Archives

MusicNet to Power Music Download Store for U.K. Retailer HMV

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 10:36am.
New York -- MusicNet, a joint venture between several major record labels and technology firm RealNetworks, announced on Monday that it has signed a long-term agreement with U.K. music retailer HMV. Under the terms, New York-based MusicNet will provide its library of licensed tracks, as well as delivery technology to support HMV's new digital music download store. HMV said it plans to invest about $19 million to launch the service in the second half of 2005. The U.K. retailer, which operates 200 locations, also contracted with Microsoft late last year to develop customized jukebox player software, which users will be required to download in order to access the online store. HMV will offer the player software both online and from its retail stores.
tags: MusicNet | Power | HMV | Music Download Store | U.K. Retailer |

Report: U.S. Broadband Market Expected to Nearly Double by '08

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 10:31am.
Arlington, Va. -- The U.S. broadband market is expected to reach an estimated 56.9 million subscribers by 2008, nearly doubling the figure from a year ago, according to a new report from the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). There was about 32.5 million U.S. broadband subscribers in 2004. The TIA said that faster speeds are driving demand for cable modem and digital subscriber line (DSL) providers. With telephone companies becoming more aggressive in rolling out bundled DSL services and cable operators losing subscribers to direct broadcast satellite, the gap between cable and DSL narrowed last year (17 million to 12.6 million), and will continue to decrease through 2008, the organization said.
tags: Reports | U.S. Broadband Market | Nearly Double |

Microsoft, MTV to Unveil Next-Generation Xbox on May 12 TV Special

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 2:39am.
New York -- Microsoft announced on Monday that it will provide the first glimpse of its next-generation Xbox video game console on May 12, in a half-hour promotional TV program produced in partnership with MTV Networks. "MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed" will be hosted by actor Elijah Wood and feature live musical performances from The Killers; following the broadcast, MTV.com will offer additional video footage and other features on the console. The program will break the tradition of unveiling new video game consoles at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game trade show, which will take place the following week in Los Angeles. "Just as MTV revolutionized the way the world experiences music, the next-generation video game console from Xbox will spark a revolution in how consumers experience games and other forms of digital entertainment," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Xbox at Microsoft.
tags: Microsoft | MTV | Next-Generation Xbox | TV Special |

AOL, XM Satellite Radio to Team on New Web Radio Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 2:37am.
Washington, DC -- In a marriage of two of the DC-area's most prominent technology companies, America Online and XM Satellite Radio said on Monday that they will partner to launch a new online radio service. The companies said that the co-branded service, expected to launch this summer, will integrate programming and products from XM, a provider of satellite radio services with more than 3.8 million subscribers, and the AOL Radio Network, an online radio network with more than 200 stations and about 10 million unique visitors a month. It will have a free version -- featuring a sampling of 20 XM stations plus 130 AOL Radio stations -- as well as a fee-based version with 50 more XM stations, free to AOL subscribers. "The multi-tiered co-branded radio offerings will feature a number of popular stations currently offered by the AOL Radio Network and XM Satellite Radio," said Hugh Panero, the president and CEO of XM. As part of the deal, XM also will integrate some of AOL's original programming into its satellite radio service, and the companies will work together to develop new programs and services for the online and satellite markets.
tags: AOL | Deal | Web Radio | XM Satellite Radio |

Coppola Disapproves of "Godfather" Video Game: "A Misuse of Film"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 2:33am.
Los Angeles -- Francis Ford Coppola, director of the acclaimed "Godfather" film trilogy, is apparently not happy with plans to create a video game based on the films, GamesIndustry.biz reported. Appearing on "Sunday Morning ShootOut," a weekly cable TV show about the movie industry airing on AMC, Coppola said Paramount Pictures failed to inform him of their licensing deal with game producer Electronic Arts. "I knew nothing about it," said Coppola. "The never asked me if I thought it was a good idea… I had absolutely nothing to do with the game and I disapprove. I think it's a misuse of film." However, Coppola would seem to be contradicted by EA's producer on the game, David De Martini, who told GamesIndustry.biz, "We've met with [Coppola] on once occasion and we shared with him what our vision was for the game, and where we were going to go."
tags: Video Game | Coppola | Godfather | A Misuse of Film |

Electronic Arts Gets Six-Year Exclusive College Football Video Game License

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 11, 2005 - 2:30am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Video game publisher Electronic Arts announced on Monday that it has signed a six-year agreement with the Collegiate Licensing Company, giving it the exclusive rights to develop and publish games featuring the official teams, stadiums and schools of college football. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The first title under the contract, "NCAA Football 2006" for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube, is scheduled for release this summer. Separately, Redwood City, Calif.-based EA said that its EA Canada studio is currently developing "Need for Speed: Most Wanted," the latest installment in its 15 million unit-selling Need for Speed racing game franchise. EA did not provide release date details for the title, which will ship for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, Game Boy Advance, PSP and the PC.
tags: Electronic Arts | College Football Video Game |