 |
Connecting
People & Knowledge - Since May 2000 |
| |
|
|
Today's Sponsor |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
June 18, 2004 --
About Us |
Advertise |
Events |
Publications |
Subscribe
Main Stories
o
Viacom Announces Divestiture of Blockbuster Unit
o
Copy-Protected Velvet Revolver CD Hits No. 1 on U.S. Charts
o U.K.
Newspapers Launching Own Digital Music Download Stores
o CNET:
Nokia Invests in Open-Source Mobile Browser Developer Mozilla
o
Peer-to-Peer Group Asks MPAA to License Movies for File-Sharing
o Holding Company for easyJet
Airlines to Launch Free Digital Music Service
o
Briefly Noted: ELSPA - mobile
game download chart, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation - cell phone
TV, Mastiff - "Gungrave: Overdose," IDG Entertainment, "Induce Act
of 2004" - peer-to-peer file-sharing networks
_____________________________________________
|
>
Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
--Data Architect
--No.1 Mobile Media Firm in U.S. is Looking For LA Sales Manager
--Account Executive
--Director of Marketing (eBusiness Consulting Services)
--Sr. Software Engineer
--Account Executive for Award Winning Marketing Firm
--Web Project Manager
--Senior Financial Analyst
--PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook
--Innovative Technologies to Link Project
--Preserving the Benefits of Open Source While Managing Risks -
June 29
|
|
|
o Viacom Announces Divestiture of
Blockbuster Unit
New York -- Media conglomerate Viacom, whose holdings include
CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Infinity Broadcasting and
Simon & Schuster, announced on Friday the terms of its separation
from Blockbuster, its wholly-owned video rental subsidiary. The
divestiture will involve a "split-off" offer to Viacom stockholders,
including the pre-offer distribution of $5 per share to Blockbuster
stockholders, or a total of approximately $905 million. Viacom
expects to receive $738 million of this distribution. Blockbuster
also announced a new $1.45 billion financing commitment from
JPMorgan, Citigroup and Credit Suisse First Boston. "Following the
split-off, Viacom will devote all its energies and resources into
expanding in core areas, particularly the content creation engines
that we believe will drive our future performance," said Viacom
chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone. "The split-off, which is also
expected to result in a reduction of Viacom's outstanding shares,
enables Blockbuster to focus on its mission to become a specialty
retailer of home entertainment." Viacom expects the divestiture to
be completed in the third quarter of 2004.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040618/nyf025_1.html
http://www.viacom.com
http://www.blockbuster.com
_____________________________________________
o
Copy-Protected Velvet Revolver CD Hits No. 1 on U.S. Charts
Phoenix, Ariz. -- For the first time ever, a CD with embedded
copy-protection technology designed to keep songs from being
uploaded to the Internet has become the top-selling album in the
U.S., with the release of Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" on BMG last
week. The anti-copying system, developed by Arizona-based SunnComm
International, blocks tracks from being uploaded to P2P networks
while providing alternate, protected digital versions that may be
played on a PC, burned to CD, and transferred to some portable
devices. Currently, the technology does not allow transfers to
Apple's iPod, which does not support the Windows Media Audio format
used by SunnComm. The success of the Velvet Revolver album will
likely encourage other labels to explore SunnComm's technology, and
the company on Friday announced that major record label EMI has
signed on to test its MediaMax technology on select promotional CDs
it distributes worldwide.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040617/175554_1.html
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L10162A98
http://www.sunncomm.com
____________________________________________
o U.K.
Newspapers Launching Own Digital Music Download Stores
London -- A number of major U.K.-based newspapers including The
Guardian, Times, Mail, Mirror and Sun are considering their own
digital song download stores, following the launch of Apple's iTunes
service in the U.K. this week, New Media Age reported. First in line
will be The Guardian, which has a licensing deal with major label
EMI and plans to launch a $1.82-per song service later this month,
featuring artists performing at the Glastonbury Festival, such as
David Bowie and Air. "In a market this new it's still not quite
clear how a publisher can make this work profitably. That's why the
tie-up with EMI is a good step towards helping us understand that,
and helps EMI understand how it can work with media owners," Simon
Waldman, director of digital publishing at Guardian Newspapers, told
New Media Age. The editor of The Mirror's website told New Media Age
a music download service may be part of the site's re-launch later
this year, and News Group Newspapers also said it is in discussions
with potential suppliers for its own service.
http://www.newmediazero.com/lo-fi/story.asp?id=248321
____________________________________________
o CNET: Nokia
Invests in Open-Source Mobile Browser Developer Mozilla
San Francisco -- CNET News.com reported on Friday that Finnish cell
phone giant Nokia has provided funding to the Mozilla Foundation, a
developer of open-source Web browser software, earmarked for an
open-source browser for cell phones. Terms of the funding were not
disclosed, but the partnership has already produced a workable
prototype called "Minimo." America Online spun off Mozilla as a
nonprofit a year ago, providing $2 million in seed money. To this
point, Nokia has used either an internally-developed browser or one
made by Norway-based Opera in its cell phones, but the investment in
the open-source Mozilla would mean freedom from associated licensing
fees, as Mozilla software is made available for free to users.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2C024A98
http://www.nokia.com
http://www.mozilla.org
____________________________________________
o Peer-to-Peer
Group Asks MPAA to License Movies for File-Sharing
Washington -- The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA),
a trade group made up of peer-to-peer file-sharing networks,
including Sharman Networks' Kazaa, on Friday made a plea to the
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) member studios to
license their films for trading on file-sharing networks. "Mr.
Valenti, end the major studio boycott of peer-to-peer. Urge your
members to work with us to counter copyright infringement and
commercially develop file sharing to its full potential," said DCIA
CEO Marty Lafferty. "Our mission is to make it attractive for the
Universal Musics and Paramount Pictures of this world to become
wholesale suppliers, literally, to the Kazaas and Groksters, as
online resellers of music and movies." The DCIA proposed a six-step
licensing program, that includes using software from Relatable to
catalog and "fingerprint" all content; creation of a rights holder
registry; employment of content verification; application of usage
rules; the addition of digital rights management including
encryption; and the implementation of a range of payment options for
end-users.
http://www.dcia.info
____________________________________________
o Holding Company for easyJet
Airlines to Launch Free Digital Music Service
London -- EasyGroup, the holding company that controls U.K.-based
discount airline easyJet, announced on Friday that it plans to enter
the increasingly competitive music download market in Europe and
launch a new online music store from which customers will be able to
download songs for free. Dubbed "easyMusic", the new service will
utilize the "copyleft" principle that frees customers from copyright
laws by using songs produced by unknown artists who want extra
publicity, EasyGroup founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou said. Haji-Ioannou
went on to say that customers who still want to download music by
better-known artists will have to pay a small fee.
http://www.easygroup.co.uk
Top
|
|
> DMW Events:
Washington
Digital Media
Conference
June 18,
2004
|
Washington, DC
Register online or by Phone
www.digitalmediaconference.com
323-822-0936
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Elliot Maxwell - Fellow, Center for the Study of American
Gov., Johns Hopkins Univ.,
Distinguished Research Fellow,
eBusiness Research Ctr, Pennsylvania State Univ.
Doug
Lowenstein - President, Entertainment Software Association
Mitch Glazier - SVP,
Gov. Relations & Legislative Counsel, RIAA
Caroline Little - CEO,
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Magid Abraham - President, CEO & Co-Founder, comScore Networks
William Allman - SVP & GM,
Interactive New Media, Discovery Networks
Aileen Atkins - SVP, Business Affairs, Napster
Larry Blosser - Of Counsel, Gray Cary
Jody Brannon - Executive Producer, USAToday.com
Pat Breslin - CEO,
Relatable
Jeff Briggs - Founder, President & CEO, Firaxis Games
Matt Bromberg - Vice President & GM, AOL Games
Jeffrey Bronikowski - Vice President, eLabs, Universal
Music Group
Ron Chaimowitz - President & CEO, PlayTV Inc.
Sarah Deutsch – VP & Associate General Counsel,
Verizon
Allison Dollar - Co-President,
Interactive Television Alliance
Tim Dunne - VP, Digital Media,
Nextel Communications, Inc.
Eugene Evans - President, Infinite
Ventures
Reed Freeman – Chief Privacy Officer,
Claria Corporation
Gerald Gordon -
President & CEO, Fairfax County Economic Dev. Authority
Rags Gupta - COO, Live365
Chris Haines - Managing Editor, USNews.com, U.S. News &
World Report
Stewart Halpern - Managing Dir., Digital Entertainment
Research, RBC Capital
Bill Holland - Washington Bureau Chief, Billboard Magazine
Mark Jacobs - CEO, Mythic Entertainment
Marc Juris - President, Fuse (a subsidiary of
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC)
Scott Kauffman - CEO, MusicNow
Marty Lafferty - CEO,
Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA)
Kevin Lapidus - General Counsel,
YellowBrix, Inc.
David Leibowitz - Managing Partner, CH Potomac
Lon Levin - SVP, Regulatory Affairs,
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc.
David Levine - CEO, Butterfly.net
David Lipsey - VP, Media & Entertainment, Artesia
Karen Litsinger - VP & Associate
General Counsel, America Online, Inc.
Lydia Loizides - Analyst,
Media & Ent., Ziff Brothers Investments
Adrian McAloon - Director of Marketing, Ztango
Chris McAndrews - SVP & General Manager,
Nationalgeographic.com
Patrick McQuown - President, Proteus
Mark Myers - Vice President of
Strategic Alliances, Convera
David Oxenford - Partner, Shaw Pittman
Jonathan Potter - Executive Director, Digital Media
Association
Larry Rebich - VP of Program
Acquisition & Market Dev., SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Wayne Rosso - CEO, Optisoft, SL (former President of
Grokster)
Laurence Roth - VP, Mktg & Bus.
Dev./Co-Founder, Cinea
(Dolby Labs subsidiary)
Warren Schlichting - Vice President, New Business Strategy,
Comcast
Dan Scherlis - CEO, Etherplay
Ari Schwartz - Director,
Consumer Democracy & Technology (CDT)
Ned Sherman - CEO & Co-Founder, Digital Media Wire
Paul Sherman - President & Publisher, Tech Wire Media Group
Sherrese Smith - Assoc. Gen. Counsel,
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Christina Tancredi, SVP
of Marketing, Advertising and Sponsorship Sales,
Music Choice
Yoav Tzruya - VP of Technologies &
Markets Strategy, Exent
Technologies
Stephen Warley - General Manager,
TVSpy (a Vault
service)
Debbie Weil - Publisher, WordBiz Report
Michael Weiss -
CEO, StreamCast Networks (owner, Morpheus P2P
software)
Gabe Zichermann - VP, Strategy & Communications, Trymedia
OVERVIEW
Media and entertainment companies are
going through a digital transformation, which is impacting
traditional business models and changing the way we distribute,
access and market media and entertainment.
Washington Digital Media Conference
brings
together decision-makers from the leading
media, entertainment and technology
companies in the Greater Washington, DC area
for a 1-day executive forum
focused on business, legal/policy and
technology
developments impacting digital media.
Get a unique view of the future of media and entertainment from
the inside. Gain insight into new business opportunities driving
the transformation of entertainment and media businesses. Take a
hard look at how traditional challenges to sustainable business
models are dissolving, only to be replaced by new obstacles, and
how we can prepare now to overcome them. Examine media and
entertainment-based technologies emerging today and explore how
these technologies are driving the transformation of the media
and entertainment industries.
How are traditional business models being
reinvented? What are the challenges and opportunities involving
digital media? What do you need to do to stay competitive in the
technology age? Be a part of this inaugural event, which brings
together the business and government leaders who are transforming
the Greater Washington, DC area into a center for digital media
innovation and development.
REGISTRATION
Registration: $395
Online :
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1067
Phone: 323-822-0936
To submit speakers for
or request information about exhibiting or sponsoring at the 2004
conferences, please contact Tinzar Than, VP, Marketing & Events,
Digital Media Wire, Inc. at:
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com.
Past Events
|
Sponsorship Materials
|
Partners & Clients
|
Top
|
> Featured Advertisement:
Digital
Media Law Report
New Featured Section
- Volume
3 - 2004
We are pleased to announce that we have added a "Featured
Section" to Digital Media Law & Policy Report.
We will use this
section to provide in depth coverage of certain cases, events and
policy developments each month.
Subscriptions
-
Order
Volume 3
-
Order
|
|
|
Top
|
|
o Briefly Noted: (London) The
Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), a
European video game industry trade group, reported on Friday that
the most-downloaded mobile phone game in the U.K. during the month
of April was Namco's classic, "Pac-Man." The new sales chart, which
includes data from carriers O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone,
ranked IFone's "Tetris" the second most-downloaded game, followed by
Mforma's "Call of Duty"; and Digital Bridges' "FIFA Football 2004"
and "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004."
http://www.elspa.com/about/pr/pr.asp?mode=view&t=1&id=446&ref=home
(Oslo) The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) announced
that it has launched a live TV channel on its mobile portal. NRK
said that its platform would support 3GP, the standard for mobile
TV, which will allow mobile handsets with video support to access
programs without the installation of any special player. NRK also
said that it did not plan to charge for its mobile TV service, which
will be carrier independent and function on all major networks,
including GPRS, UMTS and EDGE.
http://www.nrk.no/presse
(San Francisco) Video game publisher Mastiff said on Friday that
it will release its "Gungrave: Overdose" title for PlayStation 2 in
the early fall. The game is based on the popular Japanese anime TV
series.
http://www.mastiff-games.com
http://www.gungrave.com
(Oakland, Calif.) IDG Entertainment, a publisher of video
game-related magazines including GamePro, Code Vault and Gamestar,
announced on Friday that it has promoted former senior vice
president of business development and consumer marketing Daniel Orum
to the position of company president.
http://www.idg.com
(San Francisco) CNET News.com recently reported on a bill due for
vote in the Senate next week, the "Induce Act," which if passed
would essentially outlaw all file-sharing networks and some consumer
electronics, as well as make a criminal out of anyone who "aids,
abets, induces [or] counsels" copyright infringement. Critics say
the "Inducement Devolves into Unlawful Child Exploitation Act" was
written under a guise of stemming the free-flowing pornography on
P2P networks, but will in reality allow copyright holders to tighten
the grip on their intellectual property. "It's designed to have this
fuzzy feel around protecting children from pornography, but it's
pretty clearly a backdoor way to eliminate and make illegal
peer-to-peer services. Our concern is that you're attacking the
technology," Jeff Joseph, vice president for communications at the
Consumer Electronics Association, told News.com.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X2A031A98
http://scrawford.net/courses/INDUCE%20Act%20of%202004.pdf
Top
|
| >
Classifieds: > Data Architect
Project entails building an integrated data mart housing
financial data. The ideal candidates will have a minimum 10 to 20
years of experience in business analysis, data modeling to
enterprise architecture in secondary mortgage, financial services
or insurance industry. Initial focus is heavy on analysis, then
modeling, validation and physical design. Excellent communication
skill is a must. Send inquiries to
lauri.lieberman@prolinkservices.com
_________________
> No. 1 Mobile Media Firm in U.S. is Looking For LA
Sales Manager
ipsh! (www.ipsh.com) is currently
looking to bring on one (1) manager of media sales based in Los
Angeles. We are seeking an aggressive individual with
'go-getting' startup attitude, combining outstanding people
skills and excellent customer service, with experience in direct
B2B television, theatrical studio and agency sales. Candidate
must possess a proven sales track record & over achieving quota
in new markets with new products. To apply send your resume and
cover letter to
careers@ipsh.com with subject 'Manager of Media Sales'.
_________________
> Account Executive
The Account Executive will join GetActive's talented Sales Team
and will primarily be focused on sales opportunities in the
nonprofit marketplace. Responsible for qualifying leads,
strategizing on accounts, presenting to prospective clients, and
following-up with prospective clients. This person will also work
closely with a Senior Manager of Business Development to close
accounts, but will not be directly responsible for closing
accounts or producing revenue on his own. For the right,
resourceful self-starter, the position represents a challenging
and rewarding opportunity. Send resumes to
salesmanager@getactive.com
_________________
> Director of Marketing (eBusiness Consulting Services)
McFadyen Consulting is an established eBusiness integrator
specializing in the implementation of eCommerce, portal, and web
content management solutions based on IBM WebSphere, ATG Dynamo,
and Interwoven Teamsite. We seek a seasoned marketing executive
to design and implement effective strategies for sales lead
generation, drive expansion of the McFadyen brand into the IBM
WebSphere market, guide our business evolution as a member of the
management team. Send cover letter with salary requirements &
resume to
marketingjob@mcfadyen.com More info:
http://www.mcfadyen.com
_________________
> Sr. Software Engineer
Java Engineer with a minimum of 5 years experience working
with and developing for distributed systems. Must have strong OO
development skills and complete understanding of the Java
programming language. Experience with Eclipse, maven, ant, XML,
technical writing, remote debugging, Apache, Tomcat, CVS, Struts,
and JSP is required. Highly desirable skills are PERL, RPM, MySQL,
and Solaris. Team lead in an XP environment is also desirable.
Send resumes to
marks@epokinc.com
_________________
> Account Executive for Award Winning Marketing
Firm
RMR & Associates (http://www.rmr.com) the recognized leader in
B2B marketing with over 275 campaigns under our belt, is looking
for an ambitious self-starter to join our talented team. This
position includes servicing accounts as well as cultivating biz
dev opps. 2-3 years experience in marketing /advertising/public
relations preferred. e-mail cover letter and resume to
hr@rmr.com
_________________
> Web Project Manager
Redmon Group is seeking to fill a PM position that will be
responsible for the hands-on project management of Redmon
technology solutions such as: Web sites, transportation
technology, multimedia, e-learning, and interactive museum
projects. All applicants must have hands-on interactive project
development skills and management experience. Clients include:
Discovery Channel, Smithsonian, World Bank, Arlington County, DEA,
and ATF. Send resumes to
john@redmon.com Visit
http://www.redmon.com
_________________
> Senior Financial Analyst
Online Resources, a leading provider of online banking to
financial institutions across the United States is looking for a
Sr. Financial Analyst to track & analyze monthly revenues &
expenses against budget; support management in the annual budget
process; review/report corporate performance metrics to Sr. Mgmt;
assist in the preparation of financial forecasts that will be
used by Sr. Mgmt to make strategic business decisions. Send
resumes to wnewman@orcc.com
Visit http://www.orcc.com
_________________
> PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook
Purchase the book every entertainment and media executive must
have. The PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media
Outlook: 2003-2007 analyzes key trends and forecasts spending in
the U.S. and Canada across 14 industry segments, including a
Global Overview that forecasts spending and analyzes trends
worldwide (also sold separately).
More
Information
_________________
> Innovative Technologies to Link Project
Mgmt. with Project Accounting Learn how you can use shared data
to enable project teams to accurately estimate and manage jobs,
and in accordance, allow accounting to efficiently control costs
and account for budgets. Attend our web seminar from the comfort
of your own office! Register online at
http://www.ssiconsulting.com/events/pma.html or call
1-800-886-3369 x4618. Send inquiries to
jd@ssiconsulting.com
_________________
> Preserving the Benefits of Open Source While Managing Risks -
June 29
Open Source Risk Management, LLC presents, Preserving the
Benefits of Open Source While Managing Risks Seminar on June 29,
2004. Whether new to Open Source or an early adopter, gain
valuable knowledge to mitigate the risks of Open Source Software
while preserving its unique benefits. Get answers to these
questions and more: How should legal staff and developers work
together? What Best Practices should I consider adopting? What
does the current Open Source related litigation mean for my
company? To Register :
http://www.osriskmanagement.com/training.shtml For
more details:
training@osriskmanagement.com
Top
|
|
About Us
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is a news organization, publisher and
events company serving the digital media industry since May 2000.
Our daily newsletter delivers original briefings on
business, legal and financial developments shaping digital media and
read by over 30,000 executives and professionals. To
subscribe for free, please
click here.
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an
international network of publications that includes Digital Media
Law Report, 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 70,000 individuals from over 70
countries each business day.
Advertising & Sponsorship
Publications, Events & Information
Executive & Editorial Team
Chief Executive Officer: Ned Sherman
VP, Marketing & Events: Tinzar Than
Editor: Mark Hefflinger
Contact Us
Questions, Comments & Suggestions
News Tips & Press Releases
UnsubscribeTop
Copyright 2004 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|