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ArchivesMorning Links: August 4, 2006Authored by robert on August 3, 2006 - 9:20pm.
 HR: Another Rejected TV Pilot Surfaces on the WebWSJ: Warner to Sell Albums on DVDs WSJ: Sony and Rivals Seek Standard For Internet TV VB: Retailers Call for Download Standard WSJ: Plugging the Web Into the TV News.com: MSN Spaces Struggles on Launch NYT: Consumers Making Their Own Ads WSJ: Advertisers Turn to eBay to Buy TV Time USAToday: Don’t be Fooled, Gambling Not Worse Online TR: Yahoo Ramps Up Research Apple, Automakers to Offer iPod Integration on 70% of 2007 VehiclesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:41pm.
Cupertino, Calif. - Apple announced on Thursday that it has signed agreements with automakers Ford, General Motors and Mazda that will offer consumers the option to include iPod connectivity on 70% of the nation's 2007 model year vehicles. Ford and GM will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the U.S. beginning later this year, while Mazda's entire 2007 lineup will offer the feature. The iPod connectivity features will allow users to control playback via the car's multifunction controls, while storing and charging the iPod in the glove box. The iPod connectivity kits are expected to cost new car buyers an additional about $160. Apple said it has now sold over 58 million iPods worldwide.
AOL to Cut 5,000 Jobs Over Next Six MonthsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:40pm.
Dulles, Va. - Just one day after announcing a major shift in its business strategy, AOL said on Thursday that it will cut about 5,000 jobs -- more than a quarter of its total workforce -- over the next six months, according to published and broadcast reports. On Wednesday, the company said that it would begin offering the bulk of its subscription services for free to people with broadband connections, and plans to stop actively marketing its core dial-up service. The majority of the job cuts are expected to affect employees in marketing and customer service roles. Employees were informed of the company's plans during a company meeting and webcast on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. Separately, AOL said on Thursday that, starting in early September, it plans to make 5 GB of online storage available for free to all web users.
Napster Reports Decline in Subscribers, Narrower LossAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:38pm.
Los Angeles - Napster announced on Wednesday that its paid subscriber base actually declined 7% during its fiscal first quarter, for which the company reported a narrower loss of $9.8 million, compared with a $19.9 million loss a year ago. The company blamed the loss of paid subscribers on its focused attention on a new free Web-based service that lets users listen to songs and purchase them a la carte. Revenue for the quarter increased to $28.1 million, from $21 million during the same period last year. Los Angeles-based Napster counted 512,000 subscribers -- including 4,000 at universities -- for the quarter, a 26% increase from a year ago but actually a decline of 7% from last quarter. Napster CEO Chris Gorog also said in a conference call that it has not ruled out a sale of the company, which "continue(s) to receive a lot of interest… We will carefully weigh any valuation alternative against the opportunity and risk associated with continuing as a stand-alone company."
ABC: 16 Million TV Episodes Streamed During Two-Month TestAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:36pm.
New York - Disney's ABC television network said on Thursday that over 16 million episodes of TV shows including "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" were streamed for free from its website during a two-month test of the service in May and June. ABC said research conducted by Magid Associates found that most episodes were streamed within 24 hours of their broadcast premiere, and two-thirds of users viewed the entire episode. The average age of viewers on ABC.com was 29, and 79% of those surveyed reported a positive online viewing experience. ABC plans to re-launch the service in the fall, once again placing ads within the free online TV episodes. "We have been extremely pleased with the consumer feedback from the trial, and are busy working on some minor adjustments to the broadband player in order to again make full episodes available to consumers this fall," said Albert Cheng, executive vice president of digital media at Disney-ABC Television Group. "When we re-launch, the basic concept of ad-supported, free to the consumer full-length episodes will return along with some added features to enhance the consumer experience."
Major Label EMI Names Barney Wragg Head of Digital OperationsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:33pm.
London - Major record label EMI Music has hired Barney Wragg as head of digital operations for EMI Music Worldwide. Wragg was formerly a senior vice president at eLabs, Universal Music Group's digital division, where he was responsible for the international operations of the unit. EMI recently saw the departures of two key digital executives, Ted Cohen and Adam Klein. Cohen, who left to launch a consulting firm, was the company's senior vice president of digital development and distribution, while Klein served as the company's executive vice president for strategy and business development. "We are very pleased that Barney is joining EMI to lead the next phase in the evolution of our digital strategy," said EMI chairman Alain Levy. "He is a highly experienced and respected digital music executive who will drive EMI Music's ongoing development in this exciting period of innovation and growth in the market."
Report: IPTV Subscribers Set to Skyrocket to 63 Million in 2010Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:31pm.
El Segundo, Calif. - The worldwide subscriber base for Internet-based TV (IPTV) services is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 92.1% over the next four years, from 2.4 million in 2005 to more than 63 million in 2010, according to a report from market research firm iSuppli. Overall IPTV service revenue is expected to reach $27 billion in 2010; value-added media services and IPTV operator advertising are projected to account for 14% of this revenue. "The fight to capture the expanding base of IPTV subscribers will put telecom operators on a collision course with existing pay-TV market competitors and with a new class of broadband video portals as they roll-out progressively more sophisticated offerings," said Mark Kirstein, vice president of multimedia content and services for iSuppli.
Buongiorno Acquires Rocket Mobile for $17 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:25pm.
Milan, Italy - Buongiorno USA, a unit of the Italian digital music and media distributor, announced on Thursday that it has acquired Rocket Mobile, a developer of multimedia and messaging applications for mobile phones, for $17 million. Founded in 2001, Los Gatos, Calif.-based Rocket Mobile has developed mobile applications for customers including Sony BMG, National Geographic, Snapfish and Kodak. The company reported 2005 revenues of $5 million, and expects 2006 operating income of about $2.2 million. Rocket Mobile will operate as a business unit within Buongiorno, and continue to be led by president and CEO Wayne Yurtin.
CD Ripping Service Riptopia Acquires Rival RipDigitalAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:21pm.
Washington - Riptopia, a provider of a service that lets consumers bring or mail in their CDs and have them ripped to a hard drive, announced on Thursday that it has acquired fellow CD ripping service RipDigital. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition will expand Riptopia's retail presence with the addition of 208 locations in 28 states; consumers can also bring their CDs in to Riptopia locations within Tweeter, Best Buy, B&H, J&R and Tekserve retail stores. Washington-based Riptopia has partnered with Gracenote and Muze to provide metadata on CD tracks being ripped to digital formats including MP3, WMA and FLAC. After the transaction closes, RipDigital CEO and founder Richard Adams will become vice president of business development at Riptopia, which aims to create a national market for its service.
Digital Sheet Music Firm FreeHand Raises $550,000 in New FundingAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:18pm.
Los Altos, Calif. - FreeHand Systems, a provider of digital sheet music products and services, said on Thursday that it has raised $550,000 in a new round of private funding. The company said that the money came in the form of a direct private investment. Los Altos, Calif.-based FreeHand is the manufacturer of a digital music tablet, which includes technology to display and publish digitally delivered sheet music. The company also operates a web site that offers more than 85,000 titles for digital download, which can then be transferred to the tablet.
TNT, PGA.com to Offer 4 Broadband Channels for PGA ChampionshipAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:05pm.
Atlanta - Time Warner's TNT announced that it has partnered with PGA.com to offer a range of interactive coverage of this year's 88th PGA Championship. The companies will use CNN Pipeline technology to provide four distinct broadband channels of golf, including six hours of simulcast coverage during early rounds on Thursday and Friday. In addition, AOL.com users will have exclusive access to live video coverage of select par-3 holes.
HarperCollins Publishers, iAmplify Launch Digital Media CafeAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:04pm.
New York - HarperCollins Publishers announced on Thursday that it has partnered with iAmplify to launch the Digital Media Cafe, a site where users can stream and download both free and paid programming to computers and portable media devices. The site is powered by New York-based iAmplify's syndication platform. Launch titles include works from the Caedmon collection, short stories by John Cleever read by celebrities including Meryl Streep, and short pieces from authors such as Neil Gaiman. HarperCollins said it ultimately plans to launch an original short-format publishing program.
tags: Internet | Audio | PMP | Publishing | Books | HarperCollins | Syndication | iAmplify | Digital Media Cafe |
Sportskool "Streetball" VOD to Feature Chuck D, And 1's Wailyy DixonAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 5:01pm.
New York - Sportskool, a unit of Rainbow Media that develops sports-related video-on-demand and DVD programming, announced on Thursday that it has partnered with rapper Chuck D (Public Enemy) and And 1 streetball star Wailyy "Main Event" Dixon to create a streetball instructional VOD program. Shot on location at Behagen Park in the Bronx, the streetball VOD program launched today on Sportskool, which is available on cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner, Cablevision and Charter.
Skyrider Introduces Peer-to-Peer Networking PlatformAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 4:59pm.
Mountain View, Calif. - Skyrider on Thursday officially announced the launch of its new peer-to-peer networking platform. The company's first product, which it will announce in the fall, will allow both businesses and consumers to utilize file-sharing to distribute and monetize media content. Founded in 2003, Mountain View, Calif.-based Skyrider has received an undisclosed sum of initial funding from Sequoia Capital and Charles River Ventures. The company also said it recently named Ed Kozel, formerly a managing director at private advisory services firm Integrated Finance, Ltd., as its new chief executive.
Franklin Ships Merriam-Webster Dictionary & MP3 PlayerAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 4:57pm.
Burlington, N.J. - Franklin Electronic Publishers on Thursday introduced its Merriam-Webster Dictionary & MP3 Player. The $70 MWD-480 digital audio player includes 274,000 definitions and features an SD memory card expansion slot.
tags: Audio | MP3 | Education | Merriam-Webster | Publishing | Reference | Franklin | Dictionaries |
ArenaNet Launches Online Store for "Guild Wars" Online GameAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 4:56pm.
Bellevue, Wash. - Online game developer ArenaNet, creator of the "Guild Wars" franchise, and Korean game publisher NCsoft jointly announced on Thursday the launch of an online store that will sell Guild Wars games and accessories. The store will have an in-game interface and allow players to purchase both new game titles as they are released, and items such as additional character slots for their online game accounts.
Phantom to Show Gaming Keyboard Prototype at Leipzig EventAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 4:52pm.
Seattle - Phantom Entertainment, formerly known as Infinium Labs, announced on Thursday that it plans to show prototypes of its Phantom Lapboard video gaming keyboard later this month at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. The company plans to begin shipping the accessory in November. Seattle-based Phantom made no mention of its Phantom Game Service, a PC-based broadband gaming service that it has failed to deliver since first announcing its development in 2002, and later showing a prototype at E3 in 2004.
Midway Games Developing "Rampage: Total Destruction" for WiiAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 3:32pm.
Chicago - Midway Games on Thursday announced that it is developing "Rampage: Total Destruction" for the next-generation Nintendo Wii console. The latest installment in the franchise will introduce ten new building-crushing monsters when it ships to retailers this winter.
Barry Bonds Home Run Baseball Sells on eBay for $220,100Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2006 - 3:28pm.
San Jose, Calif. - The baseball that Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit for his 715th home run earlier this season to overtake Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list sold on Thursday on eBay for a winning bid of $220,100. A bidder identified only as "52817" won the auction, which launched on July 24 for an opening price of $10,000. Online auction management company Auctionwire sold the ball, which was mounted and came with a letter of authenticity, for Giants fan Andrew Morbitzer, who caught it on May 28. Bonds hit No. 715 off Colorado's Byung-Hyun Kim. Ten percent of the winning bid will go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
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