Archives

Date

Entertainment Industry Wins Piracy Battle Against File-Sharing Firms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 8:05am.
Washington -- In a major victory for the entertainment industry, the Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled in favor of the industry in its suit against Internet file-sharing companies Grokster and StreamCast Networks. "We hold that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright. is liable for the resulting acts of infringement by third parties," wrote Justice David Souter. Twenty-eight entertainment companies, including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Disney and Time Warner, had asked the court to find peer-to-peer software firms like Grokster and StreamCast liable when people use them to illegally download copyrighted music and video. The court said that the entertainment industry had "substantial evidence" to back up its case. While the entertainment industry had claimed that illegal downloading costs it billions of dollars a year in lost revenue, technology companies have argued that holding companies liable for the illegal actions of their individual users would set a dangerous precedent.
tags: File-Sharing | Entertainment Industry | Piracy Battle |

Supreme Court: Cable Broadband Can Stay Closed to Rival ISPs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 8:03am.
Washington -- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday in favor of the nation's cable TV providers, effectively shutting out rival Internet service providers that wanted access to their broadband networks to offer competing services. The court overturned a federal court ruling that would have opened the cable companies' broadband pipes to Brand X, and other providers like EarthLink -- instead siding with existing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. The Supreme Court's ruling classifies cable broadband as an "information service," as opposed to a "telecommunications service"; under the latter classification, phone companies like SBC are required to share their high-speed DSL lines with competing providers. While cable companies, which invested heavily to upgrade their networks to provide broadband, hailed the ruling, supporters of the ISPs and consumer interest groups said it will decrease competition and potentially result in higher broadband prices for consumers.
tags: Law | Broadband | Cable | Supreme Court | Rival ISPs |

TiVo Names Former Primedia, NBC Exec Tom Rogers as CEO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 8:01am.
Alviso, Calif. -- Filling the vacancy created when TiVo co-founder Mike Ramsay stepped down in January, the maker of digital video recorders announced on Monday that it has named former Primedia and NBC Cable head Tom Rogers as its new CEO. Rogers has served as vice chairman of TiVo's board for nearly two years, and helped negotiate both NBC's investment in TiVo and TiVo's deployment deal with Comcast. Rogers was previously chairman and CEO of Primedia, and before that was president of NBC Cable, where he oversaw the creation of CNBC and MSNBC. "After pioneering the digital video (DVR) category, TiVo is now uniquely positioned to help multi-channel carriers, networks and advertisers grow their businesses in an environment that presents new realities for how TV is watched," said Rogers.
tags: TiVo | NBC | CEO | Primedia | Tom Rogers |

U.K. Online Gambling Site IPO Values Company at Over $8.4 Billion

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:59am.
London -- PartyGaming, a U.K.-based online gambling firm, announced that it has successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange, a move that values the company at more than $8.4 billion. The initial public offering (IPO) was London's largest in more than five years. "We are delighted that the (IPO) has received an excellent response from major U.K. and international institutional investors," said PartyGaming CEO Richard Segal. "The listing will reinforce the group's position as one of the world's leading online gaming companies and enhance the group's profile as we seek to expand internationally." PartyGaming operates under three main brands: PartyPoker.com, StarluckCasino.com Online and PartyBingo.com. The company now accounts for about half of the global online gambling market.
tags: Internet | IPO | Website | U.K |

Microsoft, Toshiba to Jointly Develop HD DVD Players

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:57am.
Tokyo -- Microsoft and Japanese electronics firm Toshiba announced on Monday that they have expanded a partnership to develop next-generation DVD players based on Toshiba's HD DVD format. HD DVD will compete with Sony's rival Blu-ray Disc next-generation DVD technology, which is supported by Apple and others. Toshiba and Sony recently broke off talks aimed at avoiding a potential format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, reminiscent of the marketplace battle between VHS and Beta videocassette formats. Under the new agreement, Microsoft and Toshiba will work together to develop HD DVD players that support Windows software, as well as jointly develop tablet PCs and other mobile computing devices.
tags: HD | Microsoft | Toshiba | DVD Players |

MTV Launches Games Division, Partners With Developer Midway

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:56am.
New York -- Viacom's MTV announced on Monday the creation of MTV Games, a new interactive entertainment division that will develop original titles as well as incubate original game franchises in partnership with independent game developers. The new division said that it has partnered with video game publisher Midway Games on the development of three upcoming game titles. Viacom chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone also holds a majority stake in Midway. Under the deal, MTV will sell in-game advertising and collaborate on soundtrack development for Midway's "L.A. Rush" and two other undisclosed titles, and also share in royalties from game sales. "L.A. Rush" will feature MTV branding and the crew from its TV series "Pimp My Ride," in addition to a 75-song soundtrack. MTV said its new games division will be managed by MTV Interactive Products senior director Tony Calandra, and overseen by Jeff Yapp, executive vice president of MTV Networks Music and Logo Enterprise.
tags: Games | Deals | MTV | Midway |

XM, Raytheon Demo Satellite Emergency Communications System

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:54am.
Boston -- XM Satellite Radio has partnered with defense contractor Raytheon to develop a military communications system that would utilize XM's satellite array, the Associated Press reported. The Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness Network (MESA) would create a special channel on XM, available only to authorized military and emergency response personnel, which would relay information between them during a crisis. The MESA network was recently demonstrated for officials at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado, which heads homeland security efforts. AP reported that assessments of the demonstration will take months, with a decision on whether to advance the project coming some time next year.
tags: Satellite | XM | Raytheon | Emergency | Communications System |

Satellite Radio Firm WorldSpace Sets Terms For Upcoming IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:52am.
Washington -- Dow Jones reported on Monday that DC-based WorldSpace, a provider of technology for satellite radio service, set the price range for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) at a range of $16 to $18 per share. In an SEC filing, the company said that it expects to offer 8.8 million shares, which would raise about $150 million for the company. According to Dow Jones, WorldSpace intends to use the proceeds from the IPO for expansion in India, China and other international markets. The stock ticker for WorldSpace will be WRSP.
tags: IPO | Satellite Radio | WorldSpace |

MP3 Player Maker Creative Lowers Outlook, Citing Soft Demand

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:50am.
Singapore -- Creative Technology, a manufacturer of MP3 players and other digital consumer electronics, announced on Monday that it has revised downward its fourth quarter sales outlook, based on softer-than-expected MP3 player market demand and lower-than-expected average selling prices. Creative had previously projected 65% to 80% year-over-year growth, or revenue of between $330-$360 million, but now expects to report just 50% growth and revenue of about $300 million. Singapore-based Creative, which markets the Zen and MuVo line of MP3 players, also said it now expects to report an operating loss for its fiscal fourth quarter, ending June 30.
tags: Creative | MP3 Player | Soft Demand | Outlook | Citing |

America Online Latin America Files for Chapter 11

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:43am.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- America Online Latin America, the exclusive provider of AOL services south of the U.S. border, announced on Friday that it has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Included in the bankruptcy filing are AOL Latin America's subsidiaries AOL Puerto Rico Management Services, America Online Caribbean Basin, and AOL Latin America Management. AOL Latin America's other subsidiaries will continue normal operations, and its subscribers will continue to receive the America Online branded service without interruption, the company said.
tags: Internet | Latin | America | Chapter 11 |

Creative Broadcast to Buy BBC Broadcast for $304 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 27, 2005 - 7:41am.
London -- The BBC announced that it has signed a contract with Creative Broadcast Services Ltd., which is owned by the Macquarie Capital Alliance Group and Macquarie Bank Ltd., for the sale of its digital media division, BBC Broadcast, for approximately $304 million. With the news, Creative Broadcast beats out a group of bidders that included Advent International, Apax Partners, Bank of Scotland Corporate, Barclays, Bridgepoint, Exponent, HgCapital, Kleinwort Capital, Montagu, Palamon Capital Partners LP and the Carlyle Group. "Creative Broadcast Services made the BBC a great offer and showed real capabilities in managing a contractual long-term partnership with a commitment to growing and investing in the business," said BBC chief operating officer John Smith. Completion of the sale is still subject to approval from the U.K. Secretary of State for culture, media and sport.
tags: BBC | Broadcast | Creative Broadcast |