register |
login
| search members submit a classified | request a media kit
connecting people & knowledge
U.KU.K. Broadcaster Channel 4 to Offer ABC TV Shows on VOD, WebsiteAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on April 28, 2006 - 8:56am.
London - U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 announced that it has signed a deal with Disney/ABC's Buena Vista International Television that will bring episodes of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" to both its website and video-on-demand system. Channel 4 will offer two seasons of "Lost" in HD and the second season of "Desperate Housewives" on video-on-demand services from cable TV firm ntl/Telewest. The "Lost" episodes will also be available for 24-hour download via Windows Media Player from Channel 4's website. All episodes will cost 99 pence (about $1.25) each.
U.K.-Based Mobile Marketing Firm Flytxt Raises $1.9 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2006 - 9:11am.
London - Flytxt, a U.K.-based mobile marketing firm, announced that it has raised $1.9 million from existing investors IVC, Herald Ventures and Gordian Investments. Flytxt said it would use the funds to "provide continual improvements" in the ROI (return of investment) achieved by its clients. Flytxt's customers currently include EMAP, Capital Radio Group, HarperCollins, British Airways, Time Inc. and Yahoo. Separately, the company also announced that it has appointed Flytxt board director David Harper as executive chairman, while co-founder Carsten Boers, appointed CEO in April 2004, will return to New York as president.
Apple Computer, Beatles Record Label Back in U.K. Court This WeekAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 27, 2006 - 11:55am.
New York - The Beatles' record label, Apple Corps, will be in court again this week for a case that will determine whether Apple Computer violated an agreement between the two companies over the use of the Apple trademark in the music business, The New York Times reported. This is Apple Corps' third lawsuit against the iPod maker, which in 1991 paid over $26 million to the label to settle the second lawsuit -- at the same time promising not to enter the music business. Apple Computer was sued for the third time in 2003, after it launched its successful iTunes music download store; the hearing this week will determine whether Apple's forays into the music industry violate its 1991 agreement with Apple Corps.
U.K. and Ofcom Support Proposal to Sell Unused Broadcast SpectrumAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 27, 2006 - 11:50am.
London - The U.K. government and Ofcom, the U.K. telecommunications watchdog, have both endorsed a plan to allow parts of unwanted or unused spectrum to be auctioned in order to raise funds for the government. "The government agrees with the audit that there is scope for more effective use of public sector spectrum through the introduction of spectrum trading and increased sharing with other users, and will work with Ofcom to enable this," the U.K. government said. The government insisted that it would ensure that enough spectrum is available for national security, defense and public services. The U.S. government hopes to raise billions of dollars when it auctions off spectrum freed by the transition to digital television broadcasting, now scheduled to take place on Feb. 17, 2009.
U.K.-Based Home Page Firm Netvibes Secures FundingAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 23, 2006 - 3:42am.
London - Netvibes, a U.K.-based personalized home page start-up, announced that it has raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding. Investors included Index Ventures, Marc Andreesen (founder of NetScape), Pierre Chappaz (founder of Kelkoo and Wikio) and Martin Varsavsky (founder of Jazztel, Ya.com and Fon). More than 1 million personal pages have already been created using Netvibes, a free service currently in beta. The service allows users to aggregate their favorite news sites, blogs, e-mail accounts, data feeds and popular Web 2.0 services on a single page with a very simple drag and drop interface.
Nintendo Launches 600 Wi-Fi Hotspots at U.K. Game RetailersAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 23, 2006 - 3:23am.
London - Nintendo announced that over 600 BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.K. have been added to its free Wi-Fi Connection service, that lets owners of Nintendo DS handhelds download content and play multiplayer titles online. The Wi-Fi hotspots are located in retail stores such as GAME, Gamestation, HMV and Toys R Us, and join the 7,500 Nintendo Wi-Fi hotspot locations available in the U.K. through the company's partnership with provider BT Openzone.
U.K. Gambling Commission Proposes Online Gambling RegulationsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 15, 2006 - 10:11am.
London - The U.K. government's Gambling Commission has issued a draft Code of Practice that would for the first time bring online gambling under the Commission's jurisdiction. The draft Conditions and Codes of Practice, which if approved would go into effect in 2007 as part of a larger U.K. Gambling Act, would compel online gambling sites to constantly inform users of how much time and money they've spent online, as well as keep track of and provide help and information to problem gamblers -- including the ability for them to prohibit themselves from such sites. Gambling sites would also have to apply for licenses from the Commission, carry out random checks to ensure bettors are over 21, and provide filtering technology to parents. "We will monitor all British gambling operators to make sure they comply with our rules," said Gambling Commission chairman Peter Dean. "We have the power to fine or revoke the licenses of those who fail to do so, and to prosecute illegal gambling. We won't hesitate to use these powers if need be."
Times Online: U.K. Soccer Pro Ashley Cole Questions Google on "Gay" LinksAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 7, 2006 - 4:26am.
London - According to a report by The Times Online, lawyers representing U.K. soccer player Ashley Cole of the Arsenal Football Club have called on Google to explain why his name has been linked with the word "gay" in its Internet search results. Cole has filed a libel lawsuit against U.K. tabloids News of the World and The Sun over a number of stories speculating on the identities of a number of allegedly bisexual players in the English Premier League. While Cole was not named, a number of websites have claimed he is the person in the stories. When the name "Ashley Cole" is typed into Google, the search engine generates: "see results for: Ashley Cole: gay".
THQ Acquires U.K.-based Developer Juice GamesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 3, 2006 - 7:05am.
Agoura Hills, Calif. - Video game publisher THQ has acquired U.K.-based developer Juice Games, the studio that created the "Juiced" racing franchise for THQ, GamesIndustry.biz reported. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2003, Juice Games has developed a number of titles for THQ in the past several years, including several for mobile phones. The studio is currently at work on a PSP title in the "Juiced" franchise called "Juiced: Eliminator," for release in June.
Japan's Softbank to Acquire 23% of U.K. Gambling Site BetfairAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 28, 2006 - 9:37am.
London - According to a report in the Financial Times, SoftbankCorp., a Japan-based Internet investment company, has agreed to acquire as much as 23% of Sporting Exchange Ltd., the U.K.-based online gambling group that controls Betfair. Although financial terms were not disclosed, the Financial Times said Softbank would pay about $22.80 a share. Sporting Exchange said it would likely release details for the deal, which should be completed by April 3, within the next few days.
Eidos Signs U.K. Actress Keeley Hawes to Voice Next Lara Croft GameAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 24, 2006 - 10:49am.
London - U.K. video game publisher Eidos said this week that it has signed British actress Keeley Hawes to provide voice talent in the role of Lara Croft for its upcoming "Tomb Raider Legend" title for PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 and the PC. Hawes is mainly known for her U.K. TV roles, in series such as the BBC's "Spooks". The new Tomb Raider title is slated for release in April.
U.K. Rules Activision TV Ads With Pre-Rendered Graphics "Misleading"Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 22, 2006 - 5:25am.
London - The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that TV ads for Activision video games misled consumers, because game graphics contained in the ads were pre-rendered and of higher quality than graphics found in the actual games, GamesIndustry.biz reported. The ASA ordered Activision to change ads for "Call of Duty 2" and "CoD2: Big Red One," in a finding that could have wider implications for the industry standard practice. The restriction is similar to guidelines enacted for U.S. toy commercials, which may no longer use stop-motion techniques to create the illusion that dolls or action figures are moving on their own.
Bebo is Top Social Networking Site in the U.K.Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 22, 2006 - 5:12am.
San Francisco - Social networking site Bebo announced on Wednesday that it ranked as the largest such site in the U.K. in December, according to data from Nielsen/NetRatings, outpacing MySpace for the first time in the region with a total of 1.5 million unique visitors. San Francisco-based Bebo was launched in July 2005 and has since attracted more than 22 million registered members. In addition to standard social network features, Bebo recently partnered with Skype to offer free instant messaging, voice and video calling services.
Broadband Comprises 64% of U.K. Internet AccountsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 22, 2006 - 3:34am.
London - According to the latest figures from the U.K. Office of National Statistics (ONS), broadband now accounts for 64% of all Internet connections in the U.K. Just five years ago when the ONS first started compiling Internet data, broadband accounted for less than 1% of all connections. The ONS also found that dial-up connections continued their downward spiral, falling by a third compared to last year. The report attributed the rapid growth of broadband to its widespread availability and increasingly competitive prices.
NeoMedia Acquires U.K.-based Sponge for $17.4 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 22, 2006 - 3:25am.
Fort Myers, Fla. - Continuing its streak of recent acquisitions, NeoMedia, a provider of wireless services and technology, has agreed to buy Sponge, a London-based developer of mobile content delivery applications, for $17.4 million. Terms of the deal include $6 million in cash and the remainder in NeoMedia shares. Founded in 2001, Sponge provides mobile applications to agencies and media groups. Earlier this week, NeoMedia announced the purchase of 12snap, a Germany-based provider of marketing and entertainment applications and programs for cellular phones, for $22 million. Last week, NeoMedia acquired Mobot, a Massachusetts-based provider of mobile visual recognition technology, for $10 million in cash and stock and agreed to pay $4.5 million in cash to acquire HipCricket, a Connecticut-based provider of mobile marketing technology for broadcasters and brand marketers. U.K. Web Booker BETonSPORTS Calls for U.S. 'Net Gaming RegulationsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 17, 2006 - 7:22am.
London - Citing recent betting scandals and actions in the U.S. Congress, BETonSPORTS, a London-based online sports betting firm, on Friday renewed its push for government regulation of the online gaming industry in the U.S. The company also said that it remains "vehemently opposed" to any prohibition attempts in Congress. "Prohibition has never worked in the U.S. for any activity," said CEO David Carruthers. "The idea that prohibition would suddenly work now on any aspect of the Internet is a falsehood and trying to shut out a multi-billion industry with the consumer demand of online gambling through prohibition won't work." BETonSPORTS, which focuses primarily on the North America, Asia and Latin America regions, last month published a white paper on why regulation is needed in the U.S. Carruthers said that the industry needs regulation and tracking, "not to be pushed even further in the shadows where organized crime and other less reputable individuals can carve out a niche for themselves."
E-Commerce in U.K. Grows by 28.9% in 2005, Report SaysAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 13, 2006 - 11:25am.
London - According to a new report by market-analysis firm Verdict, U.K. shoppers are taking to the Internet like never before. Last year, U.K. consumers spent more than $14.3 billion online, a 28.9% year-on-year increase. The report also found that the e-commerce community grew by about 14.6 million people (a 25.5% increase) over the same period, meaning that nearly a quarter of Britons use the Internet to buy goods now. Verdict said the report shows that e-commerce is rapidly closing the gap with the High Street, where consumers spent $16.4 billion last year (a 1.5% increase).
Report: Mobile Users in Germany, U.K. Warming Up toAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 8, 2006 - 4:16am.
London - Although 3G users still account for a relatively low percentage of mobile users overall, 3G users in the U.K. and Germany are about five times more likely to use their handsets' multimedia capabilities, according to a new report by mobile market analysis firm M:Metrics. The company said mobile users in the U.K. and Germany were warming to the notion of using their phones for gaming, watching video and downloading new content for personalization. With about 7.7% of its mobile users subscribing to
U.K. Courts Rule File-Sharing is Illegal, Impose Stiff Fines on IndividualsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on January 27, 2006 - 8:13am.
London - A landmark duo of court rulings in the U.K. has for the first time found music file-swappers guilty of copyright infringement and ordered defendants to pay damages to the U.K. music industry. In the first case, the U.K. High Court granted summary judgment against a man from King's Lynn accused of file-sharing copyright infringement, ordering him immediately to pay nearly $8,900 to the British Phonographic Institute (BPI), a U.K. record label trade group. The man must also pay legal fees totaling nearly $24,000 and as yet unspecified damages. Another man from Brighton was also found guilty by summary judgment and ordered to pay over $2,600 immediately to the BPI, with additional damages likely to follow. "The courts have spoken and their verdict is unequivocal: unauthorized file-sharing is against the law," said BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson. The BPI added that it has settled the majority of the 139 lawsuits it filed against individual file-swappers since October 2004, with some paying up to $11,500 to avoid a court case; the group is currently seeking settlements in 51 other cases launched last December.
Report: Piczo is Fastest-Growing U.K. Online BrandAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on January 25, 2006 - 9:11am.
London - According to a new report by Internet research firm Nielsen/NetRatings, Piczo, a photo website builder and community website, was the fastest growing online brand in the U.K. last year. Piczo's audience grew by a remarkable 9,669% year-on-year -- from just 12,500 visitors in 2004 to more than 1.2 million in 2005. The website's success is driven mainly by women under the age of 18, a demographic that accounts for 45% of Piczo's audience. The rest of the Top Five fastest-growing online brands in the U.K. included greeting card website AmericanGreetings (2,152%), shopping guide and directory Shopzilla (1,787%), toolbar and search software site Starware (1,353%) and digital music distributor OD2 (525%).
|
Upcoming DMW Events
Sept. 25-26, 2008 | New York www.nygamesconference.com 
Oct. 2-3, 2008 | Los Angeles www.digitalmusicforum.com 
Nov. 18-19, 2008 | New York www.televisionconference.com Events Calendar Submit a Speaker To receive event updates & announcements: 
DMW 100 Financial Index
User loginNavigationAds |
DMW Daily NewsletterLatest Top Stories
Latest Briefly Noted
Our Sponsors
PollOur PublicationsOther Ads |
Recent comments
2 days 3 hours ago
2 days 12 hours ago
2 days 13 hours ago
2 days 13 hours ago
2 days 14 hours ago
2 days 21 hours ago
3 days 1 hour ago
3 days 3 hours ago
3 days 9 hours ago
3 days 20 hours ago