New York - U.S. Internet users are now spending nearly half their time online viewing content, a 37% increase in share of time from four years ago, according to a report from the Online Publishers Association (OPA) and Nielsen/NetRatings. [more..]

Washington - Microsoft plans to submit a filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday, that disputes the agency's recent finding that prototype devices designed to receive Internet service beamed over unused TV spectrum will cause interference, the Washington Post reported. [more..]

San Francisco - Google has confirmed that it will shutter its service that sells and rents videos online, the Associated Press reported. [more..]

San Francisco - Sweden's Pirate Party, a grassroots political party started with the aim of changing intellectual property laws to lessen copyright powers, has seen its influence migrate overseas, as last week the Pirate Party of the United States announced its formation in Utah, CNET News.com reported. [more..]

Alexandria, Va. - The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) said that it has teamed with video-sharing site YouTube and The Find Madeleine Campaign to launch a new site devoted to posting videos of missing children. [more..]

New York - Universal Music Group announced on Monday its intention to acquire V2 Music Group, whose holdings include record label V2 Records. [more..]

Los Angeles - CBS Television Distribution, a unit of CBS Corp., has taken a 50% stake in "Big Shot," an online talent search competition produced by Madison Road Entertainment and Maverick Television, Variety reported. [more..]

Miami - Batanga, an online media company targeting the Hispanic community, announced on Monday that it has raised $30 million in its third round of venture capital financing, led by Tudor Ventures with participation from existing investor H.I.G. Ventures. [more..]

New York - KickApps, a developer of social networking tools, has raised $11 million in its second round of venture capital financing, PEHub.com reported. [more..]

Lawrenceville, N.J. - Sonicbids, a site that lets talent buyers review band submissions online, has received a $4.5 million investment from Edison Venture Fund. [more..]

San Francisco - Kontera, an online advertising start-up, has raised $10.3 million in its second round of financing, led by Carmel Ventures, TechCrunch reported. [more..]

San Mateo, Calif. - Digital Chocolate, a publisher of entertainment software for mobile phones, said on Monday that it has acquired operations and studios in India and Spain from Small Device Mobile Technologies and Microjocs Mobile, respectively. [more..]

The title of "Most Powerful Player Today in Media, Entertainment, and Technology" has come down to Rupert Murdoch and Steve Jobs...so what do YOU think? [more..]

Rohit Bhargava envisions a world of user-generated advertising, and wonders why we aren't already there. [more..]

Mark Cuban blogs about the difficulties of writing the 20th century way, without the tools we now take for granted. [more..]

San Francisco - Universal Music Group will include watermarks that can be used to track the potential spread of its new digital rights management-free songs on file-sharing networks, Wired.com reported. [more..]

Mumbai, India - Nimbus Sport, an India-based online and mobile sports broadcaster, announced that it has acquired the rights to broadcast English Premier League soccer matches via Internet and mobile platforms in 80 countries for the next three years. [more..]

Washington - XM Satellite Radio, the satellite radio firm currently attempting to merge with rival Sirius, on Monday introduced a new radio that features a full-color, split-screen display, 60-minute pause and replay, and the ability to save up to 10 songs for later listening. [more..]

New York - Entertainment website Heavy.com on Monday announced the public beta launch of a new premium video ad network, which the company says will allow bloggers and publishers to monetize their videos. [more..]

New York - Viacom's Nickelodeon announced on Monday that it plans to air a new series on the network based on its video game collaboration with publisher THQ, "Tak and the Power of Juju." [more..]