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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- October 30, 2002
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To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com
o Report: HDTV Will Be In 15% of U.S. Homes by 2008
o European Commission Fines Nintendo 146 Million Euro For Price-Fixing
o Nintendo Begins Selling Adapters for GameCube Online Games
o Electronic Arts Video Game to Feature Def Jam Artists As Characters
o ScreamingMedia Becomes Pinnacor, Acquires Inlumen for $2.6 Million
> Digital Media Wire Event: "iTV Visions" | NYC | Nov. 14
> Featured Event: Post-Enron Corporate Seminar
o Briefly Noted: Movielink - RealNetworks - Microsoft, Xbox Live - ISP
partners, Activision - Lemony Snicket, Sony Screenblast, Jakks Pacific -
Electronic Arts, Jupitermedia Corp., Movies.com - Ebert & Roeper,
Interplay Entertainment, Entertainment Software Ratings Board, Rob Glaser,
1200 available video games - diluted sales?
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> Jobs: East Coast Sales Rep.
> Events: NYNMA's Technology Showcase
> Marketplace: Homeland Security Directory, Interest-Based Navigation
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
_____________________________________________
o Report: HDTV Will Be In 15% of U.S. Homes by 2008
Boston -- High-definition television (HDTV) will be in 15 percent of U.S.
homes by 2008, according to a report from Boston-based research firm
Strategy Analytics. The firm predicts that 29 million U.S. households will
own HD-capable TV displays by 2008, and that half of these displays will
be connected to a high definition television service. Additionally, the
firm said 84 percent of these HDTV subscribers will be using either cable
or satellite services. "HDTV has been a long time coming," said Strategy
Analytics' David Mercer. "But sufficient momentum is now building at both
content and operator levels to ensure a successful niche market in the
longer term."
http://www.strategyanalytics.com/press/pr00025.htm
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o European Commission Fines Nintendo 146 Million Euro For Price-Fixing
Brussels -- The European Commission on Wednesday fined Japanese video game
maker Nintendo 146 million euro ($143.6 million) for price fixing during
the 1990s. The EC said that Nintendo had collaborated with distributors to
limit cross-border shipments of its video games in an effort to raise
wholesale prices. "The Commission will not tolerate behavior intended to
keep prices artificially high in the European single market," an EC
spokeswoman said. Nintendo said it would appeal the ruling.
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/021030/80/ddfmi.html
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o Nintendo Begins Selling Adapters for GameCube Online Games
Redmond, Wash. -- Nintendo of America announced on Wednesday the retail
availability of the dial-up modem and broadband adapters needed to connect
its GameCube video game console to the Internet for online gaming. Both
adapters will retail for $34.95. While Sony has already begun selling
online network adapters for its PlayStation 2, Microsoft plans to launch
its Xbox Live online game service on Nov. 15. Yesterday, Sega shipped
"Phatasy Star Online Episode I & II," the first Nintendo GameCube title
enabled for online gaming. Players wishing to play online must first
purchase the game and adapter, and then register for the $8.95 per month
online game service at Sega.com, which will operate the servers and offer
customer service for the game. "Nintendo's point of differentiation is our
strategy of enabling online access without dictating the venue," said
Peter MacDougall, executive vice president of sales and marketing for
Nintendo. "We're making it simple and comfortable for consumers by giving
them total control and allowing them to use their own ISP with no console
access charges."
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/223030137&ticker=
http://www.nintendogamecube.com
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o Electronic Arts Video Game to Feature Def Jam Artists As Characters
Redwood City, Calif. -- Game developer Electronic Arts announced on
Wednesday that it is working with Def Jam Recordings to develop an
underground street fighting video game title that features Def Jam artists
and their music. Hip-hop artists DMX, Ludacris, Method Man, Redman,
N.O.R.E. and Scarface will become playable characters in "Def Jam
Vendetta," currently in development for Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo
GameCube for release in early 2003. Japan-based developer AKI Corporation
and EA Canada are collaborating on the game's creation.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021030/300108_1.html
http://www.defjam.com
http://www.ea.com
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o ScreamingMedia Becomes Pinnacor, Acquires Inlumen for $2.6 Million
New York -- ScreamingMedia, a provider of business and financial
information and analytical applications, announced that it has acquired
the assets of Inlumen, a provider of content and technology services to
the financial services industry, for $2.6 million in cash and stock.
Additionally, the company will change its name to Pinnacor. New York-based
Pinnacor said its new name "will align the company's three core markets of
financial services, business information and access solutions, and combine
ScreamingMedia, Stockpoint and Inlumen names under one brand." The company
will take over Inlumen's partners and approximately 58 customers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021029/nytu185_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021029/nytu078_1.html
http://www.inlumen.com
http://www.pinnacor.com
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EVENT -- DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE Presents...
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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
==================
Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
What are businesses doing to survive and thrive after Enron?
Find out on Friday, November 1st at "The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Life and
Liability after Enron," a San Diego seminar designed to answer your
questions about the tough new regulations facing corporate America.
Presented by Ross, Dixon & Bell, L.L.P. and the California Western School
of Law. To register and for more information:
http://www.rdblaw.com/Registration/SignUp.html, or call: 619-557-4329
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Briefly Noted:
(Santa Monica, Calif.) Movielink, an online video-on-demand joint venture
between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures
Entertainment, Universal and Warner Bros., announced on Wednesday that it
will utilize both Microsoft's Windows Media and RealNetworks' media
delivery and digital rights management technologies on its service. Santa
Monica, Calif.-based Movielink, two years in development, has not yet
announced a launch date.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-963887.html?tag=fd_top
http://www.movielink.com
(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft on Wednesday announced ISP partners for its
Xbox Live online game service, which will launch in the U.S. and Canada on
Nov. 15. Broadband partner ISPs who will promote and distribute the
service include Bell Canada, BellSouth, Charter Communications, Comcast,
Cox, EarthLink, MSN, Qwest, Rogers Cable, SBC, TELUS, Time Warner Cable's
Road Runner and Verizon. Microsoft will also launch a beta program for
Xbox Live in Europe and Japan this year, with full retail launches early
in 2003.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021030/sfw073_1.html
http://www.xbox.com
(Santa Monica, Calif.) Game developer and publisher Activision announced
on Wednesday it has acquired the exclusive license to develop games based
on the children's book series, "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate
Events." Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision said it will work with
Nickelodeon, which is developing a film based on the books, to develop
titles for all video game consoles, handheld platforms and the PC. The
Lemony Snicket book series has been published in 29 languages and has sold
over 5 million copies.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021030/law065_1.html
http://www.lemonysnicket.com
http://www.activision.com
(Culver City, Calif.) Sony Pictures Digital announced on Wednesday that it
will begin selling the audio and video creation software package offered
on its Screenblast website in retail stores. The $69 software package,
targeted at amateur music and movie makers, will be sold at Best Buy,
CompUSA, Micro Center, Amazon.com and Sony's e-commerce sites.
http://www.screenblast.com
(Malibu, Calif.) Toymaker Jakks Pacific announced on Wednesday that it has
signed an agreement with video game developer Electronic Arts, to market
and distribute multiple EA titles adapted for use with Jakks' TV Games
line. The TV Games product is an all-in-one video game controller that
connects directly to the television and contains up to 10 embedded games.
Titles to be adapted include EA's "SimTown," "SimSafari," "SSX Tricky" and
others. TV Games devices featuring EA games will sell for $20 and become
available in late 2003.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021030/302140_1.html
http://www.ea.com
http://www.jakkspacific.com
(New York) Jupitermedia Corp., the technology research and analysis firm
formerly known as Jupiter Research, announced on Wednesday that it has
expanded its coverage to include the electronic games industry. The
company will offer new research on Personal Computer & Console Games, a
new video game trade show to be held in Los Angeles April 1-2, and
GameMarketWatch.com, a news and reviews site for the industry.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021030/302084_1.html
http://www.jupitermedia.com
http://www.gamemarketwatch.com
(North Hollywood, Calif.) Movies.com, a Disney Online website providing
news, original content and services like show times and ticket sales, said
on Wednesday that it has added movie reviews from film critics Roger Ebert
and Richard Roeper to its site. In return, Ebert and Roeper will promote
Movies.com on their syndicated TV show.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/223030081&ticker=dis
http://www.ebertandroeper.tv
http://www.movies.com
(Irvine, Calif.) Interplay Entertainment, a developer and publisher of
video games, announced on Wednesday it has named former vice president of
business development Phillip G. Adam as its new president. Additionally,
former vice president of sales and marketing Gary Dawson has been named
chief operating officer. Finally, Irvine, Calif.-based Interplay said that
chief financial officer Jeff Gonzalez has left the company; CEO Herve Caen
will serve as interim CFO.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021029/detu023_1.html
http://www.interplay.com
(New York) The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), a non-profit
charged with providing the ratings for video games, announced on Wednesday
it has named Patricia E. Vance as president. Before joining the ESRB,
Vance was an executive vice president at The Princeton Review, and CEO of
HalfthePlanet.com; she also spent 18 years in various positions at
Disney/ABC, including ABC Interactive.
http://www.esrb.com
(San Francisco) CNET News.com on Wednesday featured an interview with Rob
Glaser, chief executive of Seattle-based media delivery technology
provider RealNetworks. Glaser speaks mainly about the company's release
this week of the source code for its Helix DNA client, and how the
company's open source initiative compares with those of Netscape, Sun and
Linux.
http://news.com.com/2008-1082-963788.html?tag=fd_lede2_hed
(Los Angeles) The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday reported on how the
release of 700 new console video games this year -- compared with 312 in
1988 -- and 500 new PC games may have the effect of diluting video game
sales in the market during the crucial holiday shopping period.
"Competition for [retail store] shelf space has intensified," Gerard
Klauer Mattison analyst Edward Williams told The Times. "If you are a
secondary publisher, it's going to be difficult for you to gain
distribution for your products."
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-games30oct30,0,6852454.
story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dtechnology
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===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm
East Coast Sales Rep - Imaging and Music Software Firm
Imaging and music software firm is seeking an independent, East Coast
sales representative. We have great products - you have strong
relationships with camera and computer hardware manufacturers and
marketers. Significant OEM experience strongly preferred. Position offers
a retainer and generous commissions. Interested parties should forward
their resume to David McKie at: david@simplestar.com
_____________________________________________
====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm
NYNMA's Technology Showcase, November 7, NYC
Where will NY's top emerging technology companies - including Juice
Software, Flarion Technologies, Data Synapse, White Amber and Mimeo - be
November 7th? With you and NY's other leading technology executives,
investors and entrepreneurs at NYNMA's Technology Showcase. New this year:
2 business connections services - MatchPoint and Fortune 1000 Face2Face --
to connect you with Showcase attendees, exhibitors and sponsors who could
be your next partner or customer. Register now at
http://www.technologyshowcase.org/registration.html
_____________________________________________
==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
Only 80 copies remaining of Directory of Homeland Security
This is your company's final chance to purchase the inaugural edition of
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and state agencies involved in homeland security. The directory includes
names of over 1,500 homeland security officials, profiles of 500 agencies
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in this sector. The directory is sponsored by NETSEC, Greenberg Traurig,
AT&T and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
To purchase the directory, go to: http://www.homeland-directory.com
_____________________________________________
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Etronica has developed a unique software toolset to enable "Interest Based
Navigation" of digital content. The Patent Pending technology provides for
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toolset can be incorporated into content websites and portals, installed
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platforms and technologies. An Etronica Enabled(TM) site greatly enhances
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_____________________________________________
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Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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