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Past Editions

===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- May 14, 2002
===================================================
Subscribe for free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o Napster CEO Steps Down After Failed Buyout Bid from Bertelsmann
o Sony Cuts Price of PlayStation Video Game Consoles
o Sonicblue Seeks Reversal of Court Order to Track Users' Viewing Habits
o AOL Time Warner Dropping "Ad-Skipping" Feature On Its Set-tops
o Sony Music to Distribute Songs On CenterSpan File-Sharing Service
o Nintendo Reports 400,000 GameCubes Sold in Europe During First Week
> Featured Event/Company: Jupiter Plug.IN, ContentWorld 2002
o Briefly Noted: DVD Copy Control Association, DataPlay - Arista Records,
ECast - Ultimatum Records, Nintendo - controller prices, Gateway - Warner
DVDs/CDs, Christie Digital Cinema, Electronic Arts - Joey Harrington, TDK
Mediactive - "He-Man," Jakks Pacific - Atari, Codetoys, RIAA - new
president
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: Sr. Graphic Designer, Sales Director, Account Executive, Dir. of
Product Management, Online Marketing Coordinator, Business Development
Manager, District Sales Manager, VP Marketing, Online Research Analyst,
Bus. Development and Sales

> Marketplace: Free Wine Tastings, Bender/Helper Impact, Digital PCS Phone
System, Digital Copying Machine

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

o Napster CEO Steps Down After Failed Buyout Bid from Bertelsmann

Redwood City, Calif. -- Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers has resigned from his
position in response to the rejection of a buyout offer from Bertelsmann
by Napster's board. "I am not agreeing with the majority of the board in
this instance, Hilbers wrote in an email to employees. "I am convinced
that not pursuing the offer is a mistake and it will lead the company to a
place where I don't want to lead it." A former Bertelsmann executive,
Hilbers was brought in to replace former CEO Hank Barry and manage
Bertelsmann's reported $80 million investment in Napster, aimed at
developing a paid membership-based, secure file-sharing service. "We
deeply regret that we have not yet been able to find a funding solution
that would allow Napster to launch a service to benefit artists and
consumers alike," Napster said in a statement. "We will be looking at
additional steps in the coming week to further reduce expenses." The
company still faces litigation from the major record labels, which have
pending copyright infringement claims against it. Several outlets reported
that the company is considering filing for bankruptcy.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3262353.htm
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-913555.html?tag=fd_top
_____________________________________________

o Sony Cuts Price of PlayStation Video Game Consoles

Foster City, Calif. -- Sony Computer Entertainment America announced on
Tuesday that it will cut the price of its PlayStation 2 video game console
in the U.S. by a third from $299 to $199, in a move that will likely spark
a price-gouging war among console manufacturers. The company also slashed
the price of its original PlayStation console from $99 to $49, and reduced
prices on accessories including memory chips and controllers. "The $199
price point for PlayStation 2 has always been part of Sony Computer
Entertainment America's strategy to bring the world's leading computer
entertainment system to the broadest audience," said Kaz Hirai, president
and chief operating officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America. Sony
said last week that worldwide shipments of its PlayStation 2 have reached
30 million. Microsoft recently reduced the price of its Xbox console in
Europe and Australia; Nintendo has said it would respond to any console
price reductions if Sony made the first move.
http://www.scea.com/news/press_example.asp?ReleaseID=9697
_____________________________________________

o Sonicblue Seeks Reversal of Court Order to Track Users' Viewing Habits

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Consumer electronics firm Sonicblue, maker of the
ReplayTV line of personal video recorder devices, has petitioned a federal
court to overturn an order imposed on the company by a federal magistrate
to track the viewing habits of its users. The movie studios and networks
currently suing Sonicblue for copyright infringement want to see how
viewers use the ReplayTV to skip through commercials and transfer recorded
TV shows to one another over the Internet. Santa Clara-based Sonicblue,
which does not collect such data from its users, said the order "violates
consumers' privacy rights, including those guaranteed by the First and
Fourth Amendments." The company said adjustments to its product necessary
to begin collecting such data would cost around $400,000. It has asked the
court to overturn the magistrate's order, or at least to allow consumers
to opt-in to the data collection; make data collection limited in scope
and duration; and ensure data collected is aggregate and cannot personally
identify its users.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rt/020513/tech_sonicblue_1.html
http://www.replaytv.com
_____________________________________________

o AOL Time Warner Dropping "Ad-Skipping" Feature On Its Set-tops

New York -- AOL Time Warner will not include an "ad-skipping" feature in
new set-top boxes with personal video recorder capability that it intends
to deploy to Time Warner Cable subscribers, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn
Britt told Cableworld magazine. Both stand-alone personal video recorders
made by firms like TiVo and ReplayTV and those manufactured by Motorola,
Pioneer and Pace all feature the ability to skip through commercials in
recorded programs, much like viewers may do with a VCR. Britt also told
Cableworld that the company is considering "copyright protection and other
possible content issues" for the set-top boxes. A number of film studios
and TV networks are currently suing Sonicblue, which manufactures the
ReplayTV personal video recorder, for copyright infringement because of
the device's ability to skip commercials as well as to send recorded
programs over the Internet to other ReplayTV owners. Networks argue that
ad-skipping threatens its primary revenue source, which is advertising.
http://www.inside.com/product/product.asp?entity=CableWorld&pf_ID=B0F492
27-3ABD-4735-B5C8-4E03B5F345E6

_____________________________________________

o Sony Music to Distribute Songs On CenterSpan File-Sharing Service

Hillsboro, Ore. -- CenterSpan Communications, which has built a secure
peer-to-peer file-sharing network from the assets it acquired from Scour,
Inc., announced on Tuesday that Sony Music will distribute promotional
recordings from its artists. The tracks will be posted on CenterSpan's
C-Star One network, available at the original Scour.com site. Songs from
five Sony artists -- B2K, Five for Fighting, Flickerstick, John Mayer and
Macy Gray -- can be downloaded and listened to on a PC only for 30 days,
after which time they become unavailable. The songs are being delivered
using Microsoft's Windows Media technology and "seven layers of
proprietary CenterSpan security," the company said in a statement.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020514/sftu094_1.html
http://www.centerspan.com
http://www.scour.com
_____________________________________________

o Nintendo Reports 400,000 GameCubes Sold in Europe During First Week

Redmond, Wash. -- Japanese video game maker Nintendo said on Tuesday that
its GameCube video game console sold 400,000 in Europe during its first
week of availability. The company said it shipped 500,000 units to the
region for launch, and plans to ship another 500,000 over the next several
weeks. It also said that each GameCube buyer is adding an average of 2.3
games to their purchase. Nintendo lowered the price of GameCube in Europe
from about $223 to $177 before launch -- a price that pushed it further
below regional prices for both Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox.
By contrast, after weak early sales reports, Microsoft cut the European
price for Xbox from about $360 to $260. Following the move, Microsoft
reported Xbox sales surged to represent half of the market share in the
region, alongside Sony's PlayStation 2.
http://www.nintendo.com
_____________________________________________

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

30 Reasons to Attend Jupiter Plug.IN - July 8-9 - NYC

Reason #29: Congressman Rick Boucher is a keynote speaker.
Rick Boucher is concerned that the anti-copying technology poised for
widespread release by the major labels violates the American Home
Recording Act -- and consumers' rights. He's contacted the RIAA and IFPI
with his concerns but the debate continues -- onstage at Plug.IN.
**To register or for more info: http://www.jmm.com/plugin
**For all the 30 reasons so far, email PluginReasons@jmm.com

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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

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______________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Santa Clara, Calif.) The DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA), an
industry trade group that developed the controversial Content Scramble
System (CSS) for DVDs, said it will not make a decision on new video
watermarking technology to include on DVD discs for up to another three
months. The organization set a date of August 1 for its permanent board to
take office. Companies including Santa Clara-based Macrovision submitted
watermarking technology for review to DVD CCA, whose previously approved
CSS anti-copying technology for DVDs has been cracked and posted online in
the form of DeCSS -- the subject of a number of Digital Millennium
Copyright Act litigations.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020514/140484_1.html
http://www.dvdcca.org

(Boulder, Colo.) DataPlay, a manufacturer of recordable optical media
discs, said on Tuesday that it has finalized an agreement with record
label BMG Entertainment. As a result, BMG subsidiary label Arista Records
will release albums from such artists as Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Outkast
in the DataPlay format. Colorado-based DataPlay's discs are about the size
of a quarter and hold up to 500MB of user-recorded or pre-recorded data
including music, movies and images. Other labels, including Zomba and
Universal Music Group, have committed to releasing albums in DataPlay
format.
http://www.dataplay.com/jsp_files/en/news/pressreleases-desc.jsp?pressrelease
=pressrelease-desc-02-05-14

http://www.arista.com

(San Francisco) ECast, a developer of Internet-connected digital jukebox
services, said on Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement with
Ultimatum Records, to include songs from the label's artist roster on
digital jukeboxes made by Rowe International. Ultimatum acts include Jay
Mascis, The Incredible Moses Leroy and The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash.
San Francisco-based ECast has created a network that transmits licensed
digital music to Internet-connected jukeboxes in bars and other locations.
http://www.ecastinc.com
http://www.ultimatummusic.com

(Redmond, Wash.) Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it will reduce the
price for both upcoming wireless and wired controllers for its GameCube
video game console. The wireless WaveBird controller, capable of
functioning up to 30 feet away from a GameCube, will sell for $34.95 -- as
opposed to the previously announced $39.95. Regular controllers will be
lowered in price to $24.95 from $34.99. The prices will go into effect on
June 10 when the WaveBird controller is released.
http://www.nintendogamecube.com

(San Diego) PC maker Gateway said on Tuesday that it has partnered with
Warner Home Video, Warner Music Group and Curb Records to offer buyers of
new PCs a selection of three Warner DVDs and CDs for $10. Consumers
purchasing a Pentium 4 PC with a DVD drive can choose from titles
including "Gone With The Wind" and "The Matrix" on DVD and CDs from a
number of Warner and Curb Records artists.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020513/lam098_1.html
http://www.gateway.com/home/deals/offers/warnerbro.shtml
http://www.curb.com

(Kitchener, Ontario) Christie Digital Cinema, a developer of digital film
projectors, said on Tuesday that its products will be used in 14 of the
nearly 100 theaters planning to screen the upcoming "Star Wars Episode II"
in its intended digital format. Canada-based Christie also noted that
Lucasfilm used a Christie projector on location in Australia to review
daily footage during shooting, as well as during final post-production at
effects studio Industrial Light and Magic.
http://www.christiedigital.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Game developer Electronic Arts said on Tuesday that
it has signed University of Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist
Joey Harrington to serve as spokesperson for its upcoming EA Sports title,
"NCAA Football 2003." Redwood City-based Electronic Arts is developing the
game for Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube for release in July.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020514/140094_1.html
http://www.ea.com

(Calabasas, Calif.) Video game publisher TDK Mediactive said on Tuesday
that it has signed a multi-year, exclusive licensing agreement with
toymaker Mattel to develop video games based on "He-Man and the Masters of
the Universe." In conjunction with the new video games, Mattel plans to
re-introduce a new line of He-Man action figures and playsets, twenty
years after the original figures and animated children's series.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020514/140038_1.html
http://www.tdk-mediactive.com
http://www.he-man.org

(Malibu, Calif.) Toymaker Jakks Pacific announced on Tuesday a licensing
agreement with Infogrames Interactive to create a TV Games product for
classic Atari games. TV Games is an 8-bit system that consists of a
portable handheld controller embedded with all software necessary to play
up to ten games through any television. Under the agreement, Malibu-based
Jakks' Toymax subsidiary will use Atari titles including "Centipede,"
"Asteroids," "Missile Command" and "Battlezone" on the new TV Games
product, which is expected to sell for $20 when released in the third
quarter.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020514/140033_1.html
http://www.toymax.com
http://www.atari.com

(Helsinki, Finland) Wireless entertainment developer Codeonline, which
yesterday announced raising a $7.3 million second round of funding, on
Tuesday announced that it will change its name to Codetoys. The change
reflects the company's merger with Springtoys, another wireless game
developer, in March of this year.
http://www.codetoys.com

(Washington) The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade
group representing the interests of major record labels, has announced
that former general counsel and senior vice president Cary Sherman will
become the organization's new president. Former president Hilary Rosen
will continue with the RIAA in her roles as chairman and CEO. The RIAA has
spearheaded the recording industry's efforts against music piracy, filing
lawsuits against file-sharing services including Napster, Scour and
Streamcast Networks, which operates the Morpheus file-sharing software.
http://www.riaa.org
______________________

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

Senior Graphic Designer - Melveny & Myers LLP - Los Angeles, CA

Melveny & Myers LLP, an international law firm located in downtown Los
Angeles, has an immediate opening for a Senior Graphic Designer. Qualified
candidate is responsible for maintaining firm's existing brand and
supporting and enhancing firm's brand equity. Handle concept, design and
pre-press for all marketing materials. Excellent salary and benefits
package. Resume to: Melveny & Myers LLP, 400 S. Hope Street, Suite 248,
Los Angeles, CA 90071. FAX: (213) 430-7857. Email resume to: HR@omm.com.
Visit us at: http://www.omm.com
_____________________________________________

Sales Director, Walt Disney Consumer Products, Los Angeles, CA

Support VP to attain fiscal year revenue and profitability goals. Develop
account and channel differentiated distribution plans, seasonal business
plans and budget. Grow softlines (apparel and accessories) revenue and
profitability. A minimum of 10 years specific apparel/accessories/footwear
brand management experience. Please email cp.careers@Disney.com, including
your resume, contact details, and Job Code 02-0001680-02 in the body of
your email. Do not send your resume as an attachment.
_____________________________________________

Account Executive, Interactive -- Avenue-e - New York, NY

Avenue-e is seeking an Account Executive to work with the managing
director, assisting with the development of interactive programs and
online initiatives. Candidates should have 2 or more years experience in
the interactive field, along with some ad agency experience. Please send
resume as Word attachment to roger_gilmore@nyc.sudler.com OR by FAX to
212-598-5477 OR by mail to: Sudler & Hennessey, 230 Park Avenue South, New
York 10003
_____________________________________________

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 - MARKETPLACE
==========================

Free Beaulieu Vinyard Wine Tasting & Educational Seminars - LA & Orange
County

BV offers groups of 35 or more an easy and enjoyable way to enhance your
meeting and entertain your group. The seminar is available at No Cost to
your organization or anyone who attends. It provides a unique opportunity
to learn about the history, heritage and character of a true American
classic. For more information, please contact Suzanne Bultmeyer, BV Event
Coordinator, at sebult@onebox.com
_____________________________________________

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,
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
_____________________________________________

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
______________________

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Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire