Burbank, CA - NBC Universal shook up its entertainment operations today when it was announced that mega television producer Ben Silverman has been hired as a chairman of both its entertainment division and its television studio, which includes supervising the entertainment division’s digital programming.

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New York, NY - The New York Times reported today that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google’s planned $3.1 billion purchase of the online advertising company DoubleClick. According to an unidentified source, the FTC sent Google a detailed list of questions known as a “second request”, suggesting that the proposed acquisition may raise serious antitrust issues.
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New York, NY - AOL is set to bring user-generated video upload service UnCut out of beta and officially launch it in June. The new service will be implemented on many of AOL's platforms including AIM and the new social network service, Fred McIntyre, AOL's chief online video executive told Beet.TV.
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London, U.K. - Sir Martin Sorrell, head of WPP, the world’s second-biggest advertising company, says that television broadcasters in the UK are facing “severe pressure” as advertisers abandon traditional media in favor of the internet. The industry guru’s warning came shortly after ITV had reported a 9.6 per cent decline in advertising revenue. [more..]

London, U. K. – Today the High Court of London ordered Hong Kong-based CD-Wow to pay £37 million plus interest to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for violating a 2004 agreement with UK record companies to stop selling illegally imported cheap albums in the UK.
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Austin, TX – NCsoft has officially announced that it has moved into the free-to-play MMO model with the launch of Dungeon Runners, an online multiplayer action/RPG, with an optional monthly fee for more powerful items, weapons and armor, the company said in a press release. [more..]

Hipihi, one of China’s first 3D virtual world operators, will receive investment from three venture capital funds, RedLineChina reports.  Hipihi’s virtual world started beta testing in March and is currently limiting the number of registrations. The deal is estimated between $7 and $10 million.

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San Francisco - Deutsche Telekom AG said it is backing Web telephone-calling start-up Jajah, adding a technology that undercuts rates for the German telecommunication company’s long-distance and mobile phone businesses, Reuters reported.  It is the first time a major phone company has supported a new generation Internet calling service, which let consumers make telephone calls over the Web, bypassing conventional voice networks. Jajah's service allows consumers to make long-distance calls for the cost of a local call, and calls between any two registered Jajah users are free. [more..]

Sony Corp. announced today that will begin selling HD digital radios, and will begin shipping them in July.  The company, which will be one of the largest to enter the space, will offer a tabletop model for the home ($200), and a model for cars ($100).  According to Reuters, Sony is “kicking off what it calls a long-term commitment to offering a range of HD Radio-enabled products over the next several years.”  HD radio allows traditional stations to broadcast multiple new digital channels and is free to consumers with a compatible radio. [more..]

Los Angeles, CA - Singer and Performer Justin Timberlake on Tuesday announced that he will form his own record label named after his home state of Tennessee, Tennman Records. The Los Angeles-based label will operate as a joint venture with Interscope Records. Timberlake will serve as chairman and CEO, a statement said. [more..]