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December 20, 2005 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Subscribe | Unsubscribe

Top Stories
o Proposed Legislation Would Plug "Analog Hole" in Consumer Electronics
o Leaked Oscar Screener DVDs Already Appearing Online
o Two Charged With Insider Trading in Connection With Stern Move to Sirius
o Video Game Publisher Midway Games to Lay Off Up to 11% of Staff
o Music Publisher Apologizes to Lyrics Aggregation Software Maker

o Note to Readers: Holiday Publishing Schedule
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DMW Announcements

  2006 Digital Entertainment & Media Directory

  Digital Commerce Summit 2006 - January 31, 2006 - NY

   
Featured Advertisement
 
CONNECTIONS (TM) at CES - Las Vegas, January 5-6, 2006

  Developer/Quality Assurance Specialist - NPR Online

 

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Briefly Noted

o Reuters Launches Free Video News Feeds for Websites
o Tiscali UK to Offer PlayLouder Music ISP Service 
o Jamster to Distribute Master Ringtones from Notorious B.I.G. Album
o Groove Mobile Powers Mobile Music Service for Telecom New Zealand
o "King Kong" Video Game Features Unlockable Alternate Ending
o
Wikipedia Founder Criticized for Editing Own Online Bio

o N.Y. Times: Walkman Inventor Finally Gets Credit, Royalties from Sony
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Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds
  Mobile Programmer - NPR Online
  Systems Administrator - NPR Online
  NPR.org Supervising Producer - NPR Music
 
Interactive & Multi-Media Web Designer - NPR Online

  Developer/Quality Assurance Specialist - NPR Online
  Director of Business Development- Mobile Gaming- SkillJam Technologies
  VP of Business Development - SkillJam Technologies
  Public Relations Account Executive - Germantown, MD

  Sr. Marketing Communications Director - KLA-Tencor

  Vice President/Senior Account Executive- Welz & Weisel Communications

  Direct Marketing Executive - Boston

  Director, Business Development Real-Time Publishing Services

  SVP Internet Marketing

  MidemNet Forum  at  MIDEM -Cannes, France - January 21-22, 2006

  The 64 Second Film Contest – Judge Now


Top Stories

o Proposed Legislation Would Plug "Analog Hole" in Consumer Electronics

Washington - A new anti-piracy bill introduced in the U.S. House aims to plug the "analog hole," by outlawing devices that can convert analog video into digital unless they contain certain copy-protection technologies, CNET News.com reported. Backed by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the Digital Transition Content Security Act is also endorsed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). "This legislation is designed to secure analog content from theft that has been made easier as a result of the transition to digital technologies," Sensenbrenner told News.com. "[Criminals] obtain copyrighted content and then redistribute for profit at the copyright owner's expense." The bill would affect PC TV tuners, digital video recorders and other devices that can make copies of copyrighted content, degrading their features so that, for instance, copy-protected shows could only be recorded for 90 minutes, and only in lower-quality format. The proposed legislation will likely not be taken up for several months, after Congress returns from its holiday break.
http://tinyurl.com/a4qyk (CNET)
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117934938?cateoryid=1009
http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner 
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o Leaked Oscar Screener DVDs Already Appearing Online

Los Gatos, Calif. -- Several of the advance DVD screener copies of movies up for Academy Awards, sent to members of the Academy for voting purposes, have already popped up on file-sharing services, according to BayTSP, an anti-piracy firm working with studios to monitor file-sharing networks. "Screeners have been distributed to Academy members and many of them are already appearing online," said BayTSP CEO Mark Ishikawa. "It's common knowledge in the pirate community that screeners are digitally watermarked and some groups make attempts, usually unsuccessfully, to erase those marks." The leaks come despite the well-publicized ouster of a member of the Academy last year for passing his screeners to several others, who were then prosecuted for posting them online. BayTSP did not disclose which studios it has worked with to watermark their screener DVDs, which Oscar contender films are now available online, or what actions are being taken to potentially identify any leakers.
http://www.baytsp.com
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o Two Charged With Insider Trading in Connection With Stern Move to Sirius

Washington - Radio shock jock Howard Stern's former accountant has pleaded guilty to insider trading in connection with information he received about Stern's move to Sirius Satellite Radio. Gary Herwitz, formerly of Mahoney Cohen & Co., now faces up to 16 months in prison for buying shares of Sirius, after Stern told him in confidence that Sirius had made him an offer. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also charged Herwitz and a former Sirius executive with insider trading, also for acting on information before the Sirius deal was made public. Both Herwitz and former Sirius executive Tracey Stanyer settled the SEC charges and agreed to pay fines without admitting wrongdoing.
http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2005-178.htm
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/051219/sirius_insider_trading.html?.v=6 (AP)
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/051219/financial_sec_stern.html?.v=6 (Reuters)
http://www.siriusradio.com
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o Video Game Publisher Midway Games to Lay Off Up to 11% of Staff

Chicago - Video game publisher Midway Games, creators of the "Mortal Kombat" franchise, plans to lay off up to 11% of its global workforce, or up to 96 jobs, the company said in an SEC filing on Friday. The company said the cuts will "reduce the company's cost structure and increase product development synergy and efficiency," adding that it will incur $13 million in charges related to severance and other costs. Last week, the company shuttered its Midway Australia unit -- formerly developer Ratbag Studios -- only four months after completing the acquisition.
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/051216/mwy8-k.html
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13717
http://www.midway.com
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o Music Publisher Apologizes to Lyrics Aggregation Software Maker

San Francisco - Music publisher Warner/Chappell Music has apologized to a lyrics website operator after sending a threatening cease-and-desist letter, and in fact now plans to collaborate with him, according to published reports. Publishers have taken steps to shut down websites that offer databases of song lyrics, which are copyrighted works owned by publishers and songwriters. But the operator of PearLyrics, a free software program that aggregates song lyrics available online and imports them into iTunes, received an apology from Warner/Chappell after becoming the target of similar action. "The goal of Warner/Chappell's prior letter to Pearworks was to gain assurance that PearLyrics operated according to [legal] principles," the apology reads. "However, in both tone and substance, that letter was an inappropriate manner in which to convey that inquiry. Warner/Chappell apologized to Walter Ritter and Pearworks."
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,69856,00.html
http://tinyurl.com/8fa2q (CNET)
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o Note to Readers

Today's edition of Digital Media Wire will be the last of 2005. We will resume our normal publishing schedule again on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

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DMW Announcements

2006 Digital Entertainment & Media Directory

$395 for hardcopy and $795, for both the hardcopy and CD.

The Directory is an invaluable resource for companies working in the rapidly expanding digital entertainment and media industries, and will make the following corporate activities much easier: business development; direct marketing; sales prospecting; market research & competitive analysis; and recruitment. To purchase the directory, click here: http://www.digitalentertainmentdirectory.com/purchase.htm
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Digital Commerce Summit 2006 - January 31, 2006 - NY

Harold M. Proshansky Auditorium
The Graduate Center
City University of New York (CUNY)
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016-4309
www.digitalcommercesummit.com
 

Digital Media Wire invites you to attend 2006 Digital Commerce Summit on January 31, 2006 in New York City.  This 1-day executive forum is a "must attend" event for content owners; merchants; payments & technology companies; banks & financial services institutions; ISP’s; MSO’s; P2P vendors; and wireless & mobile companies focused on payment solutions and commerce strategies for digital content, including games, music, film, television and video products. 

Topics to be covered will include:

  • Monetizing Digital Content:
    Commerce Strategies for Content Owners and Merchants
    -The Music Industry Perspective
    -The Game Industry Perspective
    -The Film and Television Industry Perspective
  • The Payment Industry’s View of Digital Commerce Opportunities
  • The Explosion of Mobile Commerce
  • Marketing Strategies, including Search Engine Marketing & Optimization
  • Developments in Digital Rights Management
  • Commercial Development of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks
  • Are there Big Bucks in Micropayments? Assessing Opportunities involving Small Payment Transactions

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS for the 2006 conference include:
Mike Bebel, CEO, Mashboxx
Vince Broady, SVP, Games & Entertainment, CNET Networks
Derek Coetzee, CTO, Digisoft.tv Limited
Ted Cohen, SVP, Digital Development & Distribution, EMI Music
Douglas Knopper, CEO, BitPass
Mark Donovan, Vice President of Products & Senior Analyst, M:Metrics
Mark Friedman, CEO, Peppercoin
Brian Garrity, Senior Business Writer, Billboard Magazine
Thomas Gewecke, SVP, Digital, Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Dave Jaworski, Founder & CEO, PassAlong Networks
Joe Laszlo, Research Director, Broadband/Wireless, Jupiter Research
Robert Spears, VP of Publishing & Online GM, Digital Media Wire
Lydia Loizides, Principal / Analyst, Paphion
Jennifer MacLean, Senior Director, Games & Entertainment, Comcast
Ralph Rivera, Vice President & GM, AOL Games
Rich Roberts, VP of Sales & Business Development, PlayFirst
Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
Jon Vlassopulos, VP, New Media, Endemol USA
more to come...

Early Bird: $295 until December 31, 2005
Pre-Registration: $395 until January 27, 2006
$495 after January 27, 2006

Online Registration:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1107
Phone: (310) 855-0033

 

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Featured Advertisement

CONNECTIONS (TM) at CES - Las Vegas, January 5-6, 2006

Join Parks Associates at CES for a pre-show workshop presented by Parks Associates analysts and 6 interactive sessions hosted by CONNECTIONS: The Digital Home Conference.

Moderated and presented by the leading market research analysts, these events will provide you with the latest consumer research and industry analysis on “digital living” technologies and services.  Learn more at www.cesweb.org.

CONNECTIONS interactive sessions will cover the following topics: Portable Entertainment Devices, Advertising in the Digital Age, TV on Consumers’ Terms, Whole-Home Entertainment, Making the Network Work, and Global Buyer Preferences www.connectionsconference.com

Aren’t familiar with our research? Visit www.parkassociates.com and download our latest white papers, Making TV Meaningful: Consumers and IPTV Applications & Reaching the Unreachable Consumer: Advertising in the Digital Age
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Developer/Quality Assurance Specialist - NPR Online

Works with NPR’s Online Development Team to build and maintain npr.org.  BS w/3 years exp developing web-based applications in Java, Struts and JSP; 3 years exp in database development and SQL; knowledge of versioning and deployment software, experience w/XML desired, preferably CVS and Ant; working knowledge of HTML, JavaScript; understanding of CSS; exp writing automated test scripts against web-based applications essential; media industry exp preferred, including knowledge of streaming media.  Apply to employment@npr.org.  EOE
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Top


Briefly Noted

o Reuters Launches Free Video News Feeds for Websites

London - News agency Reuters has launched a new video news feature that lets any website host a Reuters video news feed with up to 20 stories daily. Usually such content is reserved for Reuters' network of newspaper and broadcast partners. Reuters partnered with video distributor Brightcove on the ad-supported service, which is aimed at increasing the agency's audience. "Video is a key part of our strategy," Stephen Smyth, vice president of the media division at Reuters, told CNET News.com. "What we want to do is offer another approach (to content distribution) and following the trends, we want to take advantage of the growing use of online video."
http://tinyurl.com/9oq8q (CNET)
http://www.reuters.com
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o Tiscali UK to Offer PlayLouder Music ISP Service 
 
London -
PlayLouder MSP, the provider of an Internet access service that includes a private peer-to-peer music file-sharing network, announced that it has signed a distribution deal with European broadband provider Tiscali. Under the deal, Tiscali UK will offer the PlayLouder service to its ADSL customers. For about $47 per month, subscribers get both broadband Internet and unlimited downloads through PlayLouder's legal peer-to-peer file-sharing service, which uses audio fingerprinting to track distribution and compensate rights owners.
http://www.playloudermsp.com/pressrelease.html
http://www.tiscali.com
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o Jamster to Distribute Master Ringtones from Notorious B.I.G. Album

Mountain View, Calif. -
Mobile entertainment publisher Jamster said on Tuesday that it will offer exclusive master recording ringtones from Bad Boy Records' "The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter" album, which was released today. Bad Boy Records founder and CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs will also appear in a Jamster TV spot promoting the product. Jamster, a unit of VeriSign, has distribution rights to Warner Music Group's mobile personalization products catalog. In a related announcement, Virgin Mobile USA said the Biggie ringtones will first be offered exclusively to its subscribers through Jan. 30.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051220/sftu040.html?.v=38
http://www.biggieduets.com
http://www.jamster.com
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o Groove Mobile Powers Mobile Music Service for Telecom New Zealand

Andover, Mass. - Groove Mobile, a provider of mobile digital music distribution services, announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Telecom New Zealand, and will power the company's Telecom Music Store. Massachusetts-based Groove Mobile's service allows users to download full-track songs from major labels Universal, Warner and EMI. The New Zealand service is currently only available on the Sanyo 9000 handset, which features a 1GB mini-SD memory card.
http://tinyurl.com/9nhtf
http://www.telecom.co.nz
http://www.groovemobile.net
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o "King Kong" Video Game Features Unlockable Alternate Ending

San Francisco -
French video game publisher Ubisoft announced on Tuesday that its video game based on director Peter Jackson's "King Kong" features an unlockable alternate ending, in which players can "save the giant ape from his cinematic death, pilot an airplane and discover Kong back home on his native Skull Island." "I wanted the game to be able to take the audience a bit further than what the film could," said Jackson. "And the final climax of the game gave us an opportunity to do something that the film could not do, which was to have an alternate ending." "Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie" was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, PSP, Nintendo DS and the PC.
http://www.ubisoft.com
http://www.kingkonggame.com
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o Wikipedia Founder Criticized for Editing Own Online Bio

San Francisco -
Wired News reported on Tuesday on a new controversy surrounding Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that has in recent weeks been criticized for its accuracy and editorial standards. A blogger recently discovered that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales had edited his own biographical entry on the site, diminishing the contributions of co-founder Larry Sanger, as well as references to an adult site Wales once operated. "People shouldn't do it, including me," Wales told Wired News. "I wish I hadn't done it. It's in poor taste...People have a lot of information about themselves but staying objective is difficult." Sanger responded to the revelation in a posting on Wikipedia. "Having seen edits like this, it does seem that Jimmy is attempting to rewrite history. But this is a futile process because in our brave new world of transparent activity and maximum communication, the truth will out," Sanger wrote.
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,69880,00.html
http://www.wikipedia.org 
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o N.Y. Times: Walkman Inventor Finally Gets Credit, Royalties from Sony

New York -
The New York Times recently reported on Andreas Pavel, a Brazilian who has finally won his claim to be the inventor of the Walkman. Pavel patented his idea for a portable tape player with headphones in several countries during the late 70's, and shopped his idea to electronics firms including Grundig, Philips and Yamaha, before Sony came out with its Walkman in 1979. Pavel eventually sued Sony, but lawsuits and negotiations dragged out for 25 years before he reached a reported eight-figure settlement with the company, which now also pays Pavel royalties on several Walkman models.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/international/americas/17pavel.html

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Classifieds -- Advertise

Mobile Programmer - NPR Online

NPR has an opening for key position on its application development team focusing on mobile environment such as WAP, SMS, MMS and iMode.  2 years experience developing database-driven web-based applications using PHP, Java, and Struts, as well as a year of experience developing applications for mobile devices; knowledge of Perl, CVS and ANT a plus.  Apply to employment@npr.org job #DMW1511.  EOE

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Systems Administrator - NPR Online

NPR (npr.org) has an opening for a key position on its infrastructure team to maintain and improve systems that drive NPR.org.  7 years exp maintaining enterprise-level, high-traffic systems, including Web and database servers; knowledge of networking protocols and custom-compiled applications and kernels.  Apply to employment@npr.org, job #DMW573.  EOE.
___________________

NPR.org Supervising Producer -
NPR Music

Dynamic music producer, journalist and new-media thinker to develop/implement online strategy and produce musical/journalistic offerings.  Plans/creates online music events; edits/produces music pages; assigns/writes/edits stories; creates multimedia content.  Encyclopedic musical knowledge; professional exp in music industry; excellent writer/editor/ music journalist; commitment to digital media, incl exp w/online publications or creating new-media products; exp w/issues of intellectual property.  Apply to  employment@npr.org. EOE
___________________

Interactive & Multi-Media Web Designer
- NPR Online

Responsible for daily art/design needs of NPR.org. Designs and produces news and editorial graphics and interactive storytelling applications.  BA in Design or Art w/3 years professional exp as graphic artist/designer and with Web design and/or graphics; demonstrated ability as illustrator; command of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash and web design technologies; information architecture, accessibility, and usability matters; ability to present ideas and designs to a group.  Apply to employment@npr.org.  EOE
___________________

Developer/Quality Assurance Specialist -
NPR Online

Works with NPR’s Online Development Team to build and maintain npr.org.  BS w/3 years exp developing web-based applications in Java, Struts and JSP; 3 years exp in database development and SQL; knowledge of versioning and deployment software, experience w/XML desired, preferably CVS and Ant; working knowledge of HTML, JavaScript; understanding of CSS; exp writing automated test scripts against web-based applications essential; media industry exp preferred, including knowledge of streaming media.  Apply to employment@npr.org.  EOE
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Director of Business Development
- Mobile Gaming - SkillJam Technologies

SkillJam Technologies has an open position for a Director of Business Development. This position's primary objective will be responsible for the identification, pursuit, and capture of new business for our gaming solutions targeted at the Mobile industry. You will also be expected to suggest and identify new solutions to quickly address evolving market opportunities in the space. In that capacity, you will be the mobile product liaison with our technology, game and platform development teams.  Send resumes to jobs@skilljamcorp.com
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VP of Business Development -
SkillJam Technologies

SkillJam Technologies has an open position for a VP of Business Dev. This position's primary objective will be to drive the identification, pursuit, and capture of new partnership opportunities (U.S.& International) across our overall portfolio of client solutions (online, iTV, mobile, Kiosk, etc.). The primary focus of this role will be in the online realm however given your sr. position in the organization, you will be expected to help drive the pursuit of opportunities in other nascent distribution channels as well. Send resumes to jobs@skilljamcorp.com
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Public Relations Account Executive - Germantown, MD

DPR Group (http://www.dprgroup.com), a successful, full-service public relations agency, is looking to add experienced public relations professionals at our headquarters in Germantown, Maryland. DPR Group represents a broad range of high-tech clients including software developers, system integrators, electronics manufacturers, and government contractors. DPR offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a great environment for talented, hardworking people. Please send resumes to: careersmd@dprgroup.com
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Sr. Marketing Communications Director - KLA-Tencor

The role of Sr. Director, Marketing Communications and Brand Management is to enhance the KLA-Tencor brand and to create a strong link between the company's branding/messaging efforts and revenue/share growth. The Sr. Director will create and foster an environment where corporate marketing, sales, service, and product marketing are aligned for success. Send resumes to: ruta.joshi@kla-tencor.com
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Vice President/Senior Account Executive - Welz & Weisel Communications

Welz & Weisel Communications (http://www.w2comm.com), a fast growing technology public relations firm is seeking smart, proactive public relations professionals - Vice President/Senior Account Executive. 5 plus years of technology PR experience required. The ideal candidate will recommend and implement results-oriented public relations programs in line with clients' goals and budgets. Welz & Weisel Communications offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Send resumes to evan@w2comm.com
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Direct Marketing Executive - Boston

We are looking for a marketing professional with 2-4 years direct marketing
agency experience to plan and implement the retention direct marketing
initiatives at a dynamic e-commerce company. For more information, call
617 971-0300. Send inquiries to info@market-search.net 

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Director, Business Development Real-Time Publishing Services

This positions primary focus will be developing business deals with major on-
line publishers, advertising networks, and related technology partners.
Candidates should have experience with technology partnerships and market
development supporting the business of Internet publishing, blogging, and/or
rich media. Technology coverage should include RSS/ATOM, Blog/News
readers, Content Aggregation, Internet web services, and enterprise website
products. Send resumes to mdriscoll@verisign.com

___________________

SVP Internet Marketing

Candidate Requirements: Exceptional skills at guerrilla marketing, search engine optimization, web marketing, database marketing, end-user experience, and search engine marketing. We are targeting executives that are coming from either a consumer services or business services company who have managed the internet as a sales channel. Send resumes to: marketing@cxosearch.net
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MidemNet Forum at MIDEM - Cannes, France - January 21-22, 2006 

The World's Annual Forum for Digital & Mobile Music. Confirmed keynotes to date are NTT DoCoMo SVP Takeshi Natsuno ; Warner Music Group EVP Digital Strategy & Business Development Alex Zubillaga ; EMI Group Chairman Eric Nicoli ; Ken Lombard, President of Starbucks Entertainment ; Patricia Langrand, EVP Content Division for France Telecom and Nokia's EVP and GM Multimedia Anssi Vanjoki. For its 2006 edition, MidemNet forum will welcome both the world's leading digital music experts and global authorities on mobile music. Register on www.midem.com  before December 20 and save € 350 on your MidemNet Forum + MIDEM registration.
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The 64 Second Film Contest - Judge Now

Film Fanatics, Digital Hipsters, Mixmasters, Photophiles.  Check out the best 64-second films at www.64seconds.com.  Make sure to get in your vote by December 18th.  Your voice will help chose the best films and send a movie-mogul-in-the-making to Hollywood.
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About Us
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is a news organization, publisher and events company serving the digital media industry since May 2000. Our daily newsletter delivers original briefings on business, legal and financial developments shaping digital media and read by over 30,000 executives and professionals.

Digital Media Wire, Inc. is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international network of publications that includes Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire, Tri-state Tech Wire, Thames Tech Wire and European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 70,000 individuals from over 70 countries each business day.

For more information, visit our network of sites:
www.digitalmediawire.com         www.potomactechwire.com www.newenglandtechwire.com  www.bayareatechwire.com www.tristatetechwire.com          www.southeasttechwire.com www.thamestechwire.com          www.europeantechwire.com


Executive & Editorial Team
CEO & Publisher: Ned Sherman
Co-Founder & Executive Editor: Paul Sherman
VP, Marketing & Events: Tinzar Than Sherman
Editor: Mark Hefflinger

Contact Us
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