Washington - Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) on Wednesday sent a letter to leaders of the House Judiciary Committee, asking that a hearing be held on the proposed merger of the nation's two satellite radio providers, XM and Sirius, Billboard reported. [more..]

New York - The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that a deal that Google's YouTube had been brokering with CBS, which would have put TV clips on the site in exchange for ad revenue, has fallen through. [more..]

San Francisco - Nintendo's Wii was the top-selling video game console in the U.S. in January, followed by Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sales data from market research firm NPD Group. [more..]

Washington - The music industry has ratcheted up its pressure on universities and their students to stop downloading music illegally on campus networks, having already sent thousands more complaints this year than last, the Associated Press reported. [more..]

Carmel, Calif. - Internet video is expected to generate $5.8 billion by 2011, with ad-supported streaming to PCs and TVs accounting for $1.7 billion, while consumer spending on movie and TV downloads will top $4.1 billion -- up from $111 million last year -- according to a new report from Adams Media Research (AMR). [more..]

Englewood, Colo. - Satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications announced on Wednesday that its Asian subsidiary has made a $40 million investment in South Korea's TU Media Corp., the operator of a satellite-based mobile TV service. [more..]

New York - U.S. venture-capital backed companies are being valued at the highest level since 2000, according to a report released on Wednesday by Dow Jones VentureOne. [more..]

San Diego - Brickfish, a site that encourages consumers to create user-generated content based on branded entertainment, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $11.2 million in its first round of funding, led by Doll Capital Management (DCM). [more..]

Palo Alto, Calif. - Mozes, the provider of a service that lets users share content via SMS text messages, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $5 million in its first round of venture capital financing, led by Northwest Venture Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners. [more..]

San Jose, Calif. - Adobe Systems announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with photo and video hosting provider Photobucket to integrate its new Web-based video remix and editing technology into the site. The free, Flash-based editing software is available now to Photobucket Pro users, and will be expanded to all of the site's 35 million members by early March. San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe said it expects to announce similar partnerships over the coming months. [more..]

Naples, Fla. - Scripps Networks has announced the launch of a new online social network based around its HGTV network program, "Rate My Room." The company tapped Neighborhood Americana to power the site, which will allow users interested in interior design to share ideas and design concepts, and upload images of their homes. [more..]

Santa Monica, Calif. - ArtistDirect, an independent music destination and provider of anti-piracy technologies, said on Wednesday that Universal's Suretone Records has signed on to use its MediaDefender platform that encourages users on illicit peer-to-peer networks to download legitimate files. The technology directs users seeking files from Suretone artists like Weezer and The Cure to Suretone-branded exclusive files. The deal will also establish a Suretone video channel on ArtistDirect.com, which claims 15 million monthly U.S. visitors and 40 million worldwide. [more..]

Shenzhen, China - The Orchard, a digital distributor of independent music, announced on Wednesday that it has signed a deal to license its catalog to Huawei Technologies' AIMI service. Huawei provides mobile digital music services to wireless carriers who collectively count over 160 million subscribers worldwide, including China Mobile and Thailand's AIS. [more..]

Carlsbad, Calif. - NTN Buzztime, a provider of interactive TV games in bars and restaurants, on Wednesday announced the launch of a new feature what will allow users to send text messages to Buzztime TV screens. Text2TV will be introduced during the Academy Awards, when players viewing the telecast from Buzztime-enabled locations will be able to send text message predictions of winners, answer trivia questions, and share opinions on the show with other users. Buzztime said it partnered with MindMatics to develop the Text2TV mobile service, which costs 99 cents per text message, plus any fees charged by mobile carriers. [more..]

Los Angeles - Transit TV, a unit of Toronto's Torstar Corporation, announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with NBC's family of Los Angeles stations, to provide local news and other programming on buses in Los Angeles. Beginning this month, L.A.'s 1.2 million Metro bus riders will be able to watch KNBC, KVEA and KWHY local programming during their commutes on Transit TV's wireless network of 4,400 LCD screens on 2,200 buses. [more..]

New York - Raketu Communications on Wednesday announced the beta launch of Raketu.tv, its integrated IPTV, video-on-demand and social networking service. The service allows users to view Internet-delivered TV and on-demand video programming while interacting with others on the network. New York-based Raketu said it has so far established content partnerships with providers including Media Global Intertainment, NamcheTV and KlikVU.com. [more..]

New York - Online marketing technology developer Viewpoint on Wednesday announced the release of its first in-game advertising technology. The Unicast InGame platform offers several in-game ad formats and features that allow image and video ads to appear contextually and dynamically at strategic points of game play, including during loading screens. [more..]