Archive - May 10, 2005

Date

Yahoo Launches Test of "Unlimited" Digital Music Subscription Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:53am.
Santa Monica, Calif. -- Yahoo on Tuesday launched a beta version of Yahoo Music Unlimited, a music subscription service for U.S. users that will offer unlimited streaming of one million tracks, and transfer to portable devices for $6.99 per month, or about $59 per year. A subscription also includes access to Yahoo's commercial-free Internet radio stations, the ability to browse and listen to friends' Yahoo Music collections and playlists via Yahoo Messenger, and a discounted price of $0.79 for permanent song downloads. Users can also create personalized music homepages and access music from any PC using their Yahoo accounts. "From premium radio to an entirely on-demand experience, Yahoo Music Unlimited has assembled all the key elements to fulfill consumers' needs," said Yahoo Music vice president and general manager, Dave Goldberg. "For a great value, users get to listen to as much music as they want, while utilizing superior innovations in playlist generation and community features to enrich and expand their music experience."
tags: Yahoo | Digital Music | Unlimited | Subscription Service |

Sony, Toshiba Close to DVD Format Accord That Would Favor Blu-ray

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:52am.
Tokyo -- Sony and Toshiba are nearing a resolution to their battle for control of the market for next-generation DVD formats that would see Sony's Blu-ray technology figure more prominently, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The two firms have been in talks to avoid a format war reminiscent of the VHS-Betamax market split on videocassettes, by combining Sony's Blu-ray high-capacity DVD standard somehow with the HD DVD standard developed by Toshiba. The combined format would reportedly use Sony's encoding technology while utilizing Toshiba's technology for data transfer and copyright protection. The Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Sony and Toshiba may announce plans for a joint offering in advance of a meeting of manufacturers scheduled for May 16.
tags: Sony | DVD | Blu-ray | Toshiba |

Eminem Settles Copyright Dispute With Apple Over iPod Commercial

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:51am.
Detroit -- Hip-hop artist Eminem's publishing company has agreed to settle a copyright infringement suit it brought against Apple Computer, over the unauthorized use of an Eminem song in an ad for Apple's iPod music player. Eight Mile Style sued Apple, along with MTV, Viacom and ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day in February 2004, after an Apple iPod ad appeared featuring a ten-year-old singing Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Apple aired the ad despite having tried unsuccessfully to properly license the song from Eminem. Eight Mile Style attorney Howard Hertz told the Associated Press that "the parties were able to reach an amicable resolution." Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
tags: iPod | Apple | Copyright | Eminem |

Report: U.S. Video Game Console Revenue to Reach $11.7 Billion in 2010

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:50am.
New York -- The release of next-generation consoles from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will propel the U.S. market for video game consoles from $8.7 billion in 2004 to $11.7 billion in 2010, according to a report from New York-based JupiterResearch. The nearly $4 billion in revenue growth is projected despite an anticipated overall slowing of audience growth for game consoles: the firm predicts 2% annualized growth in the installed base for upcoming consoles, compared with the 8% annualized growth in installed base experienced by the current generation of consoles. Jupiter also predicted that Microsoft would reap only modest benefits should it launch its Xbox 360 this fall, ahead of its competitors, in contrast to the impressive head start that Sony got with its first-to-market launch of the PlayStation 2. "The market is going to be more evenly split this round -- regardless of when the players launch," said JupiterResearch senior analyst Jay Horwitz.
tags: VC | Reports | U.S | Video Games |

Bertelsmann's BMG Direct Acquires The Columbia House Company

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:49am.
New York -- German media conglomerate Bertelsmann announced on Tuesday that its BMG Direct unit, which sells CDs through mail order catalogs and online, has acquired Columbia House, the DVD and CD retail club that counts 8 million members. The Wall Street Journal reported that BMG Direct paid $400 million to The Blackstone Group for Columbia House, citing people familiar with the deal. BMG Direct is the largest direct to consumer retailer of recorded music in the U.S., while Columbia House is the largest specialized retailer of DVDs. "We are bringing together two of the [country's] most respected and knowledgeable direct marketing media companies. The combined BMG Direct and Columbia House entity will offer a broader selection of products to a larger customer base, while at the same time creating cost efficiencies," said Ewald Walgenbach, CEO of DirectGroup Bertelsmann.
tags: Bertelsmann | BMG | The Columbia House |

Nintendo, IGN Partner on Wi-Fi Gaming Network for Nintendo DS

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:46am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with IGN Entertainment, a provider of video game information and services, to create a wireless portable gaming network for its Nintendo DS handheld game console. Launching later this year, the Wi-Fi gaming network will use IGN's GameSpy technology to connect gamers to one another free of charge, whether connecting from a home Wi-Fi connection or from a public Wi-Fi hotspot. The Wi-Fi service will be utilized by a number of upcoming DS game titles, including "Animal Crossing." "With minimum setup procedures, Nintendo DS owners will be able to enjoy Wi-Fi gaming just as easily as if they were playing with their friends in the same room," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing.
tags: Games | Nintendo | DS | IGN | Wi-Fi |

Apple Launches iTunes Music Stores in Scandinavia

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:45am.
Cupertino, Calif. -- Apple on Tuesday launched four new iTunes Music Stores in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, expanding the top online music seller's reach into a total of 19 countries. The company said it partnered with UBS in Switzerland, to offer every Swiss citizen a free song from the iTunes Store. Apple, which commands 70% of the digital music market and has now sold over 400 million song downloads, said its U.S. store now offers 1.5 million tracks while its international stores average a million songs each.
tags: Apple | iTunes | Musics | Scandinavia |

Eastman Kodak Maintains No. 1 Spot in Digital Camera Market

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:42am.
Rochester, N.Y. -- Eastman Kodak shipped more digital cameras in the U.S. than any other company during the most recent quarter, continuing its No. 1 market share spot that it established during 2004, according to new research from IDC. The company shipped 900,000 digital cameras in the quarter, followed by Canon (850,000 units), Sony (800,000) and Olympus.
tags: Top | Eastman Kodak | Digital Camera |

Universal Music Sells CD and DVD Businesses for $122 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:41am.
Atlanta -- Glenayre Technologies, an Atlanta-based provider of messaging technology and enhanced services for wireless and wireline carriers, has agreed to pay $122 million to acquire the North American and central European CD and DVD manufacturing and distribution operations from Universal Music Group. Included in the deal are Universal's manufacturing and distribution operations in Hanover, Germany, its manufacturing operations in Grover, N.C. and its distribution operations in Indiana, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchase price will be about $81.8 million, of which $28 million is payable for the U.S. operations, and about $47.3 million for the central European operations.
tags: Universal Music | DVD | CD |