archives

 events
 about us
 resources
 privacy
 news tips
 contact us
 home

Sign up for our free daily email briefing

Past Editions

===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- May 8, 2002
===================================================
Subscribe for free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o European Union Approves Tax on Downloaded Music, Movies
o Liberty Media to Acquire Interactive TV Firms OpenTV, ACTV
o Microsoft Reports Xbox Sales Surge in Europe After Price Cut
o Report: 36 Million U.S. Homes Will Have Personal Video Recorders by 2005
o NetRatings Buys Two European Firms; Ends Patent Dispute With Jupiter
o CD Copy Protection Developer SunnComm Acquires Fan Energy
o Streaming Media Services Firm EnScaler Buys Measurement Firm Lariat
> Digital Media Wire Wine Tasting Event: Los Angeles | May 9
> Featured Event/Company: ContentWorld 2002, Bender/Helper Impact
o Briefly Noted: Warner Home Video - "Harry Potter" online game, THQ -
Disney/Pixar, MyDTV - Bloomberg TV - TechTV, Liberate - auditor,
Agency.com, MLB Advanced Media - NewMedia Technology, UGO Networks - Gigex
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: Dir. of Product Management, Online Marketing Coordinator, Business
Development Manager, District Sales Manager, VP Marketing, Online Research
Analyst, Bus. Development and Sales

> Events: KMZ Breakfast Series, Executive Lounge

> Marketplace: Digital PCS Phone System, Digital Copying Machine,
Medium Format Camera

Full text of ads located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.
To post a Classified Ad, contact David Peebler at
david@digitalmediawire.com

_____________________________________________

o European Union Approves Tax on Downloaded Music, Movies

Brussels -- The European Union has approved adding a VAT (value added tax)
to digital products sold on the Internet, including music or movies sold
as downloads. The taxes would be collected from U.S. and other non-E.U.
countries that sell goods over the Internet to E.U. member country
citizens. The new tax has been criticized by U.S. trade groups and the
government as discriminatory against U.S. businesses. "The regime may
discriminate against non-E.U. companies in terms of the tax rates required
to be charged and the administrative and compliance burdens, and may
discriminate against e-commerce more generally," U.S. Treasury Department
spokeswoman Tara Bradshaw told The Washington Post. Other concerns include
the difficulty in accurately determining the location of any online
consumer.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=MEMO/02/89|0|RAPID&lg=EN
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46773-2002May7.html
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,52378,00.html
_____________________________________________

o Liberty Media to Acquire Interactive TV Firms OpenTV, ACTV

Englewood, Colo. -- Liberty Media, the media company owned by John Malone
with interests in several cable networks and cable TV operators, announced
on Wednesday that it will acquire two interactive television firms, OpenTV
and ACTV. Liberty will pay $185 million in cash and stock to gain voting
control of Mountain View, Calif.-based OpenTV, a provider of operating
system software for set-top boxes used to deliver interactive television
services. Liberty also signed a letter of intent to acquire all of the
stock it does not already own in New York-based ACTV, a provider of
technology and services for interactive TV advertising, personalized
programming and enhanced media, for $2 a share. Colorado-based Liberty
Media, which owns QVC and holds stakes in United Pan-Europe
Communications, News Corp. and AOL Time Warner, also announced that it
will create Liberty Broadband Interactive Television to own and manage its
investment in OpenTV. The company named Peter C. Boylan III as president
and CEO of the new division, which will operate out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020508/law058_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020508/nyw096_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020508/law057_1.html
http://www.libertymedia.com/
http://www.opentv.com
http://www.actv.com
_____________________________________________

o Microsoft Reports Xbox Sales Surge in Europe After Price Cut

Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft said on Wednesday that sales of its Xbox video
game console have surged in Europe since the company reduced the console's
price on April 26 from $399 to about $272. The Xbox has now begun to catch
up with its rival PlayStation 2, manufactured by Sony. Based on
week-to-week sales since launch, Microsoft said Xbox now represents 49
percent of the video game console market in the U.K., 46 percent in France
and 55 percent in Germany. "Our strategy is to give outstanding value to
as many consumers as possible, and the increased Xbox sales since the
price reduction indicate that strategy is on track," said Xbox Europe vice
president Sandy Duncan. "As we've said before, this is a marathon, not a
sprint -- and these initial figures are extremely encouraging."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020508/sfw068_1.html
_____________________________________________

o Report: 36 Million U.S. Homes Will Have Personal Video Recorders by 2005

Boston -- Personal video recorders (PVR), which allow consumers to pause
and record live television, will be in over 36 million U.S. homes by 2005,
according to a recently released report from Boston-based research firm
Trace Strategies. The firm found that personal video recorders integrated
with digital cable TV set-top boxes, manufactured by companies including
Motorola, Scientific-Atlanta, Digeo and SeaChange, will be the most
popular version of the device and account for 20 million of the 2005
prediction. Five cable TV providers -- Adelphia, Charter, Comcast, Cox,
and Time Warner Cable -- are forecasted to account for 76 percent of the
market for PVRs. Trace predicts the number of PVRs integrated with
satellite TV set-tops, conversely, will grow at a much slower rate,
eroding their 70 percent market share in 2001 to account for only 41
percent of all PVRs in 2005. Stand-alone PVR products, such as TiVo and
Sonicblue's ReplayTV, are expected to grow at a modest rate but will
account for only 3 percent of all PVRs in 2005.
http://www.tracestrategies.com/docs/05072002PR.html
http://www.tracestrategies.com/docs/charts/chart_PVR.html
_____________________________________________

o NetRatings Buys Two European Firms; Ends Patent Dispute With Jupiter

Milpitas, Calif. -- NetRatings, a provider of Internet audience
measurement and analysis services, announced on Wednesday that it has
acquired two European Internet audience measurement concerns, ACNielsen
ERatings.com and the European contracts of Jupiter Media Metrix. Milpitas,
Calif.-based NetRatings will pay $9.6 million in stock for ERatings.com, a
joint venture between ACNielsen and VNU, a Netherlands-based firm that
holds the majority of NetRatings' shares. In a separate transaction,
NetRatings acquired New York-based Jupiter Media Metrix's European
contracts to provide audience measurement services for $2 million in cash.
NetRatings and Jupiter Media Metrix also announced they have settled
pending patent litigation against one another, with NetRatings agreeing to
pay Jupiter a $15 million settlement and the two companies licensing one
another's respective technologies. NetRatings' recent buying spree also
includes Jupiter's AdRelevance unit and DoubleClick's @plan technology.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020508/82264_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020507/sftu146_1.html
_____________________________________________

o CD Copy Protection Developer SunnComm Acquires Fan Energy

Phoenix, Az. -- SunnComm, a developer of CD copy-protection technology,
announced on Wednesday that it will acquire Fan Energy, a producer of 3.5"
floppy disks. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of
Phoenix-based SunnComm will receive one share of Reno, Nevada-based Fan
Energy for each SunnComm share they own. SunnComm will own 85 percent of
the merged company, which will be headquartered in Phoenix. SunnComm said
it has pledged to use 50 percent of Fan Energy's production capacity over
the next two years, and will develop an experimental CD and DVD
manufacturing facility to integrate future optical media security and
enhancement technologies. SunnComm's MediaCloq technology was used to
copy-protect a CD released by country singer Charley Pride, making it more
difficult for files to be copied from the CD onto a computer and
transmitted over the Internet. The technology was also tested by major
record label BMG, a division of Bertelsmann.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020508/80203_1.html
http://www.sunncomm.com
_____________________________________________

o Streaming Media Services Firm EnScaler Buys Measurement Firm Lariat

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- EnScaler, a provider of streaming media services for
content owners and service providers, announced on Wednesday that it has
acquired Seattle-based Lariat Software, a provider of streaming media
measurement and broadcast services. Financial terms of the transaction
were not disclosed. "Customers can use EnScaler and Lariat-branded
products whether they need to manage five or 500 streaming clips, and from
price points as low as $5000 or deployments as expensive as $5 million,"
said Tanmay Kar, vice president of operations and corporate development at
Sunnyvale-based EnScaler.
http://www.enscaler.com/news/20020805.pdf
http://www.lariat.com
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE PRESENTS:
A Spring Celebration and Wine Tasting Honoring
Digital Media Wire Panelists

> Thursday, May 9, 2002, Los Angeles

To register:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=22553&Referrer_id=4074

Join us and a distinguished group of our past panelists for a Spring
celebration featuring fine wines, delicious Asian appetizers and
networking.

WHEN: Thursday, May 9, 2002 (6:30PM - 8:30PM)
WHERE: Lucky Duck Restaurant (NE corner of La Brea and Wilshire)
PRICE: $25 (pre-registration); $30 (at the door)

Tasting and wines by Beaulieu Vineyard. Since 1900, BV has been a
benchmark of excellence in Napa Valley wines. Appetizers including crispy
Vietnamese spring rolls, chicken and beef satay, shrimp summer rolls and
vegetable dumplings by Lucky Duck Restaurant. For more information,
contact Ned Sherman at esherman@digitalmediawire.com or visit

http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=22553&Referrer_id=4074

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

=================
FEATURED SECTION
=================

ContentWorld 2002 Conference & Exhibition - May 14-16, 2002 - San Jose, CA

ContentWorld 2002 is a universe of information to help Global 2000
Companies meet increasing demands for content management and technology
surrounding all aspects of the electronic content industry. For more
information view the on-line brochure at:
http://www.contentworld.com/conference/2002conference/index.html
Save $200 off your full Conference pass - Type "DMW" as the Priority Code
at the bottom of the Registration Form.
To register: https://www715.vwh1.net/cont94/2002_reg_form.html

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Bender/Helper Impact - Public Relations Agency

Bender/Helper Impact is a full-service, mid-sized public relations agency
with offices in Los Angeles and New York. The agency, which was founded in
1986, offers strong expertise in the areas of digital entertainment and
convergence, new media, electronic gaming, technology and consumer
electronics. Current clients include: Dolby, 20th Century Fox, Konami,
Roxio, DreamWorks, Marvel Enterprises, MGM and Warner Bros., among many
others. To find out how Bender/Helper can impact your business, contact
Steve Honig at: 310-473-4147 or steve_honig@bhimpact.com

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
______________________

o Briefly Noted:

(London) Warner Home Video on Wednesday announced the launch of an online
game based on "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," to coincide with
the upcoming release of the film on VHS and DVD. The 17-day trivia game,
available in French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, German, Portuguese and
English at OwlSightings.com, will test players' knowledge of the movie and
direct them to a variety of websites. The grand prize winner will be given
a walk-on role in the next installment of the series, "Harry Potter and
the Chamber of Secrets."
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221280316&ticker=
http://www.owlsightings.com
http://www.harrypotter.com

(Calabasas, Hills, Calif.) Game developer THQ announced on Wednesday that
it has signed a deal with Disney Interactive and Pixar Animation Studios
to develop video games based on the next three Disney/Pixar animated
films, "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles" and "Cars." Previous Pixar films
include "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life." The deal with Calabasas Hills,
Calif.-based THQ will last through 2008 and covers all platforms including
PC, Mac and consoles made by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. The first games
released under the agreement will coincide with the summer 2003 release of
"Finding Nemo."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020508/80156_1.html
http://www.thq.com
http://www.pixar.com

(New Orleans) MyDTV, a provider of digital television programming
personalization software, said on Tuesday that financial news network
Bloomberg Television and technology-related programming network TechTV
will use its PromoLogic service. Burlingame, Calif.-based MyDTV's
PromoLogic delivers pop-up ads alerting viewers to programs currently
airing that fit their pre-determined topics or keywords. The ads appear on
top of whatever program the viewer is currently watching; the viewer then
decides using their remote control whether to switch to the advertised
program or continue watching the current program.
http://www.mydtv.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/
http://www.techtv.com

(San Carlos, Calif.) Liberate Technologies, a provider of operating system
software for set-top boxes used to deliver interactive television
services, announced on Wednesday that it will drop accounting firm Arthur
Andersen in favor of PricewaterhouseCoopers as its independent auditor.
San Carlos, Calif.-based Liberate said its decision "was not the result of
any disagreement between Liberate and Arthur Andersen on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020508/sfw015_1.html
http://www.liberate.com

(New York) Agency.com, a provider of consulting and technology services,
announced on Wednesday that it has named Don Scales as CEO of the
company's North American operations. Prior to joining the company, Scales
was CEO of EJiva and Emplifi, two divisions of Igate Capital. New
York-based Agency.com also said it will consolidate its eastern and
western North American operations, and that Chan Suh will continue in the
role of chairman and CEO of the company.
http://www.agency.com

(New York) MLB Advanced Media, the new media arm of Major League Baseball, said on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with NewMedia
Technology, a provider of digital asset management software and services.
Under the agreement, New York-based NewMedia Technology will provide MLB
Advanced Media with the infrastructure services to create a searchable,
on-demand video database of the entire 2002 season of baseball games. The
new service will allow fans to search selectively for and view particular
game, player, or team highlights shortly after each game ends.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/221282209&ticker=
http://www.newmediatechnology.com
http://www.mlb.com

(New York) UGO Networks, an online entertainment network geared towards
18-34 year-old men, said on Wednesday that it has partnered with Gigex to
offer video game downloads on its websites. San Francisco-based Gigex will
provide New York-based UGO with its Top 50 list of game demos and trailers
to make available to its visitors.
http://www.ugo.com/channels/download
http://www.gigex.com
______________________

===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================

Director of Product Management -- Sony Music Entertainment - New York, NY

Responsible For Development and Implementation of Marketing Campaigns for
Selected Artists; All Marketing Expenditures; Supervision of Package
Development and Management of the Production Process. Also Responsible For
Long-Term Artist Development & Marketing Strategies and For Development of
Artist And Product Promotion Campaigns. Must Have 3-5 Years of Hands-On
Record Business Experience, Including Pop Marketing and Sales & Promotion.
Writing Skills Very Important. Please submit cover letter, resume and
salary requirement to: elena_avila@sonymusic.com
_____________________________________________

Online Marketing Coordinator -- 20th Century Fox Domestic Home
Entertainment - Los Angeles, CA

Twentieth Century Fox's Domestic Home Entertainment has an opportunity for
a highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive individual to provide
administrative support as the Coordinator, Online Marketing. This position
offers the opportunity to develop and use your marketing ability to
advance home video Internet marketing initiatives. In this position you
will be responsible for providing general clerical and administrative
support the Business Development department, including making travel
arrangements & scheduling. Forward resume & cover letter to:
HJC946RP@foxresumes.com
_____________________________________________

Business Development Manager -- AtmosphereBBDO - New York, NY

AtmosphereBBDO is looking to add to our growing and dynamic team. We are
seeking a motivated and proven Business Development Manager to support our
Managing Director of Business Development in pursuing key New Business
initiatives. Job entails managing/coordinating internal resources in
preparation for new business pitches, contributing to the
writing/development of new business presentations, and participating in
new business pitches/presentations. Send qualified responses (resume with
cover letter) to Ken Seligman, Operations Manager, via e-mail to
ken@atmosphere.net
_____________________________________________

District Sales Manager -- 101communications - Los Angeles

Award-winning IT publisher seeks a high-energy advertising sales
professional. We are looking for an ambitious, self-motivated individual
to sell advertising pages for one of our print publications, Federal
Computer Week. The person in this position will strive to achieve sales
goals through prospecting, cold-calling, calling on and making
presentations to clients and advertising agencies, preparing proposals,
and closing sales. Based in the Los Angeles/OrangeCounty area, this
position will maintain current accounts and develop new business in the
south-west territory. Submit resume and a cover letter via fax to (703)
876-5089.
_____________________________________________

Vice President, Marketing -- Genealogy.com - Fremont, CA

Manage the Direct Marketing and Product Management activities of A&E
Television Network's Genealogy.com division, including software
applications, online subscriptions, and data CDs. We are looking for
someone who can deliver revenue and profit goals of the business, drive
the promotional marketing activities for the business, and perform
competitive intelligence, customer research and trend analysis. Manage
staff of 5. BA/BS, MBA strongly preferred with a minimum of 12 years
marketing experience, with previous experience at the VP level. Please
send resumes to: jobs@genealogy.com or by
Fax: 510-494-2822.
_____________________________________________

Online Research Analyst -- Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment - Culver
City, CA

This position will be required to analyze weekly website activity for
Screenblast.com, online marketing campaigns and effectively present
results. Assist in providing recommendations for future actions for
"Screenblast" the company's online product. Bachelor's and at least 1 year
of experience preferred. SPDE is an operating unit of Sony Pictures
Entertainment that oversees online assets including Sony Pictures
Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment, the Digital Networks Division, and
Sony Pictures Integrated Network. Please forward your resume via our
career website: www.sonypicturesjobs.com under Sony Pictures Digital
Entertainment - Research Analyst.
_____________________________________________

Business Development and Sales -- RampRate - Santa Monica, CA

Imagine selling trust and over 100 vendors in an objective, integrity
driven environment. RampRate an upbeat, profitable, technology brokerseeks
a smart, strategic person to oversee Bus. Dev. and Sales. Your talents:
extensive Rolodex and direct client/var/vc relationships; managed a top
post in sales; strong ability to handle deals throughout the negotiating
process with Fortune 2500 companies; skilled consultative selling
emphasizing value proposition; Experience in managing large
channel/reseller programs. For immediate consideration, email your cover
letter ("VP Bus. Dev. & Sales" in the subject line), resume and salary
history to hr@ramprate.com
_____________________________________________

=====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
=====================

KMZ Breakfast Series - Friday, May 10, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA

Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman and Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zuckin present
"Libraries and Other Intellectual Property Acquisitions." Katten Muchin
attorney, Alan Friel, will give an overview of legal issues touching on
different types of entertainment industry transactions. The event, which
starts promptly at 8:30AM and ends at 9:30AM is free to attend and will be
held at the offices of Katten Muchin at 2029 Century Park East - 27th
Floor. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first
served basis. For additional information, please contact
kathryn.gepner@kmzr.com
_____________________________________________

Executive Lounge Series -- Tuesday, May 7, 2002 - Santa Monica, CA

K12 Productions Presents "Employment, Funding and Emerging Technologies in
the Security and Intellectual Property Industry." Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at
the Santa Monica Doubletree, 6:00-9:00PM. A distinguished panel of
security experts discuss employment, funding and emerging technologies in
the opportunity-rich security and intellectual property industries. The
event also features the Karma Club - highly effective career networking for
executives. To receive a $5 discount on the admission price, please
register at:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=23017&Referrer_id=5587
_____________________________________________

==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================

Samsung DCS Digital Phone System - $5250

No office telephone system offers more for less. This system was
originally purchased new for $16,358.00 at the beginning of 2000. The
system comes complete with everything required to get your office
communications up and running immediately. The DCS is a modular,
future-proof telephone system, which gives unrivalled flexibility and
functionality and can be configured as a PABX, key system or any
combination of these, according to your specific requirements. For further
details go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1729532922&r=0
&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1021650149&indexURL=0&rd=1
or contact djpeebs@aol.com
_____________________________________________

Sharp AR-5132 Digital Copier -- Excellent working condition - $999.95

Used for a year, this copier is in great shape and priced to sell. Its
parts work fine - including all internal mechanisms, paper feeders,
trays, and the optional 20-bin sorter - and it produces clean,
professional copies. It is only in need of a new drum, which requires
periodic replacement, to be fully operational. Instructions Manuals are
included. This workhorse of a copying machine was originally purchased for
$4800 and is offered for far less than you are likely to find it anywhere
else, especially when compared to used models selling for over $2200 on
the web. Must pick-up or arrange delivery (in LA). Contact djpeebs@aol.com
_____________________________________________

Fuji GW670III Medium Format Camera -- Mint Condition w/Box - $725

This Fuji GW670III comes complete and is true MINT condition. The
GW670III is a 6 x 7cm medium format rangefinder camera with the famed 90mm
f/3.5 EBC Fujinon lens. The optics are perfect - crystal clear with a big,
bright viewfinder. This is THE camera for sweeping landscapes, events or
group shots. The results are stunning with breathtaking detail. Lens cap,
Hoya UV filter, strap, instruction manual, box/packaging, and carrying
case included along with 9 rolls of new professional grade 120 & 220 film.
A wonderful opportunity to own this legendary camera at half of its $1410
"street" price. For further info, please contact djpeebs@aol.com
______________________

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com

Questions or comments? Send email to:
mark@digitalmediawire.com

News tips, press releases. Send email to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com

Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire