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July 21, 2005 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Subscribe | Unsubscribe

Main Stories
o "Grand Theft Auto" Given New 18+ Rating; Take-Two Lowers Outlook
o Report: Legal Song Downloads Tripled in First Half of 2005
o Google Says Profits Quadrupled in Quarter
o Hours After Release, Pirated "Harry Potter" Book Available Free Online
o Sony Acquires SN Systems, Signs PS3 Development Tool Providers
o Report: Digital Video Recorders to Reach Half of U.S. Homes by 2010
o Interactive TV Emmy Award Finalists Announced
o VNU, Digital Media Wire to Host Digital Entertainment & Media Expo


> Featured Advertisement:
--PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008 
 

o Briefly Noted: Mark Cuban - BlogScour, Cox - free VOD, LodgeNet - Ritz-Carlton, Atari - "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Content Under Pressure," KCRW - "Morning Becomes Eclectic" podcasts
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> Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
--Marketing Manager
--Integrated Marketing Account Manager
--Business Strategy Consultant - Telecom, Energy, Utilities
--eBay Marketing Executive
--Advertising And Marketing Position
--Marketing Communications Manager
--Director of Marketing Analytics
--Project Manager
--Database Warehouse Architect
--Senior SAP Application Architect
--Online Advertising Manager
--Director of Marketing
--Senior Software Engineer - ASP.Net, VB.Net, Web Services
--Media Supervisor
--Strategic Communications Group Offers Blog Relations Counsel
 


o "Grand Theft Auto" Given New 18+ Rating; Take-Two Lowers Outlook

New York -- In response to criticism over unlockable sexual content in the game from media watchdogs and lawmakers including Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Take-Two Interactive said the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has changed the rating for its "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" video game from "M" (Mature 17+) to "AO" (Adults Only 18+) -- effectively banning its sale to minors under 18. "What was clear to us is the fact that fully rendered content existed on the disk that was not disclosed," ESRB president Patricia Vance, told Reuters. "The publisher took the risk that a hacker could find it and it clearly put the rating at risk." As a result, Take-Two also lowered its third quarter and full-year outlook, and said it set aside funds to cover returns of current inventory from retailers. Circuit City said Thursday that it is removing copies of the game from its store shelves and website; many retailers have similar policies of not stocking any titles with an 18+ rating. Take-Two said it has stopped production of the current PC version of the game, and in addition to releasing a new version impervious to the "Hot Coffee" modification, it will also offer a downloadable patch to block access to the sexual mini-game in the current version. "The editing and finalization of any game is a complicated task and it's not uncommon for unused and unfinished content to remain on the disc," Take-Two spokesman Jim Ankner told The Associated Press. The company added that the "Hot Coffee" downloadable key, which unlocks the hidden content in the game, is a violation of its "end user license agreement (EULA) and intellectual property rights," and that it is "exploring its legal options as it relates to companies that profited from creating and distributing tools for altering the content of 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'"
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050720/205870.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050720/take_two_outlook.html
http://tinyurl.com/87mqt
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-sexgame21jul21,1,3151568.story
http://www.take2games.com
http://www.rockstargames.com/sanandreas
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o Report: Legal Song Downloads Tripled in First Half of 2005

London -- The number of legal music downloads has tripled in the first half of 2005, to 180 million, compared with 57 million at the same point last year, according to data released on Thursday by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The U.S. is estimated to have accounted for 159 million of all song downloads sold so far this year; a total of 157 million downloads were sold worldwide last year. The IFPI cited increased broadband adoption and the crackdown on piracy for the increase, noting that the number of songs available on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks has risen only 3% so far this year, from 870 million to 900 million tracks. "We are now seeing real evidence that people are increasingly put off by illegal file-sharing and turning to legal ways of enjoying music online," said IFPI chairman and CEO John Kennedy. "Whether it's the fear of getting caught breaking the law, or the realization that many networks could damage your home PC, attitudes are changing, and that is good news for the whole music industry." The IFPI said that since industry legal actions against file-swappers began in September 2003, more than 14,200 actions have been filed in 12 countries.
http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/press/20050721.html
http://tinyurl.com/be6q3
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o Google Says Profits Quadrupled in Quarter

Mountain View, Calif. -- Buoyed by continued strength in the online advertising sector, Googleon Thursday reported a quarterly profit that quadrupled from a year ago. The company said that its net income was $342.8 million, or $1.19 a share, compared with net income of $79.1 million, or $0.30 a share, for the same period last year. If not for a one-time charge to account for employee stock options, the company's earnings per share would have been $1.29-$1.35, well above analyst estimates of $1.21, according to a survey by Thomson first Call. Revenue was $1.38 billion, up from $700.2 million. "Google had another solid performance," said Eric Schmidt, the company's CEO. Still, investors not satisfied with the results sent company shares down 8% in after-hours trading.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050721/215767.html
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o Hours After Release, Pirated "Harry Potter" Book Available Free Online

London -- Author J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was available for free on the Internet within hours of its official release, where it broke publishing records and sold nearly 7 million copies in its first 24 hours. Groups organized on Internet chat rooms to scan the book's 600-plus pages and post them on file-sharing networks such as BitTorrent, where an as-yet-unreleased official audiobook copy of the text could also be downloaded for free. Rowling has declined to release official e-book versions of her Harry Potter novels, and her publishers are working to cease the distribution of pirated copies. "We have sent takedown notices (against websites hosting the illicit copies) but we haven't filed any lawsuits," Neil Blair, a lawyer and partner at the Christopher Little Literary Agency, told Reuters. "My guess is that official e-books suffer piracy, too, so maybe just by offering an official product you won't completely remove the piracy," Blair told Wired News.
http://tinyurl.com/cwk3p
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,68269,00.html
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o Sony Acquires SN Systems, Signs PS3 Development Tool Providers

London -- Sony announced on Thursday that it has acquired U.K.-based SN Systems, a provider of video game software development tools, and announced new partnerships with Ageia Technologies, Havok and Epic Games to provide PlayStation 3 game development tools to game developers. Financial terms of the SN Systems acquisition were not disclosed. Sony said that middleware like Epic's Unreal Engine 3 and Ageia's PhysX engine. All four companies' technologies will ship with the official PlayStation 3 software development kit Sony provides to game developers. Separately, Sony said on Thursday it plans to release a software upgrade for its PSP handheld game next week that includes a Web browser for surfing the Internet.
http://tinyurl.com/d5a5r
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10277
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050721/sony_psp.html
http://ageia.vnewscenter.com/press.jsp?id=1120108406252v
http://www.snsys.com
http://www.ageia.com
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o Report: Digital Video Recorders to Reach Half of U.S. Homes by 2010

New York -- Digital video recorders will be in 47% of U.S. homes by 2010, growing their installed base from 7 million households at the end of 2004 to 55 million in five years, according to a report from New York-based JupiterResearch. "While TV networks and their advertisers may get increasingly anxious about DVRs, some constituencies have another perspective. Pay TV operators will see the DVR playing an increasingly strategic role over the next two to three years," said JupiterResearch analyst Todd Chanko. Jupiter also predicts that HDTV monitors will grow from an installed based of 13 million in 2004, to 74 million by 2010. While less than 4 million of current HDTV households were subscribed to an HDTV service at the end of 2004, that number is expected to grow to 69 million by 2010. "Television networks and pay-TV operators alike are unsure of consumer demand for HDTV," said Chanko. "Behind closed doors the executives are still measuring the real costs to produce and distribute HDTV against the benefits. That's why there are only 26 hours of HDTV programming a day across seven broadcast networks."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050721/215469.html
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o Interactive TV Emmy Award Finalists Announced

North Hollywood, Calif. -- The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on Thursday announced the list of finalists for its 2004-2005 Outstanding Achievement for Interactive Television Emmy Awards. Finalists in the category of Program Specific Enhanced or Interactive Television include Nickelodeon's 2005 TV Land Awards All Access; GSN's Celebrity Blackjack Interactive; The DirecTV Sports Mix; The WB's One Tree Hill; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The finalists in the category for Non-Program Specific Enhanced or Interactive Television include AOL Music On Demand; DirecTV; Cablevision's iO Interactive Optimum; Reuters Interactive TV; and Sesame Street Games. Winners will be chosen from the two groups of finalists by two jury panels and presented at the 2005 Primetime Creative Arts Awards on Sept. 11. The Academy's ITV Emmy Awards are distinct from those awarded by the New York-based National Television Academy, which announced its own nominees earlier this week.
http://www.emmys.org
http://www.emmyonline.org
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o VNU, Digital Media Wire to Host Digital Entertainment & Media Expo

Los Angeles -- VNU, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and Adweek Magazines, announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Digital Media Wire to produce a two-day digital media conference. The 2005 Digital Entertainment and Media Expo (DEMXPO) will be held on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Westin Century Plaza in Los Angeles. "With today's content evolving into next-generation digital entertainment, we are looking forward to continuing our thought leadership at DEMXPO as a leading provider of news and information about this growing market," said Hollywood Reporter editor-in-chief and publisher Bob Dowling. The DEMXPO conference will cover technological, strategic, legal and marketing issues of interest to the digital media industry, while the event will culminate with the DEMY Awards -- recognizing recent achievements in digital film, music, gaming, wireless and marketing. "Billboard and Digital Media Wire created a very successful event with last year's Digital Entertainment Conference and Awards," said Billboard president and publisher John Kilcullen. "We are excited to work with The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, and Nielsen Entertainment to evolve that conference into this powerhouse event that the market has been asking for."
http://www.demxpo.com

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> Featured Advertisement:

> PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2004-2008 is the leading global entertainment and media industry forecast, including in-depth global analyses and five-year growth projections for 14 industry segments covering every major global region. The complete 550-page book, is available in print or electronic format. The 50 page "Global Overview" (available in print or electronic format)or any of the 14 individual industry segment chapters (electronic format only) can be purchased separately for $95. For sample content and to order, click here.
 

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o Briefly Noted:

(San Francisco) HDNet and Broadcast.com founder and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has turned his IceRocket search engine into a search tool called BlogScour, which searches the blogosphere for recent additions containing specific search terms, CNET News.com reported. Cuban, who sold his Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion, said he conceived of the idea when he went looking for immediate feedback on his movie about Enron, but couldn't immediately find what he was looking for on the major search engines.
http://tinyurl.com/baem3
http://www.blogscour.com

(Atlanta) Cable TV provider Cox Communications said on Thursday that it has added free programming from a number of cable networks to its video-on-demand offering. The company's FreeZone video-on-demand section will now offer programs from A&E, Classic Kids, Discovery, DIY Network, E! On Demand, Food Network, HDTV, NFL On Demand and others. The service also offers free movie trailers, music videos and various product information.
http://www.cox.com

(Sioux Falls, S.D.) LodgeNet, a provider of in-room broadband and interactive TV services to hoteliers, announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, to equip 11,000 Ritz guest rooms with HDTV, video-on-demand and other services.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050721/cgth028.html
http://www.lodgenet.com
http://www.ritzcarlton.com 

(New York) Atari announced on Thursday that it has signed a number of celebrities to lend their voice talent for its "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Content Under Pressure" title. In addition to hip-hop artist Talib Kweli -- whose participation as the game's title character was announced earlier -- the game will feature the voices of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, George Hamilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam West, Andy Dick, Charlie Murphy, The RZA, and Michael "M.C. Serch" Berrin. Developed by Newport Beach, Calif.-based The Collective, the title is slated for release in the fall for PlayStation 2, Xbox, the PC and mobile phones.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050721/nyth013.html 
http://www.collectivestudios.com 

(Santa Monica, Calif.) KCRW, the Los Angeles-based NPR flagship radio station, announced on Thursday that it plans to begin offering podcasts of live in-studio performances from its "Morning Becomes Eclectic" daily syndicated program. The performances will come from unsigned and independent label artists, and each will be available for a two-week window. The first podcast will be of Goldspot's Thursday morning in-studio performance, which became available at 2:00 P.M. from KCRW.com and through Apple's iTunes Store. KCRW also offers podcasts of many of its syndicated NPR talk shows.
http://www.kcrw.com

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> Classifieds -- Advertise

> Marketing Manager - San Diego or Los Angeles

Nine Systems seeks Marketing Manager with minimum of 3 years of Internet infrastructure or Web-based marketing experience. Applicant will execute and manage lead generations campaigns and help create marketing materials. Applicant should be experienced with list management, lead capture, direct marketing, search keywords, online advertising, special customer events, customer co-marketing and other lead generation tactics. If interested, please submit resume to opportunities@ninesystems.com and include job title in the subject line or visit http://ninesystems.com/company/careers.html#job6.
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> Integrated Marketing Account Manager

Avenue A Razorfish has an immediate opening for an Integrated Marketing Analyst in our Atlanta or Fort Lauderdale office. Require: 4 plus years exp. working in the areas of marketing or analytics for a professional services company. At least 2 years exp. with online marketing analytics related to web site and media-based performance. Email marketing exp. a plus. Detail-oriented, with excellent writing and analysis skills. Familiarity with online analytics measures, terminology, benchmarks and tracking technology (Atlas desired), Proven skills with Access and Excel with strong presentation skills. Submit a resume, cover letter via email to: se.recruiting@avenuea-razorfish.com
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> Business Strategy Consultant - Telecom, Energy, Utilities

Fortune 1000 Firm/Qualified candidates must have experience and a prior background in Operations Strategy consulting to clients in the Energy or Utilities industry. Must have ability to work in a team environment. Salary 110,000 - 140,000 with Bonus Consulting experience to the Energy and Utilities industries (3-5 yrs for Consultant, 5-10 yrs for SR. Consultant) Tier 1 or top tier consulting firm experience highly preferred MBA. Send resumes to mark@allandavidrecruiters.com
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> eBay Marketing Executive

Entry level position in a growing e-commerce company. We are seeking a dynamic individual who can manage over 500 auctions per day on eBay. You will be provided with our customized software to manage the auctions. The software empowers you to run reports and analyze auction success. You will be trained well and work closely with our Marketing Manager for a month before you take complete responsibility on the project. Require good problem-solving skills, communications skills. Excellent time-management skills. Great team worker. Successful experience selling on eBay is a plus. Send resumes to jobscss@comcast.net
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> Advertising And Marketing Position

Morristown Agency Seeking Part-time/Full-time Employees in Advertising/Marketing Industry, Web Developer and Client Services Position with 1 to 2 years experience. Contact 201-486-7167 or send resumes to michelle.nelson@iideagroup.com
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> Marketing Communications Manager

Network World has a great opportunity for a creative project manager with a marketing background (including online marketing) to lead the Marketing Communications department producing innovative and effective ways to further promote the Network World brand. Great people and project management skills; effectively lead a quality team juggling many priorities in a fast paced, dynamic environment. Excellent communication (oral and written), copywriting, proofing and editing skills; a solid understanding of design processes and software applications. Must be competent with financial administration to manage a budget. Send resumes to hotjobs@nww.com
 _________________

> Director of Marketing Analytics

In this position, the Director will support the Marketing department by providing analytical reports, interpretations, and recommendations. The ideal candidate should have a fluent knowledge of SAS foundation products and some experience in Hyperion, ESRI or VB.NET. A min. of 10 yrs exp. in an analytics role with a background in direct marketing. Degree in Statistics or Mathematics, Base SAS, ODS, SAS/STAT, SAS/Graph, SAS/Access to ODBC, Basic knowledge of marketing terminology and concepts. Exp. in marketing analytics: ROI, LTV, Segmentation, etc. Send resumes to: bvklbell@comcast.net. Visit http://www.investools.com
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> Project Manager

Cauldron Solutions, a leading provider of technology solutions that manage the production, distribution and transaction exchange of on-demand content, is seeking an experienced Project Manager. The right candidate will possess a strong track record of delivering large-scale media or technology projects on time and on budget. Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, PLC discipline, and strong client-relationship management skills are essential. Visit www.cauldronsolutions.com and send resumes to jobs@cauldronsolutions.com.
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> Database Warehouse Architect

This individual will lead in the design, modification, development and implementation of the company's database warehouse products and associated embedded and third party reports. He/she will lead in the testing process through test review and analysis, test witnessing and certification of software, research & employ commonly used concepts, procedures and best practices software development. Four plus years of overall software development experience is required as well as one plus years in Java. If interested, please submit your resume to vbhatia@hirestrategy.com, or visit, http://www.hirestrategy.com/quicklinks/hire275.asp
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> Senior SAP Application Architect

2-3 Years SAP BW Implementation and Development Exp. 5 Years of total exp in full life cycle SAP Implementations, with focus on Basis installation and configuration. 3-4 Years exp with a 3rd Party BI tool such as Business Objects, Cognos focusing on Architecture, Implementation and Configuration. Ability to work with minimal direction yet keep all parties well informed Communication and writing skills. Send resumes to kathe.yamagata@claraview.com
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> Online Advertising Manager

Proffiliates, Inc is seeking a highly motivated individual to help grow a successful and profitable email marketing company. Reporting to the co- founders of the company, the Online Advertising Manager will assist in all day to day operations of the business. This is a tele-commuting position. Proficient with Excel and other Office applications, Working knowledge of HTML 2.0, Past experience in the email advertising and/or direct marketing space, Good overall business experience, Strong problem solving, organizational, interpersonal and motivational skills. Deadline oriented. Send resumes to general@proffiliates.com
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> Director of Marketing

Hartley Hickey Executive Search works with small to mid-sized companies to help find talented marketing executives. Our client, a software provider of healthcare billing services, is looking for a seasoned direct marketer. Define marketing strategy for the customer experience. Define and manage marketing budget and oversee implementation of marketing components. Coordinate with product development and operations to ensure the success of the product. Send resumes to chris@hartleyhickey.com
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> Senior Software Engineer - ASP.Net, VB.Net, Web Services

Build Web Services for commercial CRM. Must have experience building Web Services and related technologies in a .NET environment: XML, XSL, SOAP, UDDI, WSDL ,WSE (.NET), security methods and standards, JavaScript, CSS, DHTML, ASP .NET, ADO.NET, MS SQL Server, T-SQL, stored procedures, triggers and data access optimization techniques. SharePoint 2003 Web Part Development, SharePoint Portal Server 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services configuration. Send resumes to recruiter@tmaresources.com
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> Media Supervisor - Manhattan, NY

In this management position, the Supervisor oversees all aspects of online media campaigns, including planning, implementing and tracking for one of the top 10 advertisers in the country. Require: Five to seven years of exp. in media, marketing or strategic planning, Exp. in online marketing and current knowledge of trends and innovations in interactive media, Proven leadership skills and mgmt exp., Excellent written and verbal communications skills, Detail-oriented approach. Please email cover letter and resume to Arela Simerson arela@cm-recruiting.com
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> Strategic Communications Group Offers Blog Relations Counsel

Enter the Blogosphere prepared - Enhance your sales and marketing programs. Take advantage of blog relations and blog technology at its forefront. As blogging matures and becomes a prevailing force in communications, allow Strategic Communications Group to assist you in meeting your sales, profitability and corporate valuation goals. Contact us for a free white paper. Send inquiries to info@gotostrategic.com or call 301.408.4500. Visit http://www.gotostrategic.com/blogptw.html  for more info.

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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.

Digital Media Wire, Inc. 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, Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 70,000 individuals from over 70 countries each business day.

More information:
www.digitalmediawire.com, www.potomactechwire.com, www.newenglandtechwire.com, www.bayareatechwire.com, www.tristatetechwire.com, www.southeasttechwire.com, www.thamestechwire.com, www.europeantechwire.com


Executive & Editorial Team
CEO & Publisher: Ned Sherman
Co-Founder & Executive Editor: Paul Sherman
VP, Marketing & Events: Tinzar Than Sherman
Marketing & Events Coordinator: Heather Nicolaides

Editor: Mark Hefflinger


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