Cambridge, Mass. - Internet TV distribution platform Brightcove on Monday announced deals to power online video distribution for social media firms Bebo, Meebo, RockYou, Slide and Veoh. "To date, taking advantage of viral promotion and distribution through online communities has been tricky business for media companies who want to maintain control over the brand experience and advertising sales," said Brightcove chairman and CEO Jeremy Allaire. "Using our Internet TV platform to manage and monetize this distribution answers these dual requirements of reach and control."

Palo Alto, Calif. - Online social network Facebook this weekend quietly launched a new chat feature, which the company plans to roll out gradually to its 69 million users this week. The IM application at launch does not support third-party services like AIM, Yahoo IM or Google Talk, but the company plans to integrate members' notifications into the Chat bar, and Mini-Feed activity will also appear in IM conversations as it occurs.

Los Angeles - Babelgum, an online TV network that uses peer-to-peer distribution technology, has announced that the first film to receive funds from its $15 million digital studio initiative to produce original content will be "Oil Sands," a feature-length environmental documentary, Variety reports. The amount provided to the producers is said to be a mid six-figure sum. The film will be distributed on the site in 15-20 minute clips.

Los Angeles - Warner Bros. is the first studio to offer some of its titles via video-on-demand services in the U.K. on the same day and date as their DVD releases, Variety reports. The Warner titles will be available for about $7.88 each, and will be available for unlimited viewing for 24 hours from services including Sky Box Office, Virgin, BT Vision and Xbox Live.

Cannes, France - ROO Group, a provider of online video distribution services to companies including Verizon, News Corp. and Google, on Monday announced that it has changed the name of the company to KIT digital. "With a new, profitability-focused management team and the integration of our interactive marketing subsidiary, Sputnik Agency -- giving us a true end-to-end service offering for companies who want to harness video over IP -- we believe KIT digital is positioned to lead and consolidate the industry," said chairman and CEO Kaleil Isaza Tuzman.

Los Angeles - Habbo, an online virtual community for teens, announced on Monday that in-game ad network Double Fusion is now the exclusive advertising sales agency for Habbo.com. Habbo, which claims 9.5 million unique monthly users, said Double Fusion will manage media sales and coordinate in-game, integrated marketing campaigns for advertisers.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) on Monday reiterated its decision to reject Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) unsolicited takeover bid for the company, but left open the possibility of a deal, should the software giant raise its offer. In an open letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang and chairman Roy Bostock wrote, "We are open to all alternatives that maximize stockholder value. To be clear, this includes a transaction with Microsoft if it represents a price that fully recognizes the value of Yahoo on a standalone basis."

Beijing - A Chinese court has agreed to hear two multi-million dollar copyright infringement claims brought by major record labels against Chinese search engine Baidu, and Web portal Sohu and its Sogou media search engine, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The Beijing Intermediate People's Court will hear a $9 million claim against Baidu brought by Universal Music Group, Sony (NYSE: SNE) BMG and Warner Music (NYSE: WMG), who will argue that the search engine aids copyright infringement by providing "deep links" to unauthorized downloads on third-party sites.

Taipei, Taiwan - Sony (NYSE: SNE) plans to increase distribution of its Blu-ray Disc players this year and hopes its share of the total DVD market can increase from 20% to 50% by the end of this year, Digitimes reports. Sony Electronics CEO Ryoji Chubachi made the projection at a press conference in Taipei last week.

Espoo, Finland - Nokia (NYSE: NOK) on Monday announced the launch of its re-tooled N-Gage mobile games service, which allows consumers to browse, demo and buy mobile games directly from their Nokia devices.

New York - U.S. private equity firms raised $58.5 billion during the first quarter -- up nearly 32% over the $44.3 billion raised during the first quarter of 2007 -- according to industry newsletter Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst.

New York - The Nielsen Company, a provider of media audience ratings and market research, announced on Monday that it will acquire IAG Research, a firm that conducts research to determine the effectiveness of TV advertising, for $225 million.

Andover, Mass. - Mad Doc Software, a privately held developer of video games, has been acquired Rockstar Games, the unit of Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO) that created the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise.

Burbank, Calif. - Disney Interactive Studios (NYSE: DIS), the company's video game publishing unit, announced on Monday that it has acquired Chinese independent game studio Gamestar, for an undisclosed sum.

San Francisco - Imeem, a music-focused social network that claims 24 million unique monthly visitors, announced on Monday that it has acquired Snocap, the digital music registry and rights clearinghouse service co-founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning, for an undisclosed sum. San Francisco-based Snocap's digital registry currently counts over 7 million songs, and over 110,000 unsigned and label-based artists are using Snocap MyStores to sell their music on MySpace and other sites.

San Diego - Social music discovery service mTraks said on Monday that it has received $550,000 in new financing from a group of private angel investors.

Berkeley, Calif. - Redux, an online social network that uses an algorithm to match potential friends, has raised $6.5 million in its second round of funding, PEHub.com reported, citing a regulatory filing.