Archives

U.K. Government Agency Recommends Deadline for Switchover to Digital TV

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 8:34am.
London -- In a report published earlier this week, the U.K. communications watchdog (Ofcom) said the government must stop dragging its heels and set a date for switching the nation's TVs from analog transmission to digital. The regulatory agency said an official timetable would significantly extend digital penetration in the country and help to ensure that the U.K. has made the move to digital by the end of 2010. In its Driving Digital Switchover report, which contained 23 recommendations, Ofcom warned the government that many TV viewers and broadcasters might need some sort of financial incentive to make the switch, which it said should by phased in region by region to prevent widespread TV blackouts. Since receiving the report, however, the government has said that it has no intention of subsidizing the replacement of nearly 40 million analogue TVs.
tags: U.K. | Government | Digital TV |

English-Language Latino Network Si TV Raises $60 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:25am.
Los Angeles -- Si TV, the recently launched English-language, Latino-themed TV network, announced that it has raised $60 million in new funding from investors including satellite TV operator EchoStar Communications and Time Warner. Other investors participating included Syndicated Communications Ventures, Columbia Capital, Rho Ventures, DND Capital Partners, Llano Partners and company co-founder Barshop Ventures. Launched in February, Si TV targets a demographic of 18-34 year-old 2nd and 3rd generation U.S. Latinos. The network currently reaches 7 million homes through affiliate agreements with EchoStar, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Cox. The company said that its charter advertisers include Wal-Mart, Sears, General Motors, the U.S. Army, EarthLink, Conair and Sony Music.
tags: Deal | English-Language | Latino Network |

British Telecom Launches Own Digital Rights Management, Rich Media Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:23am.
London -- U.K. phone and Internet service provider British Telecom (BT) announced on Tuesday a new Rich Media platform that will allow businesses to distribute multimedia content protected by BT's new proprietary digital rights management technology. The service is the company's first foray into digital rights management, a field currently dominated by competitors including Microsoft, RealNetworks, Apple and Sony. BT partnered with RealNetworks on the new platform, but will only offer that company's publishing and content management tools to customers. "The digital rights element is in no way intended to restrict distribution -- in fact, quite the opposite. The software is downloaded at no extra charge, and encourages users to share digital files with flexible billing options, including those linked to the end user's BT account," said BT Rich media CEO Andy Brown. BT said that among the first customers for the service will be TWI Interactive, which plans to stream both its back catalog of content and future global sporting events.
tags: Digital Rights Management | British Telecom | Media Service |

Citing Economics, Association for Independent Music to Disband After 32 Years

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:20am.
Rocky River, Ohio -- The Association for Independent Music (AFIM), an organization started in 1972 to represent the independent music industry's retailers, record labels and artists, announced on Tuesday that its board of directors has voted to dissolve the organization, effective April 15. Current members will be offered membership in the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), which said it launched a new Independent Music Issue Forum that will focus on indie-centric issues and initiatives. "AFIM has been struggling with dire economic circumstances for a number of years and is simply no longer able to maintain the level of services and benefits our members deserve," said board chairman Clay Pasternack. "After working with NARM on a joint Annual Convention for the last two years, we felt the best outcome would be to work with NARM to provide a logical migration path for our members, as well as to help NARM enhance its own focus on the independent music sector."
tags: Music | Independent | Citing Economics | Disband |

Apple Loses Bid to Move Trademark Suit With Beatles' Record Label to U.S. London

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:15am.
Apple Computer has been denied a motion in the London High Court to move a trademark lawsuit brought against the company by the Beatles' record label, Apple Corps, from the U.K. to the U.S., Reuters reported. The record label sued the computer maker for violation of a 1991 agreement where Apple Computer agreed not to use the name in association with the music industry -- an agreement that Apple Corps said the company has broken with the launch of its iTunes Music Store in the U.K.
tags: Apple | Beatles | Record | Suit | U.S. London |

Midway Games Acquires "The Suffering" Developer Surreal for $4.2 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:12am.
Chicago -- Video game developer Midway Games announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Seattle-based developer Surreal Software, which created its recently released "The Suffering" title, in a stock transaction valued at about $4.2 million. Surreal is also responsible for titles including the "Drakan" franchise and "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Chicago-based Midway said the acquisition will strengthen its internal development team. "The positive market reception to 'The Suffering' illustrates our ability to successfully develop and release entirely new properties that resonate strongly with the growing audience of sophisticated, mature gamers," said Midway president and CEO David F. Zucker.
tags: Games | Midway | Deal | The Suffering | Surreal |

U.K. Privacy Group Condemns New Google Email Service As Illegal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:09am.
London -- Privacy International, a global citizens group with offices in the U.S. and the U.K., this week voiced concerns about a new Google email service called "Gmail" that stores messages in a place where PC users are unable to delete them. Although the service comes with more than 100 times the free storage capacity offered by Yahoo Mail and MSN Hotmail, Gmail guarantees far less privacy; Google has admitted in its privacy and terms of use sections that it would employ "cookies" and scan users' email accounts in a bid to fine tune advertising. In a statement released earlier this week, Privacy International, which has filed an official complaint with U.K. authorities, claims the service is illegal. "Consumers should be aware that there's a vast violation of European law occurring here," said Privacy International Director Simon Davies.
tags: Google | U.K. | Laws | Group |

Atari Launches Games on Demand Monthly Subscription Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2004 - 7:05am.

New York -- Video game publisher Atari announced on Tuesday the launch of Atari on Demand, a new subscription-based service that will stream its back-catalog game titles to users' PCs. The $14.95 monthly service, powered by technology from Massachusetts-based Exent, will allow Windows users from anywhere in the world to subscribe to the service, which in addition to games will also offer productivity and kids' software.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040406/65479_1.html 
http://www.atariondemand.com 
http://www.exent.com
tags: Games | Atari | Subscription | Demand |