archives

o Napster Pushes Re-Launch Date to 2002
o Survey: 93% of U.S. Home PCs Connected to Internet
o European File-Sharing Down 50%
o Sony Unit Finalizes Investment in Entertainment Network EUniverse
o Briefly Noted: Sonera zed - ASCAP, Yahoo - Carsey-Werner Distribution,
AOL Music - BeatGreets, ABC Internet Group - PointMedia, Canal Plus -
NCube - WinFirst, Video Pipeline - Best Buy, Wink Communications -
Lifetime Television, U.S. Army - USC - video games
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> Job Postings: Web Research Assistant, Web Designer,
Vice President of Sales

> Events/Services: "FREE Digital Asset Management Seminar," "CTAM
Broadband Opportunity Conference," "Office Space - L.A.,"
"Digital Media Revolution in the Americas"

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
_____________________________________________

o Napster Pushes Re-Launch Date to 2002

Los Angeles -- Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers said on Monday that the launch
of the company's forthcoming membership-based online music service will be
pushed back until the first quarter of next year. The service was
originally slated to launch over the summer, and was then promised by the
end of the year. Hilbers said that difficulty in obtaining licenses from
major record labels would affect the price of the service in addition to
its launch date.
http://www.napster.com
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o Survey: 93% of U.S. Home PCs Connected to Internet

Boston -- According to a recent survey conducted by Boston-based analyst
firm Yankee Group, 93 percent of all U.S. homes that own a computer are
also connected to the Internet. The survey found that the top three uses
for home PCs were online services (76 percent), games/entertainment (58
percent) and personal/household finances (30 percent). A majority (83
percent) of those polled reported that they have been online for over a
year. "As online consumers become more experienced, the opportunity for
service providers to develop value-added services, content and
applications to address consumer's needs will continue to expand," said
Yankee Group analyst Lisa Melsted. "It is important for companies to track
online consumer usage patterns and trends to determine which new services
will successfully meet the needs of these online consumers."
http://www.yankeegroup.com/webfolder/yg21a.nsf/press/6ABA4CE8B17F3D2C85256AF00069A28A?OpenDocument
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o European File-Sharing Down 50%

New York -- The number of European users accessing file-sharing sites has
fallen off 50 percent since February, according to statistics released
Monday by Internet analyst and measurement firm Jupiter Media Metrix. In
August, 4.6 million European users downloaded files from a mixture of 19
different programs; that number is down from a total of 8.1 million users
accessing 12 sites in February. The number of Napster alternatives has
increased since February, and Napster's file-sharing function has been
offline since July. Other services such as BearShare, FastTrack and
AudioGalaxy have experienced spikes in traffic.
http://www.jmm.com
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7698631.html?tag=mn_hd
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o Sony Unit Finalizes Investment in Entertainment Network EUniverse

Los Angeles -- EUniverse, a network of entertainment-related websites and
email newsletters, announced on Monday that Sony Broadband Entertainment
subsidiary 550 Digital Media Ventures has completed its financing of the
company, giving 550 DMV a $17 million equity stake in EUniverse. The deal
includes a $5 million equity investment in Los Angeles-based EUniverse,
the sale of 550 DMV's email service InfoBeat to EUniverse for $9.94
million in equity, and the option to convert a $2.1 million note to
equity. EUniverse said it has already integrated InfoBeat's 8 million
email subscribers into its own database. "The cash investment has
facilitated our aggressive growth strategy and we anticipate the
announcement of many new offerings in the next few months that will have
an accretive impact on the company's bottom line," said EUniverse CEO Brad
Greenspan.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011029/nym035_1.html
http://www.enuniverse.com
http://www.550dmv.com
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o Briefly Noted:

(New York) Finnish telco Sonera announced on Monday that it has reached an
agreement with performing rights organization ASCAP to offer wireless
musical ringtones through its Sonera zed U.S. unit. The deal gives Sonera
access to any of the seven million compositions registered through ASCAP,
and will compensate writers and publishers with royalties from ringtone
sales. Currently, Sonera zed ringtones are offered exclusively to AT&T
Wireless subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011029/292291_1.html
http://us.zed.com/m/index2.html
http://www.ascap.com

(Los Angeles) Yahoo announced on Monday a distribution agreement with
Carsey-Werner Distribution to offer full-length TV show episodes on its
Yahoo Broadcast site. The agreement includes full-length sitcom episodes
as well as selected clips from classic commercials, celebrity interviews,
health and wellness shows, movie clips, golf tips and selected music
videos. The first show offered will be the 90's sitcom "Townies" starring
Molly Ringwald, Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham. Carsey-Werner is also
responsible for developing TV programs including "The Cosby Show" and
"That 70's Show."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011029/290272_1.html
http://broadcast.yahoo.com
http://www.cwm.com

(New York) America Online's AOL Music announced on Monday that it will
become the exclusive provider of interactive music greeting cards offered
by BeatGreets, a division of AmericanGreetings.com. BeatGreets offers
interactive cards featuring more than 240 artists -- including Outkast,
Whitney Houston and Blink 182 -- through exclusive contracts with 20
record labels.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011029/292099_1.html
http://www.beatgreets.com

(New York) ABC Internet Group announced on Monday that it will provide
content from ABCNews.com to PointMedia, a provider of streaming video
terminals at gas pumps. ABCNews.com will provide 24-hour text news
updates, video entertainment and business reports to the service, joining
other content providers including Bloomberg, ScreamingMedia, SportsTicker
and AccuWeather.
http://www.pointmedia.tv
http://www.abcnews.com

(San Francisco) Interactive TV software provider Canal Plus Technologies
said on Monday that it has partnered with video-on-demand technology firm
NCube to offer their combined services to broadband service operators. The
companies announced that WinFirst, a provider of fiber optic-based voice,
video and data services to homes, will be the first client for their
combined offering.
http://www.canalplus-technologies.com/media/v9/html/press/prel_winfirst_02.htm
http://www.ncube.com
http://www.winfirst.com

(Haddonfield, N.J.) Video Pipeline, a provider of streaming movie previews
to video retail and rental websites, said it will provide trailers and
other content to electronics and music retailer Best Buy's recently
launched entertainment site. New Jersey-based Video Pipeline's library
consists of 12,000 movie previews, 3,000 game previews and 5,000 music
videos, with 200 new previews added weekly. The company is currently
embroiled in a copyright suit with Disney's Buena Vista Home
Entertainment, which has sued to stop the company from airing its movie
previews.
http://www.videopipeline.com
http://www.bbe.bestbuy.com

(Alameda, Calif.) Interactive TV developer Wink Communications said on
Monday that cable TV network Lifetime Television is adding interactive
content to original programming that airs on the network. Viewers with a
Wink-enabled digital set-top box will be able to access such interactive
features as a daily program description, horoscope and daily health tip
while watching an exercise program.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011029/sfm002_1.html
http://www.wink.com
http://www.lifetimetv.com

(San Francisco) Wired News posted a story on Monday that details the U.S.
Army's collaboration with the University of Southern California and
several game developers to create video games that will be used to train
soldiers. Two games -- C-Force and CS XII -- are currently in development
for both next-generation consoles and the PC. Ordinary gamers will get the
same version used by the military. "Pretty much everything the infantry
does is open already. So there's no need to create a declassified
version," said Matt Norton, the producer of C-Force. Development is being
made possible through a $44.3 million investment by the government in
USC's Institute for Creative Technologies.
http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,47931,00.html
http://www.ict.usc.edu

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

> Katrillion, Web Research Assistant - Fort Lee, New Jersey

CityConnect, the first national city event guide for teens available on
all web and wireless platforms, is looking for an events-locating
super-sleuth to find content for posting on the web. The ideal candidate
must be -- able to find current information that may not be readily
available, a recent college grad, and possess a passion for pop culture
and teen trends. Internet savvy plus strong writing skills are essential.
Send resume and salary requirements to: ccstaff@katrillion.com
http://www.katrillion.com/cityconnect.com
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> Bookspan, Web Designer - Long Island, New York

BOOKSPAN is seeking a Web Designer with preferably 1-2 years experience
for a freelance position (possible temp-to-hire). Work with a Sr. Designer
on the design of all-new web sites from top to bottom. PhotoShop,
Illustrator, hand-code HTML, and aptitude to learn proprietary
content-management software are an absolute must. Send resume in plain
text with URLs of your work, and list the three best-looking content or
e-commerce based sites you can find to: jgiannetti@booksonline.com
http://www.booksonline.com
______________________

> Vice President of Sales - United States

We are a six-year-old E-Learning company expanding our sales presence in
the US. We are looking for a proven sales leader. Our streaming technology
is proprietary, our client base is outstanding, our track record is
extremely strong. We are in search of kindred spirits who believe that,
great technology companies are built by great people not hype. If your
knowledge of technology is strong and you have a demonstrable history
(10+years) of significant sales success -- we would like to speak with
you. This position can be located anywhere in the US. Send resumes to
njwlmw@aol.com

===================================================
Events/Services Postings:
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> FREE Seminar - A Foolproof Business and an Invincible Brand

A Digital Asset Management seminar introducing proven strategies for
strengthening global brands, improving productivity, enhancing
communication and increasing revenues. Artesia's experience with global
brands such as GM, AOL Time Warner and others has given us unprecedented
insight into how organizations can improve brand-building activities. For
more information: insidesales@artesia.com
http://www.artesia.com/seminar/
______________________

> CTAM Broadband Opportunity Conference, Nov. 6-8 -- Tysons Corner, VA

Get the FYI on HSI and iTV at CTAM's Broadband Opportunity Conference Nov
6-8, Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner. Keynote speakers: Maggie Bellville,
Incanta; Christopher P. Bogart, Time Warner Cable Ventures; Charles F.
Dolan, Cablevision Systems Corporation & Steve Wadsworth, The Walt Disney
Internet Group. Call CTAM at 703.549.4200. For more information contact:
tania@ctam.com
http://www.ctambroadband.com
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> Office Space For Rent - Los Angeles

Prime Sunset Boulevard location. Approx. 588 sq ft. Second floor, spacious
two + offices with private bathroom. Convenient parking. Recently
renovated. Quiet, nice work environment. Other tenants in building are
primarily entertainment and new media companies. DSL-ready. Rent is $1,175
per month.
For more information, please call 323-363-3620.
______________________

> Digital Media Revolution in the Americas, 11/29-12/01 -- Pasadena, CA

Presented by the Institute of the Americas and Annenberg School for
Communication, this 2 1/2 day forum will include Sr. Exec. Networking w/ a
special focus on Latin Americas & U.S. Hispanic markets, copyright, rights
mgmt., dist., infrastructure, digital film, iTV, streaming, device trends,
content financing. Early-bird 40% off till 9/30. Keynote Steven Bandel,
Pres. - The Cisneros Group. Sponsors: JP Morgan, Motorola, Global
Crossing, Walt Disney Company, Digital Media Wire, Cahners International
TV, iHollywood, Motion Picture Assoc., National Assoc. of TV Prog. Exec.,
National Assoc. of Theatre owners. For more information:
martin@iamericas.org
Register at: http://www.iamericas.org/events
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