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Sony Cancels Release of Football, Basketball Video Games for 2004

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:56am.
Foster City, Calif. -- Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that its 989 Sports division will not release updates for a number of its sports games this year, following a similar move made by Microsoft's XSN Sports in light of competition in the sector from independent developers like Electronic Arts. Sony said that it will not release new pro or college football or basketball titles for 2004, instead choosing to focus on developing more compelling versions for release in 2005. Sony said the decision will not affect its baseball, hockey, soccer or Olympics sports titles.
tags: Sony | Football | Basketball | Video Games |

Napster Signs Distribution Deal with U.K. Electronics Retailer Dixons

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:54am.
London -- Music download service Napster announced this week that it has signed an exclusive agreement with U.K.-based consumer electronics firm Dixons to help with the launch of its U.K. service, planned for later this summer. Under the terms of the deal, Dixons will promote Napster through Dixons, Currys, The Link and PC World stores throughout the U.K. Furthermore, Dixons will preinstall Napster 2.0 software on all of its own-brand PCs, the company said in a statement. Napster President Brad Duea described the deal as an "extremely important" one for his company. Although Napster has referred to the agreement as "multiyear", neither a full timescale nor financial details have been released. Santa Clara, California-based Roxio, which owns former peer-to-peer network Napster, previously planned to roll out a music-download service in the U.K earlier this spring; problems with licensing agreements, however, forced the company to delay the launch until this summer. Rival Apple also plans to launch a version of its iTunes Store in the U.K. by the end of the year.
tags: Deals | Napster | U.K | Electronics | Dixons |

BBC Announces Three Finalist Bidders for BBC Technology Unit

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:53am.
London -- The BBC on Thursday announced a shortlist of three companies that have emerged as final bidders for its BBC Technology unit, an advanced video and interactive TV production business the company is selling to reduce costs. Accenture, CSC or Siemens are the three firms in line to buy the division, and along with it a contract to provide outsourced production services to the BBC, which the company said is worth up to $3.6 billion. "The shortlisted bidders have shown their ability to invest in technology innovation and enable us to revolutionize the way we make programs over the next ten years," said BBC chief technology officer John Varney. The BBC expects to announce a finalized deal in the fall.
tags: BBC | BBC Technology | Finalist Bidders |

Electronic Arts Announces Games to be Previewed at E3 Expo

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:51am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Video game developer Electronic Arts on Thursday announced the slate of titles it plans to preview at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo video game convention in Los Angeles. The company announced its support for Sony's new PSP portable gaming device, pledging to deliver four titles at launch and 10-12 more within the year. EA's successful sports games division will show the 2005 editions of franchises including Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, NBA Live, NASCAR, NCAA Football, NCAA March Madness, NHL and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. EA will showcase 12 other titles under its EA Games brand, including "GoldenEye: Rogue Agent," Battlefield 2," "Catwoman," "Def Jam Fight for NY," "Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban" and "The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth." The company's EA Partners division will also display three titles that EA is co-publishing with other companies.
tags: Games | Electronic Arts | E3 Expo |

Mobile Multimedia Platform Developer Tao Group Raises $7 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:50am.
Reading, U.K. -- U.K.-based Tao Group announced on Thursday that it has secured $7 million in venture capital in a round led by Atlantic Capital Partners, which invested in the group for the second time. Privately held Tao is a manufacturer of the Intent multimedia platform for mobile and other digital devices. "With the additional funding led by Cross Atlantic, we will be able to pursue a much more aggressive go-to-market program in Europe, Asia and North America," said Tao chairman Francis Charig. To date, the company has raised more than $45 million in private equity, with nearly $37 million of that being raised within the last three years.
tags: Mobile | VC | Multimedia | Tao Group |

Device Browser Developer ANT Limited Secures $6.1 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2004 - 2:48am.
Cambridge, England -- ANT Limited announced this week that it has secured $6.1 million in new funding. ANT provides browser, user interface and content rendering software for interactive TV, set-top boxes, DVD and other consumer electronics devices, industrial appliances, service operators and silicon vendors. "Over the last three years since we last went to the venture market, ANT has become profitable and cash-generating," said ANT CEO Simon Woodward. "Having built a robust base for the business in a difficult economic climate, we now feel the time is right to invest in growing more aggressively." Woodward also said the funding would allow ANT to capitalize on "what we see as a sweet-spot" in the market and target new opportunities for growth.
tags: Secures | Browser Developer | ANT |