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Past Editions

===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- May 17, 2001
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o WSJ: Studios Consider Forming Nonprofit to Help Digitize Theaters
o RIAA's SoundExchange to Delay Web Royalty Payments to Recording Artists
o Vulcan Ventures Acquires Fantasy Sports Gaming Firm Small World Media
o NYTimes: Casinos Changing Sides; Some Now Back Internet Gambling
> Note to Readers: Technical Error
o Briefly Noted: Sigur Ros - Napster, Creative Planet, Sony VAIO Digital
Studio, TDK Mediactive - "Robotech," ValuSoft, "Boy, You Fight Like a
Girl," Mondo Media, Content delivery networks
_____________________________________________

> Job Postings: Senior Analyst, Media Analyst, Account Manager, Internet
Development Manager

> Events/Services: "Press Conference: Britney Spears/Interactive Entertainment,"
"Email Newsletter Tactics," "The SIBL Project Songwriting Contest,"
"SpyWorm's SEX* Awards," "Sensory Circus"

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
_____________________________________________

o WSJ: Studios Consider Forming Nonprofit to Help Digitize Theaters

New York -- Several major movie studios are reportedly in talks to form a
nonprofit organization whose goal would be to provide theater owners with
technology to transition from film-based projection to digital projection,
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The organization would also
set standards that would ensure consistent quality for digital projection.
The article cites "those with knowledge of the talks" who say that Disney
has been a "catalyst" in the discussions, and that Sony Pictures, Warner
Bros. and Paramount Pictures have participated. Universal and 20th Century
Fox have also reportedly shown interest. The sources said that no plan has
yet been submitted to theater owners. Upgrading to digital projection of
movies in theaters -- which would eliminate the cumbersome and costly film
prints that are currently physically delivered to each theater that shows
a movie -- would initially be very costly for theaters. But transmitting a
film directly to theaters via satellite or inexpensive discs would save
money in the long term, preserve the picture quality of movies and
potentially give theaters the ability to show content other than major
motion pictures.
http://www.wsj.com
_____________________________________________

o RIAA's SoundExchange to Delay Web Royalty Payments to Recording Artists

Cambridge, Mass. -- SoundExchange, an agency that collects royalty
payments for artists from webcasters who transmit their songs on the
Internet, said that it will not distribute the payments it has collected
to artists this year, Webnoize reported on Thursday. The agency will dole
out about $6 million to artists in July that come from satellite
distribution services like Muzak, but webcasting royalties will not be
included. "It's a question of the accuracy of the data," SoundExchange
executive director of label and artist relations told Webnoize. "We're
just starting to get the data we need from the webcasters to put it in the
system, process it and decide who needs to be paid." The webcasting
royalties -- which Simson estimated to be in the "low millions" -- will
remain in an interest-bearing account for the time being.
http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=13096
http://www.soundexchange.com
_____________________________________________

o Vulcan Ventures Acquires Fantasy Sports Gaming Firm Small World Media

New York -- Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures announced on
Thursday that it has acquired Small World Media, a provider of online
fantasy sports games. Financial terms of the transaction were not
disclosed. The assets of Small World Media will become part of sports
media company The Sporting News. Small World will continue operations at
its New York offices; CEO Mark Jacobstein will become vice president,
general manager fantasy sports of The Sporting News.
http://www.paulallen.com/press/releases/releaseLink.asp?recNo=1126
http://www.smallworld.com
http://www.sportingnews.com
_____________________________________________

o NYTimes: Casinos Changing Sides; Some Now Back Internet Gambling

New York -- Several of the biggest Las Vegas casinos are changing their
minds about Internet gambling, even developing websites that they one day
see offering users the ability to wager online, The New York Times
reported on Thursday. The owners of the MGM Mirage, Caesar's Palace,
Bally's and Harrah's Entertainment already operate websites that offer
users prizes instead of money, but now say they are giving some support to
legalizing online gambling. They also are considering opposition to
proposed enhancements to the law that would prohibit any online wagering.
Currently, federal law prohibits telephone-based gambling -- which has
been interpreted to include the Internet -- and several states have passed
explicit laws outlawing online gambling. However, an outright federal ban
failed to pass in the House.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/17/technology/17GAMB.html
_____________________________________________

> Note to Readers

Due to a technical error, certain readers may have inadvertently received a
copy of Potomac Tech Wire, an affiliate of Digital Media Wire. We
apologize for the error.
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Redwood City, Calif.) Napster announced on Thursday that Icelandic rock
band Sigur Ros -- who opened shows for Radiohead on a recent tour -- will
promote a song from the U.S. reissue of its debut album "Agaetis Byrjun"
on the file-sharing service. "Napster has helped to change the way we
access music," said Sigur Ros. "It's brought a freedom based on sharing
that exists outside the grasp of those concerned purely with financial
gain." The authorized "Svefn G Englar" song download will be available on
Napster starting Friday.
http://www.napster.com

(Los Angeles) Creative Planet, an online provider of film industry
software, resources and entertainment news, announced on Thursday that
chief financial officer Kelyn Brannon has been promoted to president of
the company. Prior to joining Los Angeles-based Creative Planet, Brannon
was CFO of Amazon.com.
http://www.creativeplanet.com/aboutus/press/0,8098,27835,00.html

(Tokyo) Sony announced on Thursday that it will release a VAIO desktop
computer in June that will include a TV tuner and DVD-RW drive, enabling
users to record TV shows directly onto an 80GB hard drive, save them onto
a DVD disc and than play them through a DVD player on their televisions.
http://www.sonystyle.com/sonystyle/4621/7009/8511/7936/9593.default.html
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5959290.html?tag=mn_hd

(Calabasas, Calif.) Game developer TDK Mediactive said on Thursday that it
has licensed the video game rights to the animated series "Robotech" from
Mattel and Harmony Gold. Calabasas-based TDK has asked Vicious Cycle
Software to develop a special 3-D game engine for the Robotech games, the
first of which is scheduled for release next year. The company announced
earlier this week that its Xbox game based on DreamWorks' animated film
"Shrek" will ship this fall.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010517/0031.html
http://www.tdk-mediactive.com

(Los Angeles) Software publisher and retailer ValuSoft announced on
Thursday that it is developing an online service to sell digital downloads
of video games. The service -- which is expected to launch in September --
will charge an average of $1.99 per game download.
http://bazarr.valusoft.com

(Los Angeles) The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday on the phenomenon
of online gamers pretending to be members of the opposite sex in
roleplaying games like "EverQuest" and "Ultima Online." The article
reports that while only 20 percent of EverQuest's 360,000 paying
subscribers are female, 40 percent of the characters chosen by users to
represent them in the game are women. Men posing as women in the game
report that they must "constantly brush off unwanted advances" from other
characters, and that they are not taken as seriously.
http://www.latimes.com/business/20010517/t000041409.html

(San Francisco) Business2.com is currently offering a feature on Web
animation studio Mondo Media, which has been able to stay in business amid
the closings of Pop.com, Z.com, Icebox.com, Stan Lee Media and others. San
Francisco-based Mondo Media has focused on syndicating the Web-based shows
it creates to other websites, rather than offering its own entertainment
destination.
http://www.business2.com/magazine/2001/05/successful_online.htm
http://www.mondomedia.com

(San Francisco) StreamingMedia.com is featuring an article that attempts
to explain the business of content delivery networks -- such as Akamai and
Digital Island -- that help to speed content like large audio and video
files from servers based around the world to Internet users.
http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=7344

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

> Universal Music Group, Senior Analyst - Los Angeles

eLabs, the strategy and R&D center for Universal Music Group, is looking
to fill a junior business development position. Ideal candidate will
have1-2 yrs exp. in I-banking, Management Consulting or strategy/bizdev
for top entertainment or media company. Must have solid analytical and
comm. skills, and a strong interest in music. Industry exp. or technology
background a plus. Send resumes to roy.kosuge@umusic.com
http://www.umusic.com
______________________

> Circle.com, Media Analyst - New York City

Circle.com, a leading Internet solutions provider to Fortune 1000
companies, is currently seeking a Media Analyst to develop sophisticated
reports & recommendations for a top 10 advertiser, based on cost per
acquisition in media placements & creative ad units. Must have online
media planning & DART experience, as well as Excel, Access & AdKnowledge,
etc. Send resumes to nyjobs@circle.com
http://www.circle.com
______________________

> Globix, Account Manager - New York City

Top-tier Internet solutions provider seeks Acct. Mgr. with 1-3 yrs.
outside sales exp. in a broadband, ISP or telco envioronment. Must be able
to maintain a high level of prospecting and have the service skills to
retain a business base. Team players only! Excellent time management &
communication skills. BS/ BA Degree prefered.
Send resumes to abc@globix.com
http://www.globix.com
______________________

> WWZZ Radio, Internet Development Manager - Washington, D.C.

Produce & manage the daily tasks necessary to continue the outward growth
of Z104's web site. This will include daily, weekly & monthly updating of
the site, reporting statistics & coordination of sales projects w/ sales
people. Also responsible for updating databases. Minimum 2 yrs. Internet
design exp. DreamWeaver, PhotoShop, Fireworks & Flash a must. Send resumes
to ccruz@thez.com
http://www.thez.com

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

> Press Conference: Britney Spears/Interactive Entertainment - Los Angeles

Press conference to announce Britney Spears' first foray into the
interactive entertainment industry. Thursday, May 17 at 10 a.m.; E3 Expo,
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Room 501A. Who: Paul Cha,
Enroute; Johnny Wright, co-manager, Britney Spears; Mark Steverson,
Rudolph and Beer. Credentialed press only.
Contact: Jonalyn Morris, Bender/Helper Impact, 310-473-4147.
jonalyn_morris@bhimpact.com

______________________

> E-mail Newsletter Tactics, June 14-15th - Reston, VA

Learn how to profit from e-mail newsletters! If you already produce one or
several e-mail newsletters, or are thinking about launching one, E-mail
Newsletter Tactics is a must-attend event. For an agenda, go to:
http://seminars.internet.com/email/va01/index.html. Special offer for
DigitalMediaWire subscribers -- SAVE 15% off the full conference price.
For details and to sign up, call 203-662-2857
or email aalessio@internet.com
______________________

> The SIBL Project Songwriting Contest, May 1 - August 8

The SIBL Project launches a national and international songwriting contest
on May 1st 2001. If you've written a song inspired by a book, poem or
play, submit it to The SIBL Project Songwriting Competition. Deadline for
entries is September 8, 2001. All proceeds benefit adult literacy
programs.
For more information: annie@mentlmusic.com
http://www.siblproject.org
______________________

> SpyWorm's SEX* Awards, September 13 - Los Angeles

Webcasting production house SpyWorm is recruiting 30 filmmakers to each
create a 5-minute "reality-based" short on SEX*. Each candidate gets DV
gear, $100 lunch money and 3 days of post-production services. All
interested filmmakers are encouraged to e-mail their resumes & best short
pitch about SEX* by June 15 to:
pitches@spyworm.tv
http://www.spyworm.tv
______________________

> Sensory Circus, June 9 - Los Angeles

Art, fashion, music, technology and film come together for the debut of
Sensory Circus at the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel. This electric and
sophisticated event will extend throughout every ballroom, terrace and
rooftop, showcasing new bands and DJ's, the latest fashions and visual,
technological and sculpture artists. To submit an artistic work, inquire
about sponsorship or register for the event, please visit:
http://www.sensorycircus.com
______________________

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