Archives

New FCC Chair: Satellite, Cable TV Should Self-Regulate on Indecency

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:49am.
San Francisco -- The newly appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that under his leadership, the Commission is not likely to extend indecency regulations to cable and satellite TV, although he advocated for the industry to regulate itself. "I prefer markets and competition to regulation whenever possible… Competition first, then regulation," FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin told an audience at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association convention in San Francisco. While broadcasters have argued that the V-chip and other technology exists so that viewers can block unwanted channels, lawmakers including Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) have pushed for extending the authority of the FCC, which currently levies indecency fines for network TV and traditional radio stations, to satellite, cable and the Internet.
tags: Cable TV | Satellite | New FCC Chair | Self-Regulate | Indecency |

Software Giants Offer to Help EU Case against Microsoft

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:46am.
Brussels -- According to the Financial Times, a lobby group of technology giants led by IBM, Nokia, Oracle, RealNetworks and Red Hat has offered to help the European Commission with its ongoing anti-trust case against Microsoft. The group, dubbed the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), has asked to intervene on the Commission's side by providing technical and legal advice. ECIS told the Financial Times that its move reflected growing concern within the European software industry over a wide range of "anti-competitive" Microsoft behavior. Analysts say the group's support could be a major shot in the arm for the Commission as it wrangles with Microsoft over a number of compliance issues, especially in light of the fact that Microsoft recently settled disagreements with Novell and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, and that Sun removed itself from the debate last year. The Commission, however, may reject the group's offer because it missed a December court deadline.
tags: Law | Microsoft | EU | Software Giants |

MTV to Launch Interactive Broadband Video-on-Demand Network

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:44am.
New York -- Viacom's MTV Networks announced on Wednesday that it will launch "MTV Overdrive," a broadband Internet video-on-demand channel featuring short-form programming, on April 25. The site will offer content like MTV News updates, artist interviews, music videos, live music performances, original and newly created short-form programming, MTV and MTV2 show footage, and movie trailers. "With an incredibly high percentage of young people using broadband, it seemed essential to create a new hybrid screen with its own content to complement MTV, MTV2, MTV.com and *MTV," said Jason Hirschhorn, senior vice president of digital music and media for MTV Networks. MTV is building a new digital media-dedicated studio in Times Square to produce exclusive content for MTV Overdrive, whose initial advertisers include Microsoft, Sony Pictures and Procter & Gamble. The site will also use Microsoft's technology to deliver audio and video content.
tags: MTV | Launch | Interactive Broadband Video-on-Demand |

Headset Maker Plantronics to Acquire Digital Audio Developer Octiv

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:40am.
Berkeley, Calif. -- Plantronics, a maker of communications headsets, has announced that it will acquire Berkeley, Calif.-based Octiv, a provider of audio signal processing technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "[Octiv] will strengthen Plantronics' expertise in personal communication," said Ken Kannappan, the president and CEO of Plantronics. "The acquisition of Octiv is particularly attractive given the future convergence of wireless voice communication and entertainment." Kannappan said that the acquisition is expected to strengthen his company's product portfolio and long-term earnings growth outlook.
tags: Acquire | Acquisition | Headset Maker | Plantronics | Digital Audio Developer | Octiv |

CNET Acquires Photo Sharing Firm Windup Labs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:37am.
Arlington, Mass. -- CNET Networks, the San Francisco-based technology media company, said on Tuesday that it has acquired Massachusetts-based Windup Labs and its HeyPix service. The deal will allow CNET to offer advanced photo management, social networking, and blogging capabilities to visitors of its Webshots photo sharing site. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Launched in 1995, fast-growing Webshots has a photo library of about 175 million images, growing by about 66 million photos in the first quarter alone. HeyPix, which launched in December, is a photo sharing service that allows digital photographers to manage, edit and organize photos.
tags: CNET | Acquisition | Acquires | Photo Sharing | Windup Labs |

French Anti-Piracy Technology Firm Medialive Raises $4.2 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 6, 2005 - 3:33am.
Paris -- Medialive SA, a France-based provider of multimedia content protection technology, announced that it has secured $4.2 million in first-round venture capital funding. Nextel Communications Inc. and Sophia Euro Lab led the round. Medialive offers its technology to broadband and wireless service providers to protect the delivery of multimedia content, allowing new secure multimedia usages and services. "Medialive is tackling a market that is just beginning to grow," said Medialive CEO Didier Lesteven. "Through Nextel's investment, Medialive gains the fifth-largest U.S. mobile service provider's endorsement, and with the continuing support of Sophia Euro Lab, we expect to further deploy Medialive's superior technology in the growing Mobile Content Usages Services applications market." The company said it would use the new funds to expand to new markets.
tags: VC | Medialive | French Anti-Piracy Technology |