Archives

Adobe Systems Acquires Macromedia in $3.4 Billion Stock Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 9:12am.
San Jose, Calif. -- In a massive merger that will create new competition for Microsoft, Adobe Systems, a provider of publishing and Web software including Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat, announced on Monday that it will acquire Macromedia, developer of the Flash format, in an all-stock deal valued at $3.4 billion. The combined company will be able to offer media firms and other businesses a full suite of applications for creating rich media content for the Web and other platforms. "Customers are calling for integrated software solutions that enable them to create, manage and deliver a wide range of compelling content and applications -- from documents and images to audio and video," said Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen. "By combining our powerful development, authoring and collaboration software -- along with the complementary functionality of PDF and Flash -- Adobe has the opportunity to bring this vision to life with an industry-defining technology platform." The deal is expected to close in the fall of 2005.
tags: Macromedia | Acquisition | Acquires | Adobe Systems | Stock Deal |

Retailer GameStop Acquires Rival Electronics Boutique for $1.4 Billion

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 9:09am.
Grapevine, Texas -- Video game retailer GameStop announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire rival Electronics Boutique, for $1.4 billion in cash and stock. The combined company would count over 3,200 U.S. and 600 international retail stores, accounting for a combined nearly $4 billion in annual revenues. Reuters cited analysts who estimated the combined company would command around one-quarter of the video game retail market -- about the same as Wal-Mart. "This merger will enable us to enter new international markets and allow us to compete more effectively in the highly competitive U.S. video game industry. We are merging these two companies from a position of strength," said GameStop chairman and CEO R. Richard Fontaine. Texas-based GameStop and Pennsylvania-based Electronics Boutique expect the deal to close by May 2.
tags: Acquisition | Acquires | Boutique | Retailer GameStop | Rival Electronics |

Game Publishers, Actors' Unions Negotiating Fees Extend Existing Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 9:07am.
Los Angeles -- Video game publishers negotiating with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and other actors unions, on rates payable to actors providing their likenesses and voice talent to a growing number of video games, have agreed to extend their existing contract another month. The Screen Actors Guild announced that the extension was agreed to on Friday, and will remain in effect until May 13.
tags: Game Publishers | Actors' Unions | Extend Existing Deal |

Sony Partners with Ascent, HP to Digitize Entire Film/TV Library

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 9:04am.
Las Vegas -- Hollywood studio Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Monday that it has digitized more than 500 of its films and television titles, with the goal of creating a digital repository of its works that can more cheaply and efficiently be transmitted on various platforms. Sony partnered with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Ascent Media Group to manage its transfer from analog and create the digital library, which will operate on HP's Digital Media Platform software and hardware. "We have a long-standing relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment and today's announcement is a powerful statement on how the industry is addressing high-priority issues like security, time and manufacturing efficiencies and new forms of distribution," said Ascent CEO Ken Williams. The new system will enable Sony to easily repurpose movies and TV shows for distribution on digital TV, DVD, the Internet, cell phones and other emerging technologies.
tags: Sony | HP | Ascent | Digitize Entire Film/TV Library |

Infinity Broadcasting Partners with HP, Nokia on Interactive "Visual Radio"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 9:01am.
Palo Alto, Calif. -- HP announced on Monday that it has partnered with radio giant Infinity Broadcasting, which operates 183 U.S. radio stations, to offer "Visual Radio" technology that brings interactive content to FM radio. Developed by cell phone maker Nokia and HP, Visual Radio enables FM radio listening on a cell phone, while adding the ability to synchronize album covers, tour information and links to purchase a CD or ringtones that are delivered over the mobile data network. Nokia, which develops the handsets capable of receiving FM, is already testing Visual Radio with radio stations and mobile network operators in Finland, Sweden, Germany and the U.K. The companies say that the technology will provide additional ad revenue and increase listener loyalty for radio stations, while mobile networks can increase data service usage revenues.
tags: HP | Nokia | Deal | Infinity Broadcasting | Interactive Visual Radio |

SeaChange Buys Liberate's Overseas Interactive TV Assets for $25.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 8:58am.
Maynard, Mass. -- SeaChange International, a provider of video-on-demand and other digital video systems to broadcasters, announced on Monday that it hat acquired the assets of interactive TV software firm Liberate Technologies outside of North America. Massachusetts-based SeaChange will exchange $25.5 million in cash for certain patents, and contracts with TV providers including ntl, Telewest and UGC in Europe. San Mateo, Calif.-based Liberate's North American assets were purchased earlier this month by a joint venture of cable operators Comcast and Cox, for $82 million. Liberate's middleware software for set-top boxes enables cable operators to run multiple services -- including high-definition television, video-on-demand and personal video recorders -- on multiple platforms.
tags: Acquisition | Acquires | SeaChange | Overseas Assets | Liberate Technologies |

Entertainment Publisher Navarre Corp. Secures $165 Million Loan

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 8:56am.
Minneapolis, Minn. -- Navarre Corporation, a publisher and distributor of video games, software, music and video, announced on Monday that it has received a financing commitment from GE Commercial Finance for $165 million. The terms include a six-year, $140 million loan and a five-year, $25 million revolving credit facility. Minnesota-based Navarre said it intends to draw the $140 million loan in its entirety, to fund the cash portion of its acquisition of FUNimation, which distributes Japanese children's entertainment content in the U.S. The anticipated remaining balance of $30 million would be used for general corporate purposes. Navarre publishes video games through its Encore Software unit, in addition to various multimedia software, music CDs and Hollywood films on DVD.
tags: Entertainment Publisher | Navarre Corp | Loan |

Report: Europeans Flock to Gambling and Sweepstakes Sites

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2005 - 8:54am.
Paris -- New research from market analysis firm Nielsen/NetRatingsshows that Internet gambling websites are becoming increasingly popular in Europe. More than 14 million Europeans visited gambling and sweepstakes websites in February, representing about 14% of all Europeans with Internet at home. Nielsen/NetRatings said such sites were most popular in France and Sweden. The trend has yet to catch on in southern Europe, however, as fewer than 10% of Spaniards and Italians gamble online. The report also found that more than 3.2 million Britons visited online sites over the same month, a 45% increase compared February 2004. The National Lottery was the most popular gambling and sweepstake site in the U.K., attracting more than 1.3 million visitors, or about 35% of the overall market, followed by William Hill (6.3%), Partypoker.com (6.2%) and Ladbrokes (5.6%).
tags: Gambling | Reports | Europeans | Sweepstakes Sites |