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===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- April 22, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

o Game Developer Activision Raises Revenue Projections
o Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen to Fund Creation of Sci-Fi Museum
o Roxio Sells GoBack Unit to Symantec for $13 Million
o Report: Sports Content Generating New Revenue for Broadband Services 
o Japanese Firm Buys Sonicblue's ReplayTV, Rio Units for $36 Million
o Report: 30% of U.S. Households Will Own a Digital Camera by End of 2003
o "Medal of Honor" Game Development Team Forms New Studio: Spark Unlimited
o Wireless Multimedia Networking Firm Dilithium Networks Raises $10 Million
o Report: European Mobile Services to Generate $25 Billion by 2005
o Prime Entertainment Inc. Acquires Houghton Mifflin Software Company

> DMW Events: Games & Mobile Forum | April 28 | NYC
> DMW Publications: March Law and Policy Report
> Featured Section: Special Offer from Discreet cleaner XL

o Briefly Noted: Sony Pictures - "The Getaway" video game movie, U.S.
Copyright Office - SoundExchange governing rules, HP - Rainbow Media
Holdings, Motorola SBG1000, "TRON 2.0" - Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Activision
- Raven Moon Software - "X-Men: Legends," Electronic Arts - "Medal of
Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough," Tira Wireless - AT&T Wireless, NCSoft
- "Guild Wars"
_____________________________________________

> Events: Streaming Media NY, May 6-8, NYC, Pipeline Safety & Security Expo

> Marketplace: HP Workstation for a PC Price, 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 Game Developer Activision Raises Revenue Projections

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Video game publisher Activision has raised its
projected revenue for the fourth quarter as well as for fiscal year 2003,
amid stronger than expected sales of its game titles. The company
currently expects fiscal year 2003 fourth quarter net revenues of between
$120-$125 million and a loss per share of approximately $0.12-$0.14,
higher than its earlier estimate of $100 million in net revenues and a
loss per share of $0.15. Additionally, Santa Monica, Calif.-based
Activision now expects 2003 net revenues of $859-$864 million and earnings
per share of between $0.95-$0.97, as opposed to its earlier estimate of
$839 million in net revenues and earnings per share of $0.91. The
company's fiscal year 2004 outlook remains unchanged.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030421/lam120_1.html 
http://www.activision.com 
_____________________________________________

o Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen to Fund Creation of Sci-Fi Museum

Seattle -- Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen announced that
he will fund the creation of a $20 million non-profit Science Fiction
Museum, to be housed in the Experience Music Project building in Seattle,
which Allen also helped to fund. The museum, scheduled to open in June
2004, will play host to exhibits that feature books, artwork and props
from memorable science fiction franchises like "Star Trek," as well as a
hall of fame for science fiction creators. Advisors on the project include
renowned science fiction authors Ray Bradbury and Neal Stephenson.
http://www.sciencefictionexperience.com 
_____________________________________________

o Roxio Sells GoBack Unit to Symantec for $13 Million

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Roxio, a provider of CD and DVD burning software
that also plans to launch an online music service based on assets it
purchased from the bankrupt Napster Inc., announced that it has sold its
GoBack business unit to Internet security software firm Symantec for about
$13 million. The GoBack program records all data stored on a user's PC and
can allow users to "go back" to a particular earlier configuration in the
event of a computer crash or other problem. "The opportunity to sell
GoBack comes at a great time for Roxio as it provides an opportunity to
add to our cash balances and divest an asset that is not core to our
digital media strategy," said Roxio president and CEO Chris Gorog. "This
transaction will enable us to bring an even greater focus to our digital
media software business and the development of our new on-line music
business with our Napster assets."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030417/sfth063_1.html 
http://www.symantec.com 
http://www.roxio.com 
_____________________________________________

o Report: Sports Content Generating New Revenue for Broadband Services 

London -- Revenue generated from consumers using broadband services to
access data, play sports-related games or watch additional coverage of
sports globally totaled over $344 million in 2002, and is expected to rise
to $3.3 billion in 2005 and to $6.4 billion by the end of 2008, according
to a report released on Tuesday by London-based Screen Digest. Of the $344
million revenue reported in 2002, $140 million was generated from the
Asia-Pacific markets of China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South
Korea. Screen Digest pointed to Major League Baseball in the U.S. and
German soccer league Bundesliga as two sports entities that have
successfully embraced broadband services. "Sport provides compelling
content for broadband services and therefore broadcasters with access to
sport will find that offering additional coverage through broadband
channels will be an attractive new revenue stream," said report author
Rachael Church.
http://www.screendigest.com/EBAN-5J8EL9/release.pdf 
_____________________________________________

o Japanese Firm Buys Sonicblue's ReplayTV, Rio Units for $36 Million

Tokyo -- D&M Holdings, parent company of Japanese consumer electronics
firms Denon and Marantz, announced that it has emerged as the successful
bidder for the ReplayTV personal video recorder business and Rio MP3
player business of bankrupt consumer electronics firm Sonicblue.
Tokyo-based D&M paid only $36.2 million for the units, compared to the $40
million it initially offered Sonicblue in a deal that fell through as its
deadline expired. The company will acquire Sonicblue's inventory,
receivables, intellectual property and capital equipment, as well as
selected contractual relationships and liabilities. D&M also intends to
keep all ReplayTV customers and will design, manufacture and distribute a
line of ReplayTV and Rio products, under a newly created division called
Digital Networks North America. D&M reported that in the last 12 months,
ReplayTV had revenue of approximately $22 million and Rio had revenue of
approximately $62 million
http://www.dm-holdings.com/en/20030417.html 
http://www.sonicblue.com 
_____________________________________________

o Report: 30% of U.S. Households Will Own a Digital Camera by End of 2003

Boston -- Twenty percent of U.S. households currently own a digital
camera, a number that is expected to leap to 30 percent by the end of this
year, according to a report from Boston-based market research firm
InfoTrends Research Group. The firm's survey of U.S. Internet-connected
households also found that 45 percent of respondents own a digital camera,
and that 24 percent of Internet-connected households plan to purchase
their first digital camera this year. Additionally, the survey found that
82 percent of digital camera users print their digital photos at home, as
opposed to using digital photo print locations.
http://www.infotrends-rgi.com 
_____________________________________________

o "Medal of Honor" Game Development Team Forms New Studio: Spark Unlimited

Santa Monica, Calif. -- A group of video game developers from Jim Henson
Interactive and Electronic Arts that worked together on EA's popular
"Medal of Honor" game franchise have created a new game studio, Spark
Unlimited. Former Jim Henson Interactive general manager Craig Allen will
head the 27-member company, which also announced an exclusive, long-term
game publishing agreement with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision. The
company's first title, which will be released under the "Call of Duty"
brand, will be a first-person action game slated for release in 2004. "Our
goal is to create innovative titles that deliver uniquely realistic and
entertaining gaming experiences," said Spark Unlimited CEO Craig Allen.
"To do that, we have developed proprietary tools and licensed technology
so our artists, game designers, animators, and sound engineers will have
an unparalleled ability to directly impact every element of our game."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030416/law117_1.html 
_____________________________________________

o Wireless Multimedia Networking Firm Dilithium Networks Raises $10 Million

Larkspur, Calif. -- Dilithium Networks, a developer of wireless multimedia
technologies that include voice and video transcoding gateways, announced
on Tuesday that it has raised $10 million in its second round of venture
capital financing. Motorola Ventures and JAFCO Asia led the investment
round; previous investors Ericsson Technology Fund, Deutsche Bank Capital
Partners and CM Capital also participated. The company's technology
connects networks and terminals to enable more efficient transport of
voice and video between multimedia network devices including mobile, IP,
POTS, PDAs, and ISDN terminals. Larkspur, Calif.-based Dilithium Networks
will use the new funds to expand its global sales and support efforts, as
well as to support ongoing research and development efforts.
http://www.dilithiumnetworks.com/news/press_newsApr22.htm 
_____________________________________________

o Report: European Mobile Services to Generate $25 Billion by 2005

London -- According to a recent study by Strand Consult, mobile services
in Europe will generate more than 23 billion euro ($25 billion) by 2005.
The report says that Europe is in a paradigm shift toward color,
multimedia mobile handsets with larger processors and more memory that are
capable of using multiple technologies, such as SMS, MMS, Java and video.
The report also speculates on the 10 most important mobile services by
2005: games and mobile entertainment; news and sport; adult entertainment;
contests, competitions and lotteries; community, chat and dating; mail and
Web mail; directory and location-based services; TV voting, TV
integration; VOD, AOD, video clips; and other types of services.
http://www.strandconsult.dk 
_____________________________________________

o Prime Entertainment Inc. Acquires Houghton Mifflin Software Company

Atlanta -- Atlanta-based Prime Entertainment Inc., a provider of PC
devices for children, has acquired Curriculum Advantage Inc., a subsidiary
of education publishing giant Houghton Mifflin Co. that provides a
software system currently installed in over 600 schools. Financial terms
of the deal were not disclosed. Curriculum Advantage's product provides
elementary and middle schools with a network-based system to manage all of
their educational software.
http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpQnSWbWbtLLnmdyX 
_____________________________________________

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==========================================
DMW Events: Games & Mobile Forum: April 28, New York City
==========================================

Join us, leading professionals and members of the press for a cutting-edge
executive forum examining recent developments in games and mobile
entertainment. The 1-day event at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC
features 3 keynotes from leading game industry CEOs, 4 discussion panels,
exhibits and tech demos, followed by an evening of cocktails, appetizers,
networking and fun at Samsung's web2zone.com Cyber & Gaming Center in the
heart of downtown Manhattan. Early Bird registration is only $200
(includes full-day pass and after-party) until April 25:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/Games&MobileForum_04282003.htm 

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==========================================
DMW Publications: March Law & Policy Report
==========================================
Contact tinzar@digitalmediawire.com or call 323-464-0793 to order.
To purchase directly, go to:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php

Digital Media Law & Policy Report - New Issue

Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital
media. Thirty-two pages of case summaries, news and analysis, policy
updates, court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and
business leaders. Published monthly. March issue on sale now! **Special
Reduced Rates available for a limited time**
Price:   $19.00 Per Issue   |   $195.00 Annual Subscription  
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php

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==================
FEATURED SECTION
==================
Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm 

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_____________________________________________

Briefly Noted: 

(Los Angeles) Sony Pictures is close to closing a deal for the rights to
create a movie based on "The Getaway," a British mafia video game
published by the studio's sister company Sony Computer Entertainment
America, according to a Reuters/Hollywood Reporter article. Sony Pictures'
Screen Gems studio -- which also produced "Resident Evil," another video
game movie spin-off -- would reportedly release the film in conjunction
with the release of a sequel to the video game sometime next year.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=filmNews&storyID=2601239 
http://www.us.playstation.com/games/MCurtain.asp?referringPage=/games/SCUS-97133/ 

(Washington) The U.S. Copyright Office on Tuesday announced that it is
seeking public comment on its proposed rules that would govern
SoundExchange, the music industry entity charged with collecting and
distributing royalties for online music. Comments and objections to the
proposed rules must be submitted by May 21.
http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2003/68fr19482.html 

(Palo Alto, Calif.) PC maker HP announced on Tuesday that it is designing
a comprehensive digital content management solution for cable TV network
group Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of cable TV operator
Cablevision. Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP said the system will streamline
the management of digitized news, sports and entertainment content for
Rainbow's networks, which include AMC, WE: Women's Entertainment, The
Independent Film Channel, MuchMusic USA, Mag Rack, News 12 Networks,
Rainbow Sports Networks and the MetroChannels.
http://www.hp.com 
http://www.rainbow-media.com  

(Schaumburg, Ill.) Motorola Broadband Communications Sector has announced
the release of its SBG1000, a device that combines the functionality of a
high-speed cable modem, wireless network, print server and firewall. The
$350 device, available at retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City and
Office Depot, will allow users to connect multiple PCs to the Internet, as
well as add devices such as video game consoles to their home networks.
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/sbg1000.html  

(Burbank, Calif.) Video game publisher Buena Vista Games, a unit of
Disney, said on Tuesday that it has cast Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as the
voice of Mercury in its "TRON 2.0" title for PC. Kirkland, Wash.-based
Monolith Productions is currently developing the game, based on the
classic Disney sci-fi film, for release on Aug. 26.
http://www.tron20.net 

(Santa Monica, Calif.) Video game publisher Activision announced that it
has partnered with Madison, Wisc.-based game developer Raven Software on
the creation of "X-Men: Legends" for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. The
titles, which will feature superheroes from comic book publisher Marvel's
roster, are scheduled for release in 2004.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030421/lam052_1.html 
http://www.activision.com 
http://www.ravensoft.com 

(Redwood City, Calif.) Game developer Electronic Arts on Tuesday announced
that it will release "Medal of Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough," an
expansion pack for its popular PC game title, in the fall of 2003. Redwood
City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts' EALA studio is collaborating with
Santa Cruz, Calif.-based TKO Software on creation of the expansion pack.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030422/225382_1.html 
http://www.ea.com 
http://www.tko-software.com 

(Toronto) Wireless game publisher Tira Wireless said on Tuesday that its
"NHL PowerShot Hockey" title for is now available to AT&T Wireless mMode
subscribers. Toronto-based Tira said the game is certified for play on
Motorola T720, Nokia 3650 and 7210 mobile phones.
http://www.tirastudios.com 
http://www.nhlpowershothockey.com 

(Seoul) Korean online game developer NCSoft said on Tuesday that it will
launch a new title, "Guild Wars," in the second half of 2004. NCSoft's
Seattle-based ArenaNet studio is currently developing the game, which will
first be displayed at next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo video
game convention in Los Angeles.
http://www.ncsoft.net 
http://www.arena.net 
http://www.guildwars.com 

===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm 
_____________________________________________

====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm 

Streaming Media NY, May 6-8, New York City

Streaming Media NY is rapidly approaching. In less than a month, business
leaders from all over the world will gather to learn about and explore the
latest trends, products, and services in streaming and digital media
technologies. The event features cutting-edge exhibitors and an intensive,
four-day Conference program with industry leading keynotes and the
brightest minds in the business.
For more information, or to register to attend, go to
http://www.streamingmedia.com/NY
_____________________________________________

Protecting Energy Infrastructure - Pipeline Safety & Security Expo

May 22-23, 2003 at the Crystal City Marriott in Crystal City, VA. Top
Keynotes presented by government officials; Middle East Oil Security,
Reconstruction, & Legal Issues; Terrorism Table Top Simulation Exercise by
Naval Warfare College; Environmental Rules & Guidelines for Pipeline & Oil
Companies. For more information please contact Cory Capps at
capps@ejkrause.com or call 301-493-5500.
http://www.pipelinesecurityexpo.com
_____________________________________________

==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm 

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_____________________________________________

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://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________

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://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________

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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
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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.

Advertising, 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.