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Arbitron Drops MeasureCast Web Radio Ratings; New Service Planned

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2004 - 7:43am.
New York -- Arbitron, the provider of ratings data for radio stations nationwide, announced on Friday that it will cease its weekly and monthly MeasureCast ratings, which measure Internet radio broadcast audiences, with plans to offer a revised service "better aligned with the needs of the market." New York-based Arbitron acquired MeasureCast in November 2002 and began offering the company's tally of the most-streamed Internet radio stations on the Web, but now believes that MeasureCast "does not provide the kind of information... that media planners need to justify including Internet Broadcasting in their media plans (age, sex, geography, etc.)," said Arbitron Internet Broadcast Services vice president and general manager Bill Rose. Arbitron also said that MeasureCast's method was not adequately scalable for the rapid growth of the medium. "We remain committed to the Internet broadcast business and continue to believe in the viability of this medium and its long-term market potential," said Arbitron New Ventures president Pierre Bouvard. "However, the investment needed to sustain the current method would have been far greater than the revenue potential for the service." The company did not provide details on exactly when it will launch its revised Internet radio ratings service.
tags: Arbitron | MeasureCast | Radio Ratings | New Service |

Gemstar Settles Patent Dispute, Licenses TV Program Guide to Pioneer

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2004 - 7:42am.
Los Angeles -- Gemstar-TV Guide International, a provider of electronic program guides for digital TV services, announced on Friday that it has ended outstanding litigation with consumer electronics firm Pioneer, and will license its program guide technology for use in Pioneer products in North America, Japan and Europe. The deal includes a one-time payment to Gemstar of $14 million, as well as license fees based on the number of Pioneer devices using Gemstar technology that are sold. "I'm delighted to have resolved the issues between our two companies, and look forward to working with Pioneer to make their customers' television experience more simple and enjoyable," said Gemstar CEO Jeff Shell. In the past several months, Los Angeles-based Gemstar has signed similar license agreements with Sony, LG, Comcast and Mitsubishi.
tags: Pioneer | Gemstar | TV Program | Patent Dispute |

SanDisk, Motorola Team on New Tiny Memory Card for Cell Phones

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2004 - 7:26am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- SanDisk, a manufacturer of portable storage media, has announced the release of what it says is the world's smallest flash memory format, T-Flash, designed primarily for use in cell phones. Capable of storing data such as music, images and video, the fingernail-sized memory cards will be available in capacities of between 32MB and 128MB and will cost $14 to $39. Cell phone maker Motorola will be the first to feature T-Flash cards, in new handset models scheduled to hit the market in the second half of 2004.
tags: Motorola | SanDisk | Cell Phones | Memory Card |

BBC Technology Fires Managing Director Over "Misuse of Hospitality"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2004 - 7:25am.
London -- The BBC announced on Friday that it has fired the head of its BBC Technology interactive TV and TV production unit as a result of a disciplinary procedure for "misuse of hospitality." The BBC said that Ann Wilson's termination was in no way related to the impending sale of BBC Technology, which it announced it would look to sell off in November of last year. The BBC said then that it could save around $56 million per year by outsourcing the services that BBC Technology provides. Firms including IBM, HP, Fujitsu and Siemens have expressed interest in the unit, which will likely be sold later this year. Adrian Cocoran, the current director of operations at BBC Technology, has been appointed acting managing director while the company seeks a replacement for Wilson.
tags: BBC Technology | Misuse of Hospitality | Director |