Main Stories
o TiVo Credits DirecTV for Quicker Rise to 1 Million Subscribers
o Nintendo: GameCube Price Drop Quadrupled Sales; Market Share At 37%
o Atlantic to Offer Prerecorded Albums on Cell Phone Memory Card Format
o Amazon.com Removes Page Printing from Text Search Feature
o Equity Firm Completes EMusic Buy; Will Integrate Digital Club Network
o Sony Releases EyeToy USB Camera Gaming Accessory for PlayStation 2
o EUniverse Raises $8 Million, Announces Departure of CEO
o Westinghouse Launches Line of Digital Entertainment Devices

o Briefly Noted: The Orchard - Rhapsody - Musicmatch, Cartoon Network - "Star Wars: Clone Wars," Ask Jeeves, Microsoft IPTV - Bluewin/Swisscom, Vivendi Universal Games - "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" - "Barbie" game, Electronic Arts - "The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King," Atari - "Risk: Global Domination," Rockstar Games, Activision - "True Crime: Streets of L.A.," Infinium Labs - DiStream, Webshots - Zingy, Virgin Mobile USA - MTV-branded cell phone

San Jose, Calif. -- TiVo, a provider of services for digital video recorders that let viewers pause and record live television, announced on Tuesday that it has surpassed one million subscribers for its service. The company credited partner DirecTV, which began selling a satellite TV receiver with TiVo for $99 in October, for helping it reach the mark before the end of the year, as was earlier expected. San Jose, Calif.-based TiVo has also licensed its technology to consumer electronics firms Toshiba and Pioneer, which are releasing DVD products that include TiVo. "Thanks to the increased growth of both our standalone subscriptions and, especially, growth with DirecTV, we have reached this milestone ahead of plan," said TiVo CEO Michael Ramsay. "We expect this momentum to continue and look forward to the biggest holiday season ever for TiVo."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031104/sftu045_1.html 
http://www.tivo.com
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o Nintendo: GameCube Price Drop Quadrupled Sales; Market Share Now 37%

Redmond, Wash. -- Nintendo of America announced on Tuesday that, since discounting the price of its GameCube video game console in the U.S. to $99 just over a month ago, sales of the product have quadrupled. The company also cites sales figures gathered from the nation's largest retailers that show the GameCube has risen from 19% to 37% of game console market share, ahead of Microsoft's Xbox. According to data from NPD Group, Nintendo GameCube sales are up 2% percent over figures from last year, while sales for Microsoft's Xbox dropped 3% and Sony's PlayStation 2 dropped 17.5%. The company also announced that on Nov. 17 it will begin selling a $99 package that includes the GameCube console and its "The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition Bundle" -- which features the original title for NES, "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link," "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask" and a playable demo of "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker."
http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=9067
http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleId=9066
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o Atlantic to Offer Prerecorded Albums on Cell Phone Memory Card Format

New York -- The Atlantic Group, a record label division of Time Warner that includes Atlantic, Lava Records and Nonesuch, announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Fearless Entertainment to begin distributing prerecorded music on the MMC (MultiMedia Card), a postage stamp-sized recordable media used in cell phones and other portable devices. Fearless Entertainment created a compilation of Atlantic and Lava artists' songs for a promotional MMC that will be distributed with new Nokia 3300 handsets. The companies will also distribute four full-length albums by the same Atlantic and Lava artists in MMC format, which will be sold exclusively at AT&T Wireless stores. The releases mark the first albums to be released by a major label using the format, which holds up to one hour of music. "With the launch of the prerecorded MMC for music releases, we are introducing another cutting- edge, high-quality digital experience which makes our artists and their music an integral part of the listener's daily life," said Lee Stimmel, senior vice president of strategic marketing and business development for Atlantic.
http://www.atlantic-records.com 
http://www.fearless-entertainment.com
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o Amazon.com Removes Page Printing from Text Search Feature

Seattle -- Online retail giant Amazon.com, which last month launched a feature that enables users to search the full texts of 120,000 books it offers, and print out several pages of the actual texts, has removed the latter feature after receiving complaints from groups including the Authors Guild, the Associated Press reported. While Amazon would not confirm the feature's removal, AP said that as of Friday surfers using the "Search Inside the Book" feature were no longer able to print out samples from books. Authors Guild executive director Paul Aiken told AP that some of its 8,000 members were concerned that users may simply print out recipes and other reference materials instead of paying for the book. Amazon did say that 15 authors had requested that their works not be included in the list available titles for "Search Inside the Book."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S51E45076
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2DE21076
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o Equity Firm Completes EMusic Buy; Will Integrate Digital Club Network

New York -- Dimensional Associates, the New York-based private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of independent music download store EMusic.com from Vivendi Universal's VU Net USA. Financial terms were not disclosed. The company previously announced that it would end EMusic's practice of offering unlimited downloads from its 275,000-track library for a monthly subscription fee. Dimensional Associates said in coming weeks it will combine EMusic with its roster of live venues that webcast performances of bands, the Digital Club Network, into a new service called EMusic Live. The service will offer both live and on-demand streams of performances from clubs including the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC; the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA; The Metro in Chicago, IL, Toad's Place in New Haven, CT and Arlene Grocery in New York.
http://www.emusic.com 
http://www.dcn.com  
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o Sony Releases EyeToy USB Camera Gaming Accessory for PlayStation 2

Foster City, Calif. -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) on Tuesday announced the North American release of its EyeToy accessory for PlayStation 2. The USB camera features motion-tracking technology that lets gamers become physically part of the game, as a live image of the player appears on the TV screen and the player must use his or her hands, head, knees and feet to interact with the game. The device, which Sony said has sold over one million units in four months in Europe, comes bundled with the game title "EyeToy: Play," was developed at the company's London studio. Foster City, Calif.-based SCEA also on Tuesday released a $30 standalone USB headset accessory for PlayStation 2, which uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and voice recognition technologies to enhance online and offline games. The company expects nearly 30 titles that include voice elements to be available for the holidays, including "SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs," a sequel developed by Redmond, Wash.-based Zipper Interactive that was released today.
http://www.us.playstation.com/games.aspx?id=SCUS-97319
http://www.us.playstation.com/Content/games/scus-97275/ogs/index.html
http://www.zipperint.com ____________________________________________

o EUniverse Raises $8 Million, Announces Departure of CEO

Los Angeles -- EUniverse, a network of entertainment-related websites and newsletters, announced that its chairman and CEO Brad Greenspan has resigned. No reason was provided, though EUniverse said company president Brett Brewer will act as CEO until a replacement can be found. Separately, the company announced that it has received $8 million in new financing from VantagePoint Venture Partners. Los Angeles-based EUniverse saw its stock delisted from the Nasdaq in light of accounting irregularities announced in September that compelled the company to restate some of its financial results.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031103/lam061_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031031/laf081_1.html 
http://www.enuiverse.com ____________________________________________

o Westinghouse Launches Line of Digital Entertainment Devices

City of Industry, Calif. -- Westinghouse Digital Electronics, a new unit of the large electric company, announced on Tuesday its launch and plan to release a line of digital entertainment devices under the Westinghouse brand. The company will begin selling LCD TVs -- ranging in size from 15 to 30 inches -- this month through consumer electronics retailers and other resellers, "with several innovative digital entertainment product lines planned in 2004 for home, business and portable use."
http://www.westinghousedigital.com

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(New York) The Orchard Global Media Group, a large distributor of independent music from around the world, announced on Tuesday that it has signed distribution deals with both RealNetworks' Rhapsody and Musicmatch's respective digital music services. The Orchard will provide the services with 120,000 songs from over 2,500 different labels. The company said it has also licensed its catalog to iTunes, MusicNet, Napster, BuyMusic and EMusic in the U.S., and to a number of other services in Europe and Asia.
http://www.theorchard.com

(Atlanta) Time Warner's Cartoon Network announced on Tuesday that it will offer online versions of its "Star Wars: Clone Wars" series of 20 animated shorts, produced and directed by "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Samurai Jack" creator Genndy Tartakovsky, that will begin airing on the network on Friday. In addition to posting each short online after it premieres on TV, Cartoon Network will offer a related online game, "Planetary Forces," as well as a complete chapter guide, behind-the-scenes information and director commentary for the shorts series.
http://cartoonnetwork.com/clonewars

(Emeryville, Calif.) Ask Jeeves, a provider of Internet search services, on Monday named its president, Steve Berkowitz, as its new CEO, effective January 1. Berkowitz will succeed current CEO Skip Battle, who will become the executive chairman of the company's board. Battle will replace Garrett Gruener, a company co-founder, who will continue as a board member.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031103/sfm090_1.html 
http://www.ask.com

(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Swisscom/Bluewin to test and deploy its Internet Protocol television technology in Switzerland. Bluewin is a unit of Swiss telecommunications company Swisscom that provides broadband Internet access to 200,000 subscribers. The companies will conduct a trial of pay-TV services over an IP broadband network using IPTV technology being developed by Microsoft TV.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031104/sftu038_1.html
http://www.bluewinag.com 
http://www.microsoft.com/tv

(Los Angeles) Vivendi Universal Games on Tuesday announced the release of its "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" title for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and the PC, which is based on the upcoming Universal Pictures/DreamWorks film of the same name. Liverpool-based Magenta Software developed the PS2 and Xbox versions of the game, while Emeryville, Calif.-based Digital Eclipse Software created the Game Boy Advance and PC editions. VU Games also on Tuesday released "Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue" for PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, based on a license from toymaker Mattel, as well as "Hunter: The Reckoning Redeemer" for Xbox -- a sequel to the original title based on White Wolf Publishing's pen-and-paper roleplaying game.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031104/latu023_1.html 
http://www.vugames.com 
http://www.magentasoftware.com 
http://www.digitaleclipse.com 
http://www.white-wolf.com 
http://hunterthereckoning.com/redeemer

(Redwood City, Calif.) Electronic Arts, a developer and publisher of video games, on Tuesday began shipping its "The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King" title for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and the PC to retailers for the game's release on Nov. 6. The title is based on New Line Cinema's upcoming film of the same name; all versions were developed at EA's Redwood Shores Studio except the Game Boy Advance edition, created by Kirkland, Wash.-based Amaze Entertainment. The company also said it will release "The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth," a real-time PC strategy game, in 2004.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031104/45287_1.html 
http://www.amazeent.com 
http://lordoftherings.eagames.com

(Beverly, Mass.) Game publisher Atari on Tuesday released "Risk: Global Domination" for PlayStation 2, based on a license of the classic board game from Hasbro. The video game version, developed by Northampton, Mass.-based Cyberlore Studios, features online play for up to six players using Sony's Network Adaptor for PlayStation 2. Atari also on Tuesday released the BioWare Corp.-developed "Neverwinter Nights Gold Edition" for PC, and Firaxis Games' "Sid Meier's Civilization III: Conquests" expansion pack for the popular PC game.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031104/45155_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031104/45216_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031104/45826_1.html 
http://www.cyberlore.com 
http://www.bioware.com 
http://www.firaxis.com

(New York) Rockstar Games, a publishing unit of Take-Two Interactive, announced on Tuesday the release of its "Grand Theft Auto Double Pack" for Microsoft Xbox, which contains both the company's "Grand Theft Auto 3" and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" titles.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031104/45182_1.html
http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto

(Santa Monica, Calif.) Game developer Activision announced on Tuesday the release of "True Crime: Streets of L.A." for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. The title features rapper Snoop Dogg as a playable character, as well voice talent from Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken and Michael Madsen. Koch Entertainment will release a soundtrack for the game featuring over 50 original tracks performed by West Coast hip-hop artists.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031104/latu090_1.html
http://www.truecrimela.com

(Jacksonville, Fla.) Infinium Labs, developer of a new PC-based, on-demand gaming console currently in beta testing, said on Tuesday that it partnered with Digital Interactive Streams (DiStream) to provide digital rights management for the company's Phantom Game System and PhantomNet Game Service.
http://www.infiniumlabs.com 
http://www.phantom.net 
http://www.distream.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Webshots, an online photo-sharing site, said on Tuesday that it has partnered with wireless entertainment publisher Zingy, and will distribute a collection of Webshots wallpaper images for mobile devices through Zingy.com.
http://www.webshots.com 
http://www.zingy.com

(New York) Wireless carrier Virgin Mobile USA has released a new MTV-branded handset made by Kyocera. The $159 Slider V5 *MTV (StarMTV) handset comes pre-loaded with MTV content, and can access features including updates on MTV programs, MTV games, breaking stories from MTV News, video voting, audio postcards from artists and celebrities, and personalized ringtones.
http://www.virginmobileusa.com 
http://www.ringtones.mtv.com

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