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Viacom Board Approves Spin-Off Into Two Separate Companies

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:41am.
New York -- In a bid to make its assets more attractive to investors, media conglomerate Viacom announced that its board has approved a split of the company into two publicly-traded companies. One will contain Paramount Pictures, MTV and other cable networks, while the other will be comprised of Viacom's broadcast TV and radio businesses, including CBS. The former will be called Viacom, and will be headed by co-president Tom Freston, while the latter will be renamed CBS and will be run by co-president Leslie Moonves; Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone will serve as chairman of both companies. The spin-off is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2006.
tags: Separate | Viacom Board | Approves Spin-Off |

McCain Bill Would Subsidize Digital TVs, Speed Transition From Analog

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:39am.
Washington -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has introduced a new version of his Save Lives Act, which would provide federal funds to subsidize the purchase of new digital TV receivers by poorer Americans, so that broadcasters can switch to digital broadcasting and free analog spectrum for emergency communications services. McCain was joined by 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean, whose Commission's report called for an "expedited and increased assignment of radio spectrum for public safety purposes." McCain and Kean criticized broadcasters for dragging their feet on the matter. "Why they would choose not to act in the public interest is something they will have to answer for," McCain said. The new bill would force broadcasters to return analog spectrum to the government by the end of 2008, while also providing $463 million for 9.3 million U.S. households to purchase digital receivers; a previous version of the bill had called for $1 billion. Current law states that broadcasters don't have to switch to digital until 85% of households in a given market have digital TVs. "Local television stations provide a lifeline service during terrorist attacks, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters," said National Association of Broadcasters president Edward Fritts. "We are committed to completing the digital transition in a timely fashion, including return of analog spectrum, and will work with Congress to ensure that millions of consumers are not left stranded by a premature end to analog broadcasting."
tags: McCain Bill | Subsidize Digital TVs | Speed Transition | Analog |

Macrovision Sues Makers of DVD Copying Software

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:36am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Macrovision, a developer of copy-protection technologies for CD, DVD, VHS and other media, announced on Wednesday that it has filed suit against two companies offering DVD copying software, arguing the products infringe Macrovision's copy-protection technology as well as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Macrovision sued Pennsylvania-based Sima Products Corp. and Wisconsin-based InterBurn Enterprises in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, over Sima's GoDVD product and InterBurn's DVD X Copy. The latter product is strikingly similar to the DVD X Copy application once offered by St. Louis-based 321 Studios, which a federal judge ordered taken off the market for copyright violations. "Sima and Interburn infringe Macrovision's intellectual property by offering products that enable users to make unauthorized copies of copyrighted content by illegally removing our copy protection system," said Macrovision CEO Bill Krepick. The company's DMCA claim alleges that the products violate a section of the law that prohibits circumventing the copyright protections on a digital device.
tags: Law | Macrovision | Sues | DVD Copying Software | Makers |

Napster, Ericsson Partner on Intl. Mobile Digital Music Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:34am.
Los Angeles -- Napster announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with Swedish telecommunications supplier Ericsson to develop an international mobile music service for wireless network operators. The service, which will offer Napster's catalog of over 1 million songs in both subscription and a la carte models to cell phone subscribers, is scheduled to go live in Europe over the next 12 months, before being offered to network operators in Asia, Latin America and North America. The service will be accessible on both current handset models, and on newer handsets for higher-speed networks that enable mobile music downloads to cell phones. In addition to songs, the service will offer ringtones, wallpaper and video content. "We gain access to the strongest digital music brand in the world and exposure to the largest music catalog available, which will not only increase our customer's consumer offerings and revenues but substantially strengthen their own brand image as well," said Ericsson president and CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg.
tags: Ericsson | Napster | Deal | Intl. Mobile Digital Music |

Vivendi Acquires Game Developer Swordfish Studios

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:31am.
Birmingham, England -- Vivendi Universal Games announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Swordfish Studios, a U.K.-based video game developer, for an undisclosed sum. Swordfish recently completed work on a first-person shooter, "Cold Winter," for VU Games The company has also earned several awards for game development, including the Independent Game Developers Association's "Developer of the Year" award and the best "New U.K. Studio" at the Developer Industry Excellence Awards. Under terms of the deal, VU Games will retain Swordfish's team of 45 development professionals, as well as the company's office in Birmingham. Furthermore, acting Swordfish managing director Trevor Williams will continue to lead the studio in the same role, VU Games said.
tags: Vivendi | Game Developer | Acquires | Swordfish Studios |

Radium Ventures Acquires IPTV Firm Interactive Television Networks

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:30am.
Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Venture capital firm Radium Ventures said on Wednesday that it has acquired Interactive Television Networks (ITVN), a provider of IPTV hardware, software and interactive networks, in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms, Radium cancelled 750,000 of its outstanding shares and issued 22.1 million shares to ITVN stockholders. Radium said it will change its name to Interactive Television Networks, and appointed a new management team for the company. Charles Prast was named CEO, while Michael Martinez was named president and Murray Williams chief financial officer; all three were also named to Radium's board of directors. Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based ITVN's technology allows broadband providers to offer TV services over the Internet using its set-top box hardware and software. "Internet Protocol Television is a market changing technology that adds a new dimension of interactivity to television viewing," said Prast. "And ITVN is at the forefront of making this extraordinary technology a reality."
tags: IPTV | Interactive Television Networks | Acquires | Radium Ventures |

TV Virtual Ad Developer Sportvision Secures $4 Million Credit Facility

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2005 - 8:25am.
Chicago -- Sportvision, a developer of enhanced TV broadcast technologies, announced on Wednesday that it has secured a $4 million credit facility with Hercules Technology Growth Capital. Chicago-based Sportvision has won seven Emmy Awards for technical achievement, most notably for its "virtual 1st & Ten line" -- a yellow stripe added to football telecasts that indicates to viewers where the 1st down marker would be on the field. The company also developed the "K Zone" baseball virtual strike zone, and several virtual ad placement technologies for sports telecasts. Sportvision will use the funds to accelerate new product development, and for expansion plans.
tags: Secures | TV Virtual Ad Developer Sportvision | Credit Facility |