Archives

Napster Sees Strong Subscriber Growth, Raises Revenue Guidance

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:17am.
Los Angeles -- Napster announced on Tuesday that strong subscriber growth and download sales have compelled it to raise fourth-quarter revenue projections, causing shares to rise nearly 10% on Tuesday. Napster added 143,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter, including 56,000 at colleges and universities, to reach 410,000 -- representing growth of more than 53% over third quarter totals. The company now forecasts revenue of between $16.5 million and $17.5 million for its fiscal fourth quarter, up from a prior projection of $15 million. That figure itself was raised in March, from an earlier estimate of $14 million. "Our innovative Napster To Go marketing campaign has lead to a very strong increase in consumer awareness as music fans are 'doing the math' and discovering the incredible value and excitement of a Napster subscription," said CEO Chris Gorog. "We were also delighted to see that our new Napster To Go subscribers exhibited a strong appetite for purchasing pay-per-download music as well and are therefore raising our sales guidance for the quarter."
tags: VC | Subscriptions | Napster | Growth | Revenue Guidance |

Comcast, TiVo Working on System to Update Ads on Recorded Programs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:15am.
Philadelphia -- Comcast, the cable television and Internet giant that recently announced a plan to integrate the digital video services of TiVo, is working on a plan to insert new, updated commercials into the programs that TiVo users have recorded days and weeks before viewing them, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The technology would delete some of the original ads and replace them with current ones. Ads also could be adjusted based on a user's viewership patterns. Comcast said last month that it will begin incorporating TiVo into its cable service in 2006. Separately, TiVo said on Tuesday that it has expanded an existing agreement with satellite TV provider DirecTV. Under the terms, both TiVo and DirecTV may now sell and distribute TiVo advertising on the TiVo-enabled set-tops distributed to DirecTV subscribers, with each company retaining the respective revenue it generates.
tags: TiVo | Comcast | Update Ads | Recorded Programs |

Al Gore-Backed Current.tv Digital TV Network to Launch on August 1

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:13am.
San Francisco -- Former vice president Al Gore has announced that his re-named Current.tv youth-oriented digital TV network will launch on Aug. 1. Formerly INdTV, the 24-hour Current.tv network will offer short-form video content, produced both professionally and by viewers, on both the Internet and in 19 million homes subscribing to DirecTV satellite and Time Warner cable TV services. "The Internet opened a floodgate for young people whose passions are finally being heard, but TV hasn't followed suit," said Gore. "We intend to change that with Current, giving those who crave the empowerment of the Web the same opportunity for expression on television." Current.tv will offer video segments between 15 seconds and five minutes in length, on topics ranging from politics and the environment to technology, entertainment and relationships. The company, which is also backed by entrepreneur Joel Hyatt, also announced a relationship with Google, and will produce video segments based on the current popular Google searches in real-time.
tags: Launch | Al Gore | Current.tv | Digital TV Network |

Disney's ABC Seeks TV Distribution for Digital News Network

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:09am.
New York -- ABC News, a unit of Disney, has announced the launch a new digital video news network, which will offer content on the Internet, wireless devices and eventually on a new TV network. ABC News Now, which grew out of anchor Peter Jennings' political convention coverage last year, offers video from ABC's stable of national news programming, and plans to soon add content from a number of local ABC News affiliates. The service is already available on the Internet via AOL, Comcast and Yahoo, and on cell phones through services offered by MobiTV and SmartVideo. Executives at Disney told reporters at the National Cable Television Association convention in San Francisco this week that they are currently seeking a broadcast distributor for the network.
tags: Disney's ABC | TV Distribution | Digital News Network |

Microsoft Pitches Digital Video Production Software to Hollywood

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:06am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft on Tuesday made a pitch to Hollywood film studios and broadcasters, extending to them services offered through its Connected Services Framework that can streamline the creation, management and delivery of digital media content. The server-based software includes applications that aid in digital asset management and content distribution across multiple networks and a range of device types. Microsoft said it is collaborating with companies including video editing equipment maker Avid Technology, Panasonic, OmniBus Systems and North Plains Systems Corp. to offer its Connected Services Framework to studios and broadcasters.
tags: Microsoft | Hollywood | Digital Video Production Software |

9th Annual Webby Awards Moved From Bay Area to New York City

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:04am.
New York -- The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced on Tuesday that the 9th Annual Webby Awards, which recognize outstanding websites, will for the first time occur outside of San Francisco, when they are held on June 6 in New York City. Nominations in 65 categories, from Blog and Fashion to Film and Music, will be announced on April 12; this year's event will also include the debut of the Webby Special Achievement awards, in categories including Person of the Year, Artist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. The Webby Awards event at Gotham Hall will be hosted by "Daily Show" correspondent Rob Corddry. Members of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences include Virgin's Richard Branson, musician David Bowie, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.
tags: 9th Annual Webby Awards | Bay Area | New York City |

Amazon.com Acquires Print-On-Demand Firm BookSurge

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 4:00am.
North Charleston, S.C. -- BookSurge, a South Carolina-based provider of inventory-free book printing and fulfillment services, has been acquired by online retail giant Amazon.com. The acquisition price was not disclosed. BookSurge maintains a catalog of thousands of titles that can be printed on-demand and are available for sale on Amazon.com. BookSurge offers its fulfillment network to publishers, authors and wholesalers. The company was founded in 2000.
tags: Amazon.com | Acquires | Print-On-Demand | BookSurge |

Digital Entertainment Middleware Developer Bluestreak Raises $6 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 3:58am.
Dallas, Texas -- Bluestreak Network, a developer of presentation software for digital TV and mobile personal media devices, announced that it has raised $6 million in its second round of venture capital financing. Participating in the round were new investors Solidarity Fund QFL and BDC Venture Capital, who joined existing investor First Capital Group. Dallas-based Bluestreak's "Digital Entertainment Middleware" technology allows developers to use Macromedia's Flash application to create interactive TV and mobile phone content. The company recently signed an agreement to bundle its software with the middleware OpenTV provides for 50 million digital TV set-tops. Bluestreak will use the funds to expand its sales, marketing and product development efforts.
tags: VC | Bluestreak | Digital Entertainment Middleware Developer |

Broadcast Technology Firm Digital Vision to Acquire Nucoda

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 3:54am.
London -- Digital Vision, a Sweden-based broadcast technology company, announced that it has acquired Nucoda, a privately-held London-based supplier of digital video products and systems to the film and video industry. Digital Vision said the acquisition would allow it to broaden its range of post-production services and expand technical capabilities, particularly in the digital intermediate market. "We are extremely impressed with the Nucoda team," said Digital Vision President and CEO Robert Ekstrom. "The combination of their skills and experience, with that of our engineering team, will help us accelerate the development of the important new tools that will help our customers operate more productively and provide the best looking pictures possible." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
tags: Acquire | Acquisition | Broadcast Technology | Digital Vision | Nucoda |

Digital Video Firm Harmonic to Raise Up to $126.6 Million in Offerings

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 5, 2005 - 3:51am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Harmonic Inc., a developer of digital video systems, on Monday filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to $126.6 million through the sale of stock, debt and warrants. Under the company's shelf registration, the company can raise the money in several different offerings. The company also on Monday introduced technology that allows for the delivery of ultra high-speed, commercial grade Internet access and other services to commercial customers. The technology will allow cable operators to transport bandwidth-intensive multimedia services for large business, government and education customers through the same infrastructure that carries residential video, voice and data services.
tags: VC | Harmonic | Digital Video | Offerings |