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DMW Daily, March 24, 2009

Top Stories
o Senator Proposes Non-Profit Status for Struggling Newspapers
o EMI Eliminates Standalone Digital Unit; Doug Merrill Exits
o Survey: Consumer Confidence Rises, but Tech Spending Falls
o Media General to Reorganize Business Structure
o OnLive Unveils Broadband Video Game Console and Service
o Publisher Gannett to Impose Another One-Week Furlough
o Digital Jukebox Firm TouchTunes to Go Public in Merger Deal
o Report: U.S. Consumers Liking Mobile Music, Open to Ads
o Flat World Knowledge Gets $8 Million for Open-source Textbooks
o Linkstorm Raises $2.8 Million for Online Ad Technology
o Women's Digital Network LimeLife Acquires Taptap
o Video Ad Management Platform Extreme Reach Lands Funding
Briefly Noted
o New Downloadable Songs Coming to "Guitar Hero," "Rock Band"
o Fictionwise Debuts eReader Application for BlackBerry
o MySpace to Introduce In-browser IM
o Netflix Lets Subscribers Share Their Movie Ratings on Facebook
 Top Stories
o Senator Proposes Non-Profit Status for Struggling Newspapers 
Washington - U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would give struggling newspapers the option to operate as non-profits. [more..]
o EMI Eliminates Standalone Digital Unit; Doug Merrill Exits 
London - Major record label EMI announced on Tuesday that it will no longer operate a standalone digital unit, and that president of digital and COO of new media Douglas Merrill has resigned from the company. [more..]
o Survey: Consumer Confidence Rises, but Tech Spending Falls 
San Francisco - Although consumer confidence in the overall economy increased in March to its highest level in more than a year, technology spending continued to fall, according to new figures released on Tuesday by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and technology publisher CNET. [more..]
o Media General to Reorganize Business Structure 
Richmond, Va. - Battered in recent months by the downturn in the newspaper industry, Media General has announced plans to reorganize its business beginning in July. [more..]
o OnLive Unveils Broadband Video Game Console and Service 
San Francisco - OnLive on Tuesday unveiled its seven-years-in-the-making, on-demand video game console, which connects to a TV and home broadband connection to stream the latest games to subscribers. [more..]
o Publisher Gannett to Impose Another One-Week Furlough 
McLean, Va. - For the second time this year, newspaper publisher Gannett will require employees to take a week of unpaid leave in an effort to lessen the effects of the ongoing recession. [more..]
o Digital Jukebox Firm TouchTunes to Go Public in Merger Deal 
New York - TouchTunes, the operator of a network of Internet-connected digital jukeboxes in bars and restaurants, announced on Tuesday that it has merged with Victory Acquisition Corp. in a deal that includes 33 million shares of Victory stock, an the assumption of $40 million in net debt. [more..]
o Report: U.S. Consumers Liking Mobile Music, Open to Ads 
New York - Some 21% of U.S. consumers, and 30% globally, have purchased songs on their mobile phones in the past year, according to a survey of more than 4,000 people in 19 countries conducted by KPMG and the Mobile Entertainment Forum. [more..]
o Flat World Knowledge Gets $8 Million for Open-source Textbooks 
Nyack, N.Y. - Flat World Knowledge, a provider of commercial, open-source college textbooks, announced on Tuesday that it has closed an $8 million first round of funding. [more..]
o Linkstorm Raises $2.8 Million for Online Ad Technology 
New York - Linkstorm, a provider of online ad technology, has raised $2.8 million in its fourth round of financing, from new and existing angel investors including former Priceline.com CEO Rick Braddock, and Donn Rappaport, CEO of American List Counsel. [more..]
o Women's Digital Network LimeLife Acquires Taptap 
Menlo Park, Calif. - LimeLife, the operator of a network of women-focused online and mobile sites, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Taptap, a provider of mobile and Web social communities. [more..]
o Video Ad Management Platform Extreme Reach Lands Funding 
Needham, Mass. - Extreme Reach, the provider of a video ad management platform, announced on Tuesday that it has secured an undisclosed sum of additional funding, led by Greycroft Partners. [more..]
 Briefly Noted
o New Downloadable Songs Coming to "Guitar Hero," "Rock Band" 
Santa Monica, Calif. - Video game publishers Activision and Harmonix on Tuesday announced that they are making available new tracks for download and use with their "Guitar Hero World Tour" and ""Rock Band" games, respectively. [more..]
o Fictionwise Debuts eReader Application for BlackBerry 
Chatham, N.J. - Fictionwise, the e-book retailer recently acquired by Barns & Noble, on Tuesday released the beta version of a free application that lets users read its titles on BlackBerry smartphones. [more..]
o MySpace to Introduce In-browser IM 
Los Angeles - MySpace is currently testing an in-browser instant messaging application in Canada, and plans to introduce the feature in the U.S. and elsewhere over the next few weeks, CNET News.com reported. [more..]
o Netflix Lets Subscribers Share Their Movie Ratings on Facebook 
Los Gatos, Calif. - Online DVD rental service Netflix has integrated Facebook Connect, which will allow its subscribers to share their ratings of Netflix titles with their friends on Facebook. [more..]