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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- September 25, 2002
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To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com
o Vivendi to Sell Off Internet Assets As Part of Debt Reduction Plan
o Thomson Buys Vivendi's Canal Plus Technologies iTV Unit for $186 Million
o Greek Govt. Lifts Ban on Electronic Games With "No Financial Benefit"
o Unreleased Nirvana Song "Leaked" to Radio Via File-Sharing Services
o Media Scholars Argue Against St. Louis Law Linking Video Games, Violence
o Microsoft Launching "Xbox Live" Europe In November
o MusicMatch to Distribute Subscription Service Through Bell Canada ISP
> Digital Media Wire Event: "Interactive Marketing" | NYC | Oct. 15
> Digital Media Wire Event: "iTV Visions" | NYC | Nov. 14
> Featured Section: Streaming Media East, Online Grad. Cerfiticate
o Briefly Noted: IFPI - Tiscali - Kazaa, House P2P piracy hearing - live
webcast, Postseason baseball - overseas live webcasts, ESPN HD, "Monsters,
Inc." - DVD sales record, Nintendo - "Outlaw Golf," ICopyright - Reuters,
Liberate Technologies - Shaw Cable, Liquid Audio, Legitimate digital music
services
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> Jobs: VP Product Mgmt., Senior Contract Mgr., VP of Media
> Events
> Marketplace
Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.
To post a Classified Ad:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/mainpostingpage.html
or contact David Peebler at david@digitalmediawire.com
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o Vivendi to Sell Off Internet Assets As Part of Debt Reduction Plan
Paris -- French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal announced on
Wednesday plans to help cut its massive debt load by selling off $11.7
billion in assets, including many of its Internet ventures. Among those on
the block are Vivendi Universal Publishing, which includes the company's
video game unit, Vivendi Universal Games. Company CEO Jean-Rene Fourtou
said Vivendi "plans to retain majority control of its Vivendi Universal
Games business in the U.S., but suggested there probably will be a partial
flotation of the unit," Dow Jones Business News reported. Other Internet
assets already being shut down include business search engine Scoot,
online concert and arts event ticketseller Divento and wireless portal
Vizzavi, which Vivendi has sold its stake in to Vodafone. The company's
plan did not specifically mention Vivendi Universal Net USA, which
includes online assets like MP3.com, EMusic, RollingStone.com and others.
Vivendi did announce that it has sold its stake in interactive TV software
firm Canal Plus Technologies to rival Thomson.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020925/252252_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/020925/1303000692_1.html
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o Thomson Buys Vivendi's Canal Plus Technologies iTV Unit for $186 Million
Paris -- Canal Plus Group, a division of debt-ridden Vivendi Universal,
announced on Wednesday that it has sold its 89 percent stake in Canal Plus
Technologies, a provider of interactive TV software and services, to rival
Thomson multimedia for $186 million in cash. The sale is part of a
strategy announced by Vivendi to sell off assets to alleviate debt.
Thomson was already a shareholder in the company, along with Sun
Microsystems, Sony and Spanish cable TV firm Sogecable. The Canal Plus
Technologies operating units will be managed within Thomson's New Media
Services division, and will continue to provide technology to Canal Plus'
array of digital TV networks.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020925/252105_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020925/252425_1.html
http://www.thomson-multimedia.com
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o Greek Govt. Lifts Ban on Electronic Games With "No Financial Benefit"
Athens -- Following raids on Internet cafes by police attempting to
enforce a broadly-written law banning all electronic games, the Greek
government has moved to clarify the law to exclude games where "no
financial benefit" is involved, Reuters reported on Wednesday. "The
installation and use of games in homes and residential areas is allowed if
there is no financial benefit involved," said the Greek Finance Ministry.
"The same applies to public and private areas...if again there is no
financial gain for the player or any third party." The Greek law
originally intended to prohibit online gambling but was written so broadly
that it in effect banned all electronic games, including relatively
innocuous games like online chess and battery-operated Nintendo Game Boy
handhelds. "There is no problem for any individual or tourist visiting
Greece who plays electronic games such as PlayStation, Gameboy, X-Box
etc," the Ministry added.
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=technologynews&StoryID=1494270
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o Unreleased Nirvana Song "Leaked" to Radio Via File-Sharing Services
Los Angeles -- Radio industry trade publication Radio and Records reported
on Wednesday that an unreleased song from rock band Nirvana showed up on
file-sharing services Sunday and was given a world radio premiere on
Monday morning. The song -- "You Know You're Right" -- was also a key part
of a dispute between former Nirvana band members and lead singer Kurt
Cobain's widow Courtney Love over Nirvana's legacy. The first station in
the country to play the song was Radio One's WPLY in Philadelphia, which
has since received cease and desist letters from Interscope Records, which
controls Geffen Records, Nirvana's last record label. "I respect the cease
and desist order," WPLY program director Jim McGuinn told Radio and
Records. "But when a song is floating around the Internet as widely as
this one actually is, I don't know if my three spins are a big part of the
problem. As the Internet is usurping radio's ability to spread exciting
new music, we don't have a choice. We look kind of lame when kids tell us
they have a record that we don't."
http://www.radioandrecords.com/Subscribers/TodaysNews/homepage.htm
http://www.rollingstone.com/features/featuregen.asp?pid=726&cf=76
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o Media Scholars Argue Against St. Louis Law Linking Video Games, Violence
Washington -- More than thirty media scholars filed a legal brief on
Wednesday in a video game-related lawsuit (Interactive Digital Software
Association v. St. Louis County) that aims to argue against scientific
evidence suggesting that "media violence" causes aggressive behavior. St.
Louis County recently enacted an ordinance barring minors from video games
containing "graphic violence," based partly on some researchers' claims
that exposure to violent video games has had adverse effects. The brief,
filed by media scholars from MIT, UCLA and other institutions, say that
such research is "misguided because they attempt to reduce complex aspects
of behavior to simplistic numerical formulas, and fail to take account of
the social context in which popular culture is consumed." The scholars say
that these researchers who came up with figures pointing to an aggression
correlation "often manipulated the numbers, ignored negative findings, and
used measures of 'aggression' that are highly artificial and indeed, often
ridiculous."
http://www.fepproject.org/courtbriefs/stlouis.html
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=technologynews&StoryID=1492231
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o Microsoft Launching "Xbox Live" Europe In November
Seville, Spain -- Software giant Microsoft said its online gaming platform
-- Xbox Live -- will begin its pilot in the U.K., France and Germany in
November with a commercial launch in March. Online gaming, one of the few
technology sectors experiencing rapid growth, is a major part of
Microsoft's strategy of extending its dominance of operating systems
beyond desktop computers. Microsoft plans to roll out Xbox Live in eight
European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, by the
end of 2003. Microsoft recently purchased British games developer Rare Ltd
for $375 million.
http://microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/Sep02/09-24ProjectRPR.asp
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o MusicMatch to Distribute Subscription Service Through Bell Canada ISP
San Diego -- MusicMatch, a provider of music player software and digital
music subscription services, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered
with Canadian ISP Bell Canada as the company's exclusive digital music
provider. San Diego-based MusicMatch's Radio MX on-demand streaming music
service will be jointly marketed by Bell Canada and MusicMatch, including
a national TV and online marketing campaign. Additionally, RadioMX
subscription fees will be integrated with subscribers' ISP accounts.
MusicMatch obtained additional licensing agreements with record labels for
distribution in Canada, adding additional music from Canadian artists.
Bell Canada is the world's fifth-largest broadband ISP, in a country where
broadband penetration is twice that of the U.S.
http://www.musicmatch.com/info/company/press/releases/?year=2002&release=11
http://www.musicmatch.ca
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EVENT -- DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE Presents...
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Interactive Marketing: Where Success Lies Now and in the Future
New York City | Tues. October 15 | 6:00-9:00 PM
Produced with the New York New Media Association, in association with the
Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Sponsors: KMZ Rosenman | NYNMA | IAB
This executive forum brings together leaders from companies such as MSN,
Google, About.com, GoldPocket Interactive and others that are succeeding
in online media. Hear firsthand the strategies, tactics and technologies
that are working today and get a glimpse what is in store for the future.
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/imarketing_101502.htm
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iTV Visions: Technology Transforming Entertainment
New York City | Thurs. November 14 | 1:30-7:30 PM
In association with the Interactive Television Alliance
Sponsors: Etronica | ITA | Filter Media | AIM
This half-day executive forum will present views on the future of
entertainment based on next generation interactive television technologies
emerging today. Thought leaders from leading edge companies that are
driving these technologies into the marketplace will gather to show how
entertainment is on the verge of yet another radical transformation.
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/itv_visions_111902.htm
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==================
FEATURED SECTION
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Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
STREAMING MEDIA EAST 2002: Javits Convention Center, NY
Conference: September 30 - October 3
Exhibition: October 1 - 3
***CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION OPEN NEXT WEEK***
FREE Exhibition Registration at:
http://www.streamingmedia.com/east/registration.asp
Exhibition attendees have full access to both the Streaming Media and
Internet World Exhibition floors and Keynotes. Visit
http://www.streamingmedia.com/east for full information.
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Univ. of Bridgeport Creates Online Training for E-Commerce Managers
"Managing the Digital Enterprise" is a new online graduate certificate
program offered by the U. of Bridgeport (CT). Specifically for working
adults, the 4 courses required for the Certificate are offered online,
available 24/7, and can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. The courses
for this program lead to an understanding of the business, management, &
technical issues that drive e-commerce and the digital economy as a whole.
More info: ubonline@bridgeport.edu or call 800-470-7307.
http://www.bridgeport.edu/scps/managdigital.htm
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Briefly Noted:
(London) The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI),
an international record label trade group, has denounced a recently
announced partnership between European ISP Tiscali and Sharman Networks'
Kazaa file-sharing service. The deal purportedly offers Kazaa a "bounty"
on all Tiscali subscribers who sign up through Kazaa. "I am shocked that
Tiscali, a company already hosting a legal service, believes that by
entering into an agreement with an unauthorized service it will promote
the development of legitimate online musical offerings," said IFPI
chairman and CEO Jay Berman. "The 'bounty' that Tiscali is willing to pay
to encourage consumers to adopt its broadband services will be paid at the
expense of everyone in the musical chain and without their consent." Kazaa
is currently being sued for copyright infringement by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA).
http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/press/20020924.html
http://www.kazaa.com/us/services/tiscali.htm
(Washington) The U.S. House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts,
the Internet, and Intellectual Property, will hold a hearing on Thursday
entitled "Piracy Of Intellectual Property On Peer-to-Peer Networks." A
live audio feed of the hearing, scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM Eastern
time, will be available from a link below.
http://www.house.gov/judiciary/schedule.htm
http://judaudio5.house.gov/2141b
(New York) Major League Baseball Advanced Media said on Wednesday that,
for the first time, those outside the U.S. and Japan will be able to watch
postseason games in live online webcasts. To protect MLB broadcast
partners, the webcasts won't be available to those attempting to access
them from the U.S., Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Japan. The cost of
the entire postseason webcast package -- a minimum of 24 games -- is $19.95 on MLB.com.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/video/mlb_worldwidewebcasts.jsp
(Bristol, Conn.) Cable TV sports network ESPN announced on Wednesday that
it will launch a high-definition (HDTV) simulcast version of its signal in
April 2003. In its first year, "ESPN HD" will offer 100 live telecasts of
Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association (NBA), National
Football League (NFL), and National Hockey League (NHL) games. Studio
shows such as "SportsCenter" will be added to the high-definition lineup
in 2004.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/222682328&ticker=
http://www.espn.com
(Burbank, Calif.) Buena Vista Home Entertainment announced on Wednesday
that Disney/Pixar's digitally animated film "Monsters, Inc." broke the
one-week record for DVD sales with over 7 million units sold. The movie
also broke the one-day DVD sales record of 4.5 million units by selling
over 5 million on its first day of release.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020918/180383_1.html
(New York) Nintendo of America on Wednesday announced "Outlaw Golf" for
its GameCube video game console, a game featuring "strippers, biker chicks
and other socially redeeming characters" that Nintendo hopes will appeal
to a more mature audience than its stable of Mario, Zelda and Pokemon
games and compete with graphic top sellers like "Grand Theft Auto 3."
Developed by New Jersey-based studio Hypnotix, the game was given a "T"
rating -- meaning "Teen" or not recommended for those under the age of 13
-- by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for its "mature sexual
themes, mild violence and strong language." "Outlaw Golf" will be shipped
to retailers in late October.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/222682253&ticker=via|viab
http://www.hypnotix.com/code/Games_OLG.htm
(Seattle, Wash.) ICopyright, a provider of digital rights management and
online content licensing services, announced that news organization
Reuters will offer its online services for those wishing to purchase
Reuters stories as reprints or for other uses. The service at Reuters.com
will feature an ICopyright icon, which users can click through to license
and purchase stories instantly.
http://www.icopyright.com/news/pr20020924.html
http://www.reuters.com
(San Carlos, Calif.) Liberate Technologies, a provider of interactive TV
software and services, announced on Wednesday that Canadian cable TV
operator Shaw Cable has deployed its software for delivering
video-on-demand services to its subscribers in Calgary. Shaw serves a
total of 2.1 million cable TV subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020925/sfw033_1.html
http://www.liberate.com
http://www.shaw.ca
(San Francisco) CNET News.com on Wednesday provided coverage of the fate
of online music company Liquid Audio, which launched in 1996 and is now
embroiled in arguments with several groups of its shareholders regarding
the fate of the company -- a proposed merger with CD and DVD distributor
Alliance Entertainment.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-959323.html
http://www.liquidaudio.com
(New York) The New York Times on Wednesday reported on how some digital
music enthusiasts who once decried legitimate online music services as
lacking the depth of content and ease of use of unauthorized file-sharing
services like Napster and Kazaa, are now paying subscribers to services
like Listen.com's Rhapsody or Vivendi Universal's EMusic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/25/arts/music/25DOWN.html
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CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
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To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm
VP Product Management - Key Management Team Member Needed
Seeking a VP of Product Management for new healthcare ASP venture. This
position will serve as the company's domain application expert and product
visionary. Extensive healthcare and claims adjudication knowledge is
required. Verbal, written, and presentation skills are key. The VP will
serve as the company's product champion, guiding all product enhancements
and new features based on market need and legislative requirements such as
HIPAA. VA based, equity opportunity. Send resumes and inquiries to
itoff@erols.com
_____________________________________________
Senior Contract Manager - Google - Mountain View, CA
Google is seeking an experienced contract negotiator. Responsibilities
include daily review of standard contracts, limited authority to draft
contractual terms and conditions for licenses and advertising services
agreements, intensive in-house client interaction. Communicate company
policies and approval processes for contract changes to sales
professionals. 3-5 years of contract negotiation. Resume to
jobs@google.com or fax (650) 618-1796. Please include position.
_____________________________________________
VP Media - Mosaic - Marina Del Rey, CA
Mosaic Data Solutions is a Canadian Based Fortune 500 Marketing Firm and
the World's leading Email Marketing Firm and provider of consumer data
products. We seek a VP of Media who will be responsible for selling Mosaic
Data Solutions (CustomOffers) own proprietary products to consumers via
Banners, Pops and Keyword purchases strategically placed around the
Internet. For immediate consideration, contact Thomas Geraci at:
tgeraci@mosaicdatasolutions.com
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====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm
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CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
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Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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