickname=show

(Los Angeles) New Line Home Entertainment said on Monday that its DVD
release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," which
contains a re-edited version of the film with 30 additional minutes of
footage, has received a 'PG-13' rating from the Motion Picture
Association's ratings board. There had been some speculation that the
extra footage contained gory aspects that could have landed the extended
version an 'R' rating. "The Special Extended Edition is a uniquely
different movie experience, offering over 30 minutes of new scenes
integrated into the body of the film," said New Line Home Entertainment
president Stephen Einhorn. "The extended version is a complement to the
theatrical version, plunging viewers into the complex landscape of
Middle-earth, and revealing how Peter Jackson and his team of skilled
artists and technicians faithfully recreated Tolkien's world."
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221120232&ticker=
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> DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE PANEL DISCUSSION SERIES:
"iTV: New Interactive Services Fuel Big Expectations
Slow Market Penetration Raises Questions: How Big is iTV Going to Be?"

=========================================================
NEW YORK: Thursday, April 25, 2002, Cornell Club of New York City
=========================================================
Moderator: Art Cohen, SVP, Advertising, ACTV
Patrick Donoghue, VP, Interactive Television, Cablevision
Malia Flynn, Director of Product Management, WorldGate
Christopher S. Lucas, VP & Exec. Producer, Digital Media Group, Showtime
Networks
Rod A. Nenner, Director, TV & Entertainment Solutions Group, America
Online
Carla Sinatra, Vice President of Business Development, NBC
Todd Krieger, Senior Manager, Business Development, Microsoft TV

Sponsored by: WorldGate, iTV Marketer (http://www.itvmarketer.com)
For more information and to register for the New York event:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/NYCitv2.html

Sponsorships and Inquiries:
Ned Sherman at 323.464.0793 or esherman@digitalmediawire.com
Paul Sherman at psherman@digitalmediawire.com

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