archives

o Video Game Industry Responds to Study Alleging Games Damage Kids' Brains
o Microsoft Delays Launch of Xbox in Japan
o Labels, Publishers Battling Over Terms for Subscription Services
o Digital Satellite TV Provider DirecTV Plans Layoffs
o File-Sharing Firm CenterSpan Acquires Assets of Supertracks for $750,000
o Game Publisher TDK Mediactive Secures Additional $12 Million
> DMW Panel Discussion: Microsoft vs. AOL | August 30 | Virginia
> DMW Panel Discussion: iTV | Sept. 5 | New York
o Briefly Noted: Philips DVD Recorder, Sirius Satellite Radio - BMW, U.S.
3G networks, "Max Payne"
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> Job Postings: Producer/Consultant, Sr. Business Strategist,
Website Design/Marketing, Director of Strategic Sales

> Events/Services: "SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival: SOUTHEAST Tour,
August 24- Sept. 22," "Digital Rights Management"

Full Job/Event/Services 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/Service: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
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o Video Game Industry Responds to Study Alleging Games Damage Kids' Brains

London -- The video game industry has responded to a recent study
published by Japan's Tohoku University that claims children who spend
excessive amounts of time playing video games end up with less developed
frontal lobes, and therefore have less ability to control their behavior,
ZDNet reported. The European Leisure Software Publishers Association
argues that the study -- which looked at the brain activity of children
who played games vs. those who did tasks like perform arithmetic -- was
"of a very limited focus," and its results can be viewed differently. "The
result of this study is actually not that computer games damage the brain,
but that half an hour of playing this one particular title was less
effective at developing the brain than doing half an hour of repetitive
arithmetic," the group said.
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2806665,00.html
http://www.elspa.com/
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o Microsoft Delays Launch of Xbox in Japan

Los Angeles -- Microsoft will delay the launch of its Xbox video game
console in Japan until early 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported on
Friday. The company had planned to launch the Xbox simultaneously in North
America and Japan on Nov. 8, and in Europe later next year. The news
follows Nintendo's announcement yesterday that it will postpone the launch
of its GameCube in North America -- originally scheduled for Nov. 8 along
with the Xbox -- until Nov. 18.
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la000068596aug24.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dtechnology
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o Labels, Publishers Battling Over Terms for Subscription Services

San Jose, Calif. -- Record labels planning to launch MusicNet and
Pressplay, two digital music subscription services, have yet to reach
licensing deals with music publishers that would pay songwriters royalties
on the services, the San Jose Mercury News reported on Friday. Both
services are scheduled to launch before the end of the year, yet neither
have reached an agreement with either the Harry Fox Agency -- which
controls rights to a large amount of major label music -- or other major
music publishers, who are arguing for higher fees for artists. "Frankly,
I've been in some of these negotiations," said Nicholas Firth, president
of BMG Music Publishing Worldwide. "It's difficult to understand what
their business model is." The labels risk being sued if they decide to
launch their services without the approval of music publishers. "If we
don't get this resolved, MusicNet and Pressplay are going to have to
decide whether to launch anyway and risk being sued by the publishers --
or whether they're going to hold up the launch because they haven't been
given a license,'' said Cary Sherman, general counsel for the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA). "I don't think anybody wants these
services to be held up."
http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/svtop/music082401.htm
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o Digital Satellite TV Provider DirecTV Plans Layoffs

El Segundo, Calif. -- DirecTV, a provider of satellite-delivered digital
TV services, said it will lay off an unspecified number of employees
between now and the end of the year, Reuters reported. The company cited
the "overall slowing economy" as reasoning for the layoffs, which "will be
coming on the corporate side and not on the customer service side," a
DirecTV spokesperson said.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-6955637.html?tag=cdshrt
http://www.directv.com
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o File-Sharing Firm CenterSpan Acquires Assets of Supertracks for $750,000

Hillsboro, Ore. -- CenterSpan Communications, a company launching a secure
peer-to-peer file-sharing service based on technology it acquired from
Scour, announced on Friday that it has acquired technology assets from
Supertracks, a provider of digital music distribution technology, in an
all-stock transaction valued at $750,000. The assets include Supertracks'
streaming audio technology known as BridgePort, as well as other digital
music distribution technology and several patents in process. Oregon-based
CenterSpan said it will integrate the technologies into its own C-star
peer-to-peer content distribution platform. The company plans to re-launch
a secure version of the Scour Exchange file-sharing service yet this year.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010824/240035.html
http://www.centerspan.com
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o Game Publisher TDK Mediactive Secures Additional $12 Million

Calabasas, Calif. -- TDK Mediactive, a publisher of video games for
next-generation consoles developed by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft,
announced on Friday that parent company TDK USA has increased the
company's borrowing capacity to $20 million, providing the company with an
additional $12 million in working capital. Calabasas-based TDK Mediactive
publishes games based on movies and other entertainment properties to
which it acquires the rights. The company said the additional funds will
allow it to expand in order to complete titles currently in development
for this year's and next year's holiday shopping seasons.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010824/240002.html
http://www.tdk-mediactive.com
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> Digital Media Wire Presents a Panel Discussion:
"Microsoft vs. AOL: The Battle of the Internet Titans"

McLean, VA | Thursday, August 30th at The Ritz-Carlton, Tyson's Corner

This panel of journalists, policymakers and others will discuss the
increasing rivalry between these two monolithic companies -- and how their
competition will affect the development of the Internet for years to come.
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/DCbattle.html

MODERATOR:
Paul Sherman - Editor | Potomac Tech Wire

SPEAKERS:
Declan McCullagh - Washington Bureau Chief | Wired News
Edmund Sanders - Staff Writer | Los Angeles Times
Bill Wyman - President | Precursor Group
***Additional Panelists TBA***

MEDIA SPONSOR: Potomac Tech Wire

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/DCbattle.html
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> Digital Media Wire & iLounge Present a Panel Discussion:
"iTV: Defining the New Face of Television"

NYC | Wednesday, September 5th at the Verizon Headquarters

This panel of players ranging from content providers to middleware
developers will discuss the new face of television, which will include an
amalgam of services like email, IPGs (interactive program guides), PVRs
(personal video recorders), enhanced TV, etc., and what it means for
Hollywood, the tech industry and most importantly, the consumer.
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/NYCitv.html

MODERATOR:
Lydia Loizides - Senior Analyst | Jupiter Media Metrix

SPEAKERS:
Sean Bratches - EVP, Affiliate Sales & Marketing | ESPN
Tim Larcombe - Regional President iTV, North America | AGENCY.com
David Nathanson - VP, Broadband Strategy & Channel Development | FOX
***Additional Panelists TBA***

SPONSOR: Verizon

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/NYCitv.html
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o Briefly Noted:

(Berlin, Germany) Royal Philips Electronics announced on Friday the launch
of its DVD recorder -- the first such product to be available in Europe.
The $1,800 device -- based on the DVD+RW standard also endorsed by
Hewlett-Packard -- is a standalone device that allows viewers to record TV
shows and home movies onto DVDs. It will be available in the U.S. on Oct.
1.
http://www.news.philips.com/200108240.html
http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB99859871569011790.html
http://www.philips.com/dvdrw/

(New York) Satellite-delivered digital radio provider Sirius Satellite
Radio said that auto manufacturer BMW will offer the option of adding a
Sirius receiver to new car buyers beginning in the second quarter of 2002.
New York-based Sirius quoted a recent JD Power study that said BMW owners
expressed the strongest desire, among different car owners surveyed, to
add satellite radio to their next new car.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010823/nyth084.html
http://www.siriusradio.com

(Cambridge, Mass.) According to recent report published by analyst firm
Webnoize, 3G wireless networks set to launch later this year in the U.S.
will provide impetus for the launch of multimedia delivery to wireless
devices. AT&T, Verizon and Cingular all plan to launch the faster 3G
networks before the end of the year, while Sprint PCS plans its launch in
early 2002. However, the cost of some wireless media services already
available in Japan are somewhat cost-prohibitive. "The cost [to download a
song from one such Japanese service] can be up to $79 for a single MP3
file," Webnoize analyst Matt Bailey told Newsbytes. That price includes
the airtime cost of transmitting data over the slower network. However, 3G
speeds of up to 2 MB per second are eventually expected to reduce that
cost to just $0.27.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/169362.html
http://www.webnoize.com

(San Francisco) CNET featured an article on Friday that explores the
nascent market for home networking technologies, which connect
entertainment devices in the home to one another and to the Internet,
integrating Web browsing and email. Companies mentioned in the article
include start-ups such as Massachusetts-based Ucentric, San
Francisco-based Mediabolic and Palo Alto-based Rearden Steel -- which in
April closed a $67 million first round of funding led by AOL Time Warner.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6954523.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.ucentric.com
http://www.mediabolic.com
http://www.rearden.com/technologies/about/about.html

(San Francisco) Salon.com on Friday featured an article on "Max Payne," a
third-person shooter game recently released by publisher GodGames. The
game has been hailed by game critics for its substance beyond the high
body counts that are typical of such titles -- namely the writing that
accompanies full-motion video and other sequences in the game designed to
fill out its plot. "Max Payne" is also noted for its use of slow-motion
sequencing that pays homage to acclaimed action movie director John Woo.
http://www.salon.com/tech/review/2001/08/24/max_payne/print.html
http://maxpayne.godgames.com

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

> Strategux, Producer/Consultant - Washington, DC

Strategux is seeking to add a producer to our growing team of experienced
architects. Versatile, multi-talented consultants with 3-5 years agency
experience in project leadership of large-scale web, brand, marketing &
design engagements, with emphasis on client services and consulting. Great
benefits, fun atmosphere. Send resumes to: cooljobs@strategux.com
http://www.strategux.com
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> DF Consulting, Inc., Sr. Business Strategist - New York City

Contract Consultant needed with at least 4-5 years of business strategy
and planning or bizdev exp. working with either a cell phone manufacturer
or wireless telecommunications carrier. Applicants must be able to produce
case studies and references. A wide variety of bizdev/ business strategy
and planning disciplines related to wireless telecommunications is a plus.
Send resumes to: seisenberg@dfconsulting.com
http://www.dfconsulting.com
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> InternetFuel.com, Website Design/Marketing - Los Angeles

We are a marketing firm looking for an experienced and motivated Webmaster
with a background in web and print design. You must have an excellent
working knowledge of Photoshop, HTML and JavaScript on a PC platform (Mac
available). Duties include: Webpage design & maintenance, online/print
advertising and creative marketing.
Send resumes to: jobs@internetfuel.com
http://www.internetfuel.com
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> National Hockey League, Director of Strategic Sales - New York City

Generate revenue via the sale of online advertising and sponsorships to
league sponsors and non-league prospects. The director will be required to
identify and create sales opportunities, follow up on targeted contacts
and close deals. Must have strong understanding of the Internet and
successful sales strategies, experience in sports and/or entertainment,
and demonstrated advertising sales and marketing accomplishments.
Send resumes to: knova@nhl.com
http://www.nhl.com

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

> SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, SOUTHEAST Tour, Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

SHORT MOVIES! Dreamspan presents the 9TH Annual Short Attention Span Film & Video Festival. Shortspan is a non-stop two hour program of ALL NEW
two-minute-or-shorter films, including ultra-short documentaries like
"Peekaboo Sunday," a story about raising miniature horses or "Exotic
World," an inside look at the lives of some of America's first burlesque
performers-- and 57 more shorts! The tour will travel to 30 North American
cities. Southeastern tour dates include:

ATLANTA, GA: The Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center - August 24th - 8PM
ATHENS, GA: The Georgia Museum of Art - September 5 th - 7:30PM
ATLANTA, GA: Cinefest Theatre- September 14th and 15th - 9PM/12PM
ATHENS, GA: The Georgia Theater - September 18th - 10PM
SAVANNAH, GA: Trustee's Theater - September 20 th - 9PM
GAINSVILLE, FL: The University of Florida - September 22nd

More info: http://www.dreamspan.com/shortspan
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> Digital Rights Management, September 20-21 - New York City

DRM for Sports, Media & Entertainment -- Learn How To Monetize & Protect
Content, Digital Assets & Intellectual Property. Featuring Forecasts, Case
Studies & Strategies from: AOL Time Warner, Sony Music, NY Times, National
Hockey League, A&E Networks, Microsoft Corporation, BET, Artisan,
Reciprocal, IBM, NASCAR Digital Entertainment and many more!
Contact dmitry@worldrg.com -- mention this ad for a special discount!
http://www.DRMconference.com
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Copyright 2001 Digital Media Wire