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DMW Daily, March 4, 2008

Top Stories
o Survey: ISP Warning Would Stop 70% of U.K. File-Swappers
o P2P Music Service Qtrax Signs New Licensing Deals
o AOL to Launch Over a Dozen New Websites
o Market Research Firm TNS Acquires Compete Inc. for $75 Million
o Motricity to Cut 250 Jobs, Move HQ to Washington
o Report: U.S. In-Game Ad Spending to Hit $650 Million in 2012
o Spot Runner Acquires Marketing Services Firm Weblistic
o Demand Media Acquires Social Media Tools Provider Pluck
o Indie Music Site Pitchfork to Launch Web Video Channel
o NewBay Gets $9.9 Million for Mobile Media Services
o Smartphone Content Distributor Handango Raises $9.5 Million
o Video Site Break Acquires Humor Site Wall Street Fighter
Briefly Noted
o Steven Spielberg Social Network to Probe E.T. Experiences
o Facebook Names Former Google Exec as COO
o Nike, Apple Enable Fitness Tracking on Gym Equipment via iPod
o Japanese Grad Student Develops Wink-based iPod Remote
o Infogrames Names Former Sony Exec Phil Harrison as President
 Top Stories
o Survey: ISP Warning Would Stop 70% of U.K. File-Swappers 
London - With the U.K. government considering whether or not to make Internet service providers cut off service to customers who repeatedly engage in illegal file-sharing, a new report issued in the country suggest that 70% of consumers there would stop such actions if they received a warning from their ISP. [more..]
o P2P Music Service Qtrax Signs New Licensing Deals 
New York - Qtrax, a company developing a free, legal, music file-sharing service, announced on Tuesday that it has signed new licensing deals with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and TVT Records, and extended an existing agreement with EMI Music Publishing. [more..]
o AOL to Launch Over a Dozen New Websites 
Dulles, Va. - Looking to boost its Web traffic, as well as its appeal to potential advertisers, AOL is planning to launch at least a dozen new websites by midyear, Bloomberg reported. [more..]
o Market Research Firm TNS Acquires Compete Inc. for $75 Million 
Boston - Compete Inc., a provider of online market survey services, has been acquired by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), a U.K.-based provider of market information and analysis, for $75 million in cash. [more..]
o Motricity to Cut 250 Jobs, Move HQ to Washington 
Durham, N.C. - Motricity, a provider of mobile content delivery services, has announced that it will cut 250 jobs over the next nine months.
[more..]
o Report: U.S. In-Game Ad Spending to Hit $650 Million in 2012 
New York - Bolstered by a video game industry enjoying unprecedented growth, spending on advertising within video games in the U.S. is expected to increase from $295 million in 2007 to $650 million in 2012, according to a report from market research firm eMarketer. [more..]
o Spot Runner Acquires Marketing Services Firm Weblistic 
Los Angeles - Spot Runner, a provider of online advertising services that let companies create and purchase TV and radio commercial, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Weblistic, a provider of online marketing services. [more..]
o Demand Media Acquires Social Media Tools Provider Pluck 
Los Angeles - Demand Media, a provider of domain name registration and social media services founded by former MySpace chairman Richard Rosenblatt, said on Tuesday that it has acquired Pluck, a provider of social media and syndication tools. [more..]
o Indie Music Site Pitchfork to Launch Web Video Channel 
Chicago - Pitchfork Media, a Chicago-based site that offers independent music news, reviews and other content, announced on Tuesday that it plans to launch a Web-based music video channel next month that will offer "mini-documentaries, secret rooftop and basement sessions, full concerts, exclusive interviews, and the most carefully curated selection of music videos online." [more..]
o NewBay Gets $9.9 Million for Mobile Media Services 
Dublin, Ireland - NewBay Software, a provider of mobile services that let users create, store, view and share user-generated content, announced that it has raised $9.9 million in its second round of financing, led by Fidelity Ventures. [more..]
o Smartphone Content Distributor Handango Raises $9.5 Million 
Hurst, Texas - Handango, a provider of mobile content for smartphones, announced that it has raised $9.5 million in its third round of venture capital financing, which will be used to support distribution deals, improve scalability and expand globally. [more..]
o Video Site Break Acquires Humor Site Wall Street Fighter 
Los Angeles - Break Media, the operator of male-focused entertainment site Break.com, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Wall Street Fighter, a business news and financial humor website with more than 500,000 unique monthly visitors. [more..]
 Briefly Noted
o Steven Spielberg Social Network to Probe E.T. Experiences 
Los Angeles - Steven Spielberg is working on a social network that will connect people who have had paranormal or extraterrestrial experiences, or who are interested in sharing such information, TechCrunch reported. [more..]
o Facebook Names Former Google Exec as COO 
Palo Alto, Calif. - Online social network Facebook on Tuesday named former Google executive Sheryl Sandberg as its new COO, effective March 24. [more..]
o Nike, Apple Enable Fitness Tracking on Gym Equipment via iPod 
Beaverton, Ore. - Nike and Apple on Tuesday announced that they are working with major gym equipment manufacturers to make their cardio equipment compatible with their Nike + iPod service, so users can plug an iPod nano into the machines and track their fitness progress at NikePlus.com. [more..]
o Japanese Grad Student Develops Wink-based iPod Remote 
Tokyo - A student at Japan's Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering Science has developed a remote control that uses infrared sensors to monitor eye winks and control the functions of an Apple iPod, Reuters reported. [more..]
o Infogrames Names Former Sony Exec Phil Harrison as President 
Lyon, France - French video game publisher Infogrames, also the parent company of U.S.-based Atari, has announced the appointment of Phil Harrison, former president of worldwide studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, as its new president. [more..]