Archive - Feb 9, 2006 | Digital Media Wire

French Court OKs File-Sharing for Personal Use

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:48am.

Paris - The District Court of Paris has ruled that downloading and uploading content to peer-to-peer file-sharing networks is legal, as long as it is for personal use, The Register reported. The French record label trade group SCPP sued a Frenchman in late 2004 for allegedly offering 1,212 music tracks for download on file-sharing networks. The District Court of Paris found that the acts of downloading and uploading on peer-to-peer networks constituted "private copying." The SCPP is appealing the ruling. Meanwhile, the French Parliament is also weighing a proposal to charge file-swappers a $6 per month voluntary surcharge for accessing peer-to-peer networks.

XM Satellite Radio Signs $55 Million Deal with Oprah Winfrey

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:46am.

Washington - XM Satellite Radio, a provider of subscription radio programming with 6 million subscribes, announced on Thursday that it signed a three-year, $55 million deal with Oprah Winfrey to launch a new channel on the service. The new channel, to be called "Oprah & Friends," will debut in September, and will feature a range of original programming from Winfrey's Harpo Radio. The lineup will include regular segments hosted by personalities from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and The Oprah Magazine, as well as a weekly reality radio show with Winfrey and Gayle King. The channel will be broadcast from a new XM studio at Harpo Studios in Chicago. Some analysts see the move as XM's answer to a deal that rival Sirius struck with shock jock Howard Stern.

Napster Adds 66,000 Subscribers, Posts Loss of $17 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:45am.

Los Angeles - Napster announced on Thursday that it added 66,000 subscribers during its third fiscal quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2005, and now claims in excess of 500,000 subscribers to its digital music service. The company's revenue of $23.5 million during the quarter was nearly double the $12.1 million it reported a year earlier; however, Napster posted a loss of $17 million for the period. The loss was partly attributed to a 68% increase in marketing expenditures, from $9.2 million to $15.4 million. In a conference call with investors, Napster CEO Chris Gorog denied recent rumors that the company was seeking a buyer, or that it planned layoffs beyond its recent dismissal of some middle managers, the Associated Press reported. Gorog also said that the company has enough cash on hand to operate through 2007.

tags: Napster | Subscriber | Loss | Post |

U.S. Internet Searches Grow 55% in December; Google Leads Way

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:43am.

New York - The total number of Internet searches in the U.S. in December grew 55% from the year before, according to new figures released by Internet research firm Nielsen/NetRatings. The firm said that nearly 5.1 billion searches were performed across approximately 60 search engines during the month, up from 3.3 billion searches in Dec. 2004. While the number of searches conducted online swelled, the number of people connecting to the Internet in the U.S. rose only 3% to 207 million. Google was the biggest winner among search engines, garnering nearly half of all searches during the month, with both Yahoo and MSN Search actually slipping in market share. All three, however, experienced double-digit growth in terms of total number of searches performed, compared with the year before.

Tandberg TV Acquires SkyStream Networks for $80 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:42am.

Southampton, U.K. - Tandberg Television, a provider of digital video delivery technology to networks and distributors, has acquired SkyStream Networks, a provider of Internet video delivery technology, for $80 million. Founded in 1996, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based SkyStream employs 100 people and posted 2005 revenues of $30.7 million. U.K.-based Tandberg said the deal will allow it to expand its technology offering for IPTV with the addition of SkyStream's 300 customers, which include Reuters, Comcast, Clear Channel and EchoStar Communications.

tags: Acquire | SkyStream | Tandberg | $80 Million |

Mobile Content Delivery Firm NeoMedia Buys Mobot for $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:40am.

Fort Myers, Fla. - NeoMedia Technologies, a developer of wireless Internet content delivery technology, has agreed to pay $10 million in cash to acquire Mobot, a Massachusetts-based developer of mobile visual recognition technology. Launched in 2004, Mobot offers technology that allows companies to advertise to users of mobile phones equipped with cameras. The company will continue to be headquartered in the Boston area, and its founder Russell Gocht will remain CEO, reporting to Martin Copus, NeoMedia's COO.

U.S. Venture Capital Firms Raise Highest Amount Since 2001

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:39am.

San Francisco - U.S. venture capital firms raised $22.16 billion last year, making it the largest fund-raising year since 2001, according to new statistics from VentureOne. The figure was up 19% from 2004, though the number of funds actually dropped slightly. The firm said that the trend toward larger funds is a result of "the increasing globalization of the technology market and the need to provide entrepreneurial companies with larger rounds of financing so they can scale up quicker than the competition." In the fourth quarter, the largest U.S. fund raised was the $1.4 billion Technology Crossover Ventures

Mobile Graphics Developer Bitboys Gets $4.8 Million from Nokia

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:37am.

Espoo, Finland - Bitboys, a developer of graphics hardware for mobile devices, announced on Thursday that it has received a $4.8 million investment from Nokia Growth Partners. The investment gives Nokia Growth Partners a 14% stake in the company. Finland-based Bitboys is developing graphics processors that enable high-quality 3D and vector graphics to be displayed on cell phones, for applications like mobile games, maps and Web browsing.

Switzerland's Esmertec Makes Investment in Javaground

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:36am.

Zurich - Esmertec, a Switzerland-based software developer for mobile handsets and embedded devices, announced that it has made a strategic investment in Javaground, a supplier of tools and services that allow the deployment of Java games and applications across a number of models of phones and multimedia devices. Although financial terms were not disclosed, Esmertec did say that it has taken a 19.9% minority stake in Javaground and that it has an option to obtain a controlling interest in the company in 2007. Javaground has offices in Belgium and Silicon Valley.

French Video Compression Developer Ateme Raises $4.8 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:34am.

Paris - Ateme, a France-based developer of video compression technology, announced that it has raised $4.8 million in venture capital financing. France-based XAnge Private Equity and Ventech led the round. Ateme said it would use the funds to enhance its video compression technology and support international expansion. The company's next subsidiary will be opened in Silicon Valley, according to CEO Michel Artieres.

"Resident Evil 4" Takes Top Honors at 1UP Video Game Awards

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:32am.

San Francisco - Publisher Ziff Davis' Media Game Group on Thursday announced winners of its third annual 1UP Awards, which honor the top video games of the past year as chosen by readers of its gaming publications, which include Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and 1UP.com. Capcom's "Resident Evil 4" was named Game of the Year, while Nintendo's "Nintendogs" was named the Most Innovative Game of 2005. Other winners included ArenaNet's "Guild Wars" for Best Massively Multiplayer Game; EA's "Battlefield 2" for Best Online/Multiplayer Game; and EA's "Madden NFL 06" for Best Sports Game.

Subaru to Offer XM, Sirius Satellite Radio on Some Models

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:31am.

Chicago - Japanese auto manufacturer Subaru announced on Thursday that it will offer XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio on certain 2007 vehicle models. Subaru will pre-wire all B9 Tribeca and most Legacy and Outback models with XM, while outfitting most of its Forester and Impreza models with pre-wiring for Sirius. Each service will also be offered as standard equipment on one 2007 Special Edition vehicle.

Former Yahoo Execs Form SlingShot Media

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:29am.

Los Angeles - A group of former Yahoo executives announced on Thursday the formation of SlingShot Media, a company that aims to help digital content producers distribute their content online. The company raised an undisclosed amount in first round funding, from investors including Mandalay Pictures' Peter Guber and Paul Schaeffer. The company's initial clients include Icebox 2.0, 88HIPHOP, "Sunday Morning Shootout" with Peter Guber and Peter Bart, and Dr. Drew Pinsky. "We equip our clients with the essential knowledge before going to the online networks," said SlingShot co-founder Joel Wright. "We understand the networks' desire for additional content and the value of the assets we are developing; as such, we can structure deals that are mutually profitable."

tags: Yahoo | SlingShot | Former | Execs |

BBC to Offer "The Office," "Little Britain" Ringtones on Orange

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:27am.

London - BBC Worldwide announced that it has launched a new ringtone service with U.K wireless network operator Orange. The service will initially offer wallpapers, ringtones and video clips from "The Office", "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps", "The League of Gentlemen", "Goodness Gracious Me", "Doctor Who" and "Little Britain." The BBC said it hoped to include other shows as the year progresses and that it is in talks with other mobile operators about making BBC shows available to their customers.

Sprint Nextel to Offer FanView Handheld Scanner at NASCAR Events

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:25am.

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Sprint Nextel on Thursday introduced the NASCAR Nextel FanView, a handheld device that will offer racing spectators a wireless telecast of the race, up to seven in-car camera channels, in-car audio feeds and other data features. Powered by technology from Kangaroo.TV, the device will be available to rent for $50 per day or $70 per weekend during all NASCAR Nextel Cup Series events.

Interactive TV Firm RedLynx Gets Investment from 3i Group

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:22am.

London - lU.K.-based 3i Group Plc, the largest publicly traded private equity firm in Europe, announced that it has made a small investment in RedLynx, a Finland-based start-up that provides interactive TV programming to broadcasters in more than 20 countries. Although financial terms were not disclosed, 3i did say that it has acquired a 12.5% stake in RedLynx. The Finnish firm, which last year had more than $3.6 million in turnover, said it would use the funds for international expansion.

Sprint Signs Skier Jonny Moseley to Produce Olympics Mobile Videos

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:20am.

Overland Park, Kan. - Wireless network operator Sprint said on Thursday that former Olympic skier Jonny Moseley will produce a series of video vignettes from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy for Sprint TV subscribers. The 60 to 90-second segments will be available both on Sprint cell phones and on a dedicated Sprint Olympics website.

CSTV to Offer Podcasts of Weekly Coaches' Shows

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:19am.

New York - CSTV Networks, a unit of CBS Corporation that provides on-air and online coverage of college sports, announced on Thursday the launch of a new podcasting initiative. The company will now offer podcasts of the weekly press conferences, coaches' shows and other events from schools including UNC, Georgia, Washington and Villanova on CSTV.com, as well as from Apple's iTunes Store.

Slim Devices Adds Pandora Service to Squeezebox Web Radio Player

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:17am.

Mountain View, Calif. - Slim Devices, a maker of networked entertainment devices, said on Thursday that it will integrate customized radio stations from Pandora Radio on its Squeezebox Internet music player. Oakland, Calif.-based Pandora's technology creates a custom radio stream based on songs with musical similarities to a listener's favorite songs. The $249 Squeezebox is a standalone Internet radio that can connect wirelessly to a home network; the Pandora service is an extra $36 per year.

Nintendo to Add In-Store Game Demo Downloads, Voice Chat to DS

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:15am.

Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo of America on Thursday announced plans to offer free games for download, and add voice chat functionality for its DS handheld game device. Next month, Nintendo will offer free downloadable game demos and other content from in-store kiosks at U.S. video game retailers. The company will also enable players of its "Metroid Prime Hunters" game for DS to chat with one another before and after matches on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the company's free Wi-Fi service that claims 850,000 unique users worldwide.